Moving Pictures

Taking a quick count, I've been to seven other Florida festivals, most in the last few months, but this was my first ever visit to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival . Two reasons - It runs the same time as my home town fair and it's 300 miles from my home. My goal this year was to catch them all. Mission accomplished. I have heard wildly mixed reviews on this show from it's a must see to not worth the drive. I can say with certainty my review will not be mixed. I LOVED IT!!!! Easily takes the top spot of my favorite Florida Festival. The first thing I noticed were the trees. As the sun got higher in the sky, I appreciated them more and more. The next thing I noticed was this fair is huge. I managed to walk through much of it before the crowds but it took a while. Later in the day the crowds made walking quickly impossible. Unlike every other fair I have been to, including Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Texas, and The Georgia Renaissance Festival , I...

Back to the faire that started me on the path of super fandom. The Florida Renaissance Festival . Since I was here last year I've been to Scarborough Texas, The Fairs in Lady of the Lake, Sarasota, Orlando, and Brevard, in Florida. In past years I've done the Fort Myers, and Gainesville faires, and even a trip to Georgia. This will always be my first though and the one I have the most friends.  I arrived on my favorite themed weekend - Time Travelers. I was not sure I was going to make much of an appearance this year but as always - Magic happens. I spent a lot more time talking to some really great people than taking photos. When I got home I realized I mostly took photos of people I knew. There were a few I just met but this is the kind of place were friendships can be made quickly and last a lifetime. Since this is the 25 anniversary of the festival, there was plenty of new shows to see. I tried to capture them but I will have to go back again next weekend and try...

Brevard's Renaissance Fair makes my 4th renaissance fair in 3 months. I had big plans to attend a different show but life intervened. I thought I knew all the shows in Florida and if you are following my blog you know I've recently been on a quest to visit them all. This is one I never heard of and it's only an hour and a half away from home. There is a good reason I've never heard of it. It's only their second year. There is plenty of things I don't post in my blog. The thought of getting away for a few hours and maybe seeing a friend or two was very appealing. I missed the opening by only about 5 minutes but there was no one at the gate so I was not expecting a large show. Well I significantly underestimated with my first impressions. It's huge in relation to the three fairs I recently attended. Just when I thought I was to the outskirts, cross a bridge and there is more. So much more in fact that I missed a considerable amount of the acts. A se...

I was asked many times during my visit to the Orlando Renaissance Festival what I thought of the faire. This is the third new (to me) renaissance faire I've been to in about three weekends and the 10th venue overall in the last 20+ years. I arrived just before opening and left after close so I got to see it all. If you want to skip the reading and go right to the photos [click here] I'll start right off with the three major complaints I heard during the day. The ticket price of $20 was too much for the size of the show, the stages needed to be raised, and no pub. Good points, all of which will be addressed next year I'm told. In my opinion, if you can do better for cheaper in the first year of a brand new faire, invite me. I would like to see it. Comparing this show to a 20 and 30 year old show is like comparing a new born to a college student. Unlike some - I will speak only to this show and not compare it to others. I knew most of the acts from my many trave...

Continuing my quest to visit Renaissance faires in Florida I've not before visited - The Sarasota Medieval Fair.   I've heard very mixed reviews from friends on this event. I would prefer to get my information first hand - like actually going myself. I always try and get as much information as I can before I travel to new places. The Sarasota Medieval Fair web page was the perfect place to start. They have one of the most informative websites I've seen so far. Good sign. I discovered I knew a few acts and vendors already but there was going to be over half the acts I've never seen before. That is really the point of making these journeys. One of the common comments I've heard about this show is it's small. It may have been at one time but it was pretty extensive on my visit. From the map it did not seem like it was going to be an all day event but they managed to squeeze a tremendous amount of fun in a small space. I was there from before opening ...

I began a quest in May to visit my friends all across the country performing in various medieval faires. Well.... life. Not always the best facilitator of a well conceived plan. So I have regrouped and changed my focus to Florida Faires I have never yet attended. First stop on this re-imagined adventure - The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire . The last two faires I attended and the one I missed are huge. That has a certain appeal and plenty of variety. It also comes with crowds and a lack of interaction. I have other places I go for that type of activity. I have over the last 20+ years made quite a few friends but friends that travel. There are shows I can no longer get a front row seat or spend time in conversation with the people I know and the people I will soon know. Case in point is the Flight of the Raptor show. It has been many years since I have been in the front row with camera ready and right after been able to chat with the performers. It has alw...