Daniel and I had free tickets we had won to the Renaissance Fair in Bristol, Wisconsin. This year was the 20th anniversary of the nine-week festival held on the Wisconsin-Illinois border that seeks to recreate 1574 Elizabethan England. The theme this year was "Feast of Fooles" and there were a number of action, historical, and entertainment activities/performances that made it a very enjoyable event. Trusty steeds by the gates of the fair IMG_3249 I doubt bridge engineering was this good back in 1574, but I suppose that brings up liability issues... IMG_3250 There was a nice parade that we conveniently ran upon IMG_3253 IMG_3254 IMG_3257 Someone needs to stop drinking all that grog! IMG_3262 IMG_3264 Her tongue matches her hat! IMG_3266 Although glasses weren't invented back in the day, I suppose having people in the parade bumping into things would be bad IMG_3267 Those are the knights IMG_3275 Now...here's a quiz - which of these fair ladies is waving in the historically proper way? Let me know! IMG_3278 Not much is proper out Ladie Ettie IMG_3282 The big singing and dancing number after the parade IMG_3283 IMG_3288 Everybody likes the Queen - in this case (and for the past 14 years at the Bristol Fair I believe) the Queen is Mary Kababik, who portrayed Queen Elizabeth in the 2005 movie filmed in rural areas around Chicago called Sword of Hearts IMG_3297 There was a whole Robin Hood side-story to the Fair but I didn't really understand it well... IMG_3301 There were also a lot of shops selling such varied things as these hammocks which this guy fell asleep in so they must be good IMG_3304 It was rather hot - Daniel stands in the cooling mist of a non-1574 people-mister IMG_3305 I think if the Zebra gets a sign, the goat should also get a sign IMG_3306 IMG_3307 Safety first... IMG_3312 There was a big (rather unrealistic) ship and the signs near the entrance said "Drink not aboard" and "Smoke not aboard" - I'm sure sailors of the day would have nothing to do with this ship! IMG_3317 Evidently this Mud Show is somewhat famous. It was ok...but I felt bad for the performers having to eat mud and such. IMG_3323 IMG_3325 IMG_3326 IMG_3328 This poor guy had to get a mud-kiss from one of the performers to help reinforce the dominance of our "side" of the audience against the other which was the focus of the show IMG_3332 IMG_3339 Now this has nothing to do with 1574 England, but people like Chinese drums IMG_3347 Return to Features