FriendsOfMDRF.org - THE BLOG!

According to our beloved member (and noted actor) Mathemactor:

The Company of the Rose (professional acting company of the MDRF) will open their production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" this Saturday, October 3, 2009. It will run on every remaining Festival day (excepting hurricanes and other acts of God) from 3:30 - 4:45 PM on the Gatehouse Stage. The cast list has been posted on the official web site, Here, but scroll down a bit.

"The finest production of a Shakespeare comedy ever, in the history of the world" ---Washington Post Theater Review

from Rennfest.com:

October 3rd & 4th:
Oktoberfest - Renaissance Style

German music and dancing.

That's all the excitement we can build for Oktoberfest weekend? Personally, I love wearing my lederhosen and drunken-chicken hat for the wonderful German festivities. I think this weekend needs a big boost in appreciation as the German "Queen Ann" is celebrated as Henry VIII's most recent wife!

OOOOOOOOOOOmpa! Let's get ta' polka-ing!

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a lusty experience loaded with enough sensory stimulation to satisfy even King Henry VIII. In other words, kids will find much to entertain them.

In its 33rd season, the festival offers thrills, humor, music, and lots and lots to look at. Over the course of the nine-week event, more than 1,300 people will participate as performers, shopkeepers and staff, most of them in period costume befitting the residents of an English Tudor village. In addition, many visitors either rent or wear their own costumes, dressing as pirates, wenches, rogues, monks, maidens, and the like. Some folks add creative touches, as did one man dressed in a knight costume who sported an arrow that appeared to pierce his chest.

In their third excursion to the Crownsville, Md., event, a couple of Our Kids parents found the festival can stay much the same over the years and still the experience will change as the children grow.

As small children, a pair of boys enjoyed dressing in rented Squire costumes, being knighted by the Queen, and watching children’s performances. This year, at ages 11 and 9 and joined by a 5-year-old brother, the boys took to more macho pursuits, attending the jousting tournament, watching a swordplay demonstration, scrambling up a climbing wall, and—with great joy—shopping for wooden weapons.

According to this year’s festival story line, visitors travel back to Revel Grove, a village in Oxfordshire, England, in 1543. Henry VIII and his royal court are making an appearance at the village’s annual Harvest Festival. They and other well-dressed noble-people travel through the crowd at the faire, and visitors are welcome to engage them in conversation.

On Stage
Performers are everywhere at the renaissance festival. Every few feet some manner of play, musical act, juggler or stunt show is being performed, many of them including comedy. The map/brochure that visitors receive at the entrance describes each offering (in tiny typeface!). Take care that some of the shows are themed for mature audiences.

Thankfully, a number of shows cater to children specifically. The OK gang watched an interactive performance of St. George and the Dragon. Two actors appearing as Robin Hood and Maid Marian led the show, providing narration and directing six members of the audience in acting out the play.

The show was perfect for kids, but the OK boys were more impressed with a pair who called themselves the Duelists. The comedy/sword-fighting act included quite a few references to men’s anatomy, which thankfully went over the children’s heads. The boys loved the swordplay, physical humor, and anachronistic references to “Star Wars.”

Another favorite was the jousting tournament. Four knights on horseback competed in various feats of skill. The crowd cheered for its favorite knight, encouraged by costumed performers to shout, “Huzzah!” One knight, sweltering in his armor with temperatures in the low 80s, told folks within earshot that a competition to knock a plume off the knights’ helmets was “much like putting your head in a bloody bell.”

Activities
Several activities are available for children who want to be part of the action. Unfortunately, most of these cost extra. Favorites included a climbing wall ($5) and a maze ($2). The older boys enjoyed a knife throwing game; archery also is available.

Not to be missed: The Giant Slide is a festival tradition that is always a highlight for kids. Many fairs have big slides, but the humps on the renaissance festival’s slide are something special. The OK reviewers say the $1 paid per ride is money well spent.

Next to the slide, a kids play area offers free space to run off some steam. A model ship attracted children of all sizes with a rope ladder and tube slide. The area also includes swings, smaller sliding boards and benches for parents. Pony rides at the festival are free.

Browsing
Vendors of all kinds sell their wares at the festival, offering items that vary widely from well-crafted to kitschy. Shops selling costumes and weapons in particular differ, with some catering to renaissance aficionados looking for premium fabrics and carefully carved wood and others more likely outfitting kids for Halloween. One artisan offers exquisite marionettes with small parts and prices not intended for young children. Grownups not interested in period crafts such as armor can still find arts festival fare such as stained glass, jewelry, and pottery.

The OK boys found a large shop near the jousting arena that displays hundreds of wooden weapons available at child-friendly prices. For additional savings, kids can opt for swords, battle axes, shields and daggers made of unpainted wood. The five-year-old has asked almost daily when he can paint the dagger and shield he took home from the festival. For girls, a number of the shops offered very pretty flower garlands.

Food
Yes, turkey legs are available; the location is even marked on the festival map. Parents with picky eaters will be relieved to know pizza, pasta, chicken nuggets, and hamburgers are for sale, too. People looking for fun can try some of the variety of foods available on a stick, including steak, sausage, pork chops, and even macaroni and cheese. The chocolate-covered cheesecake on a stick was way better than a similar treat tasted earlier this year at a Washington-area county fair.

Bottom Line
Elementary-age children and older especially should enjoy the shows, activities, and people-watching the Maryland Renaissance Festival offers.

Know Before You Go

* If you’re interested in children’s performances, go in the morning. The last shows targeted specifically at children start at 3:30 p.m.
* If you do go early, consider driving the alternate route provided on the website. The roads leading to the festival can get badly clogged, though by 2:30 p.m. even on a beautiful day, the route was clear.
* Stop at the Customer Service Pavilion to pick up the Children’s Program. It’s revised each weekend to provided a listing of family-oriented entertainment and activities.
* Bring a customer card from Giant or CVS to receive significant discounts ($4 off adult and $1 off children’s admission). Also, make a note for next year that the festival website provides a coupon offering the same discount for everyone the first three weeks of the event.
* Bring your own water. The OK reviewers did not see any free water at the festival.
* Be aware that the festival’s “privies” are port-a-potties. Remind reluctant children that these are still a whole lot better than what folks had during the actual Renaissance!
* Consider reading the annual story line, which describes the setting for each year’s festival.
* If cost is a factor, talk with your children in advance about how much they can spend on temptations including treats, activities, games, and souvenirs.
* According to the festival, “Lady Visa,” “Sir Master of Card,” and “New World Express” are accepted at the gate and at many of the vendor stands. ATM machines also are available if cash is needed.

Dates and Hours
The Maryland Renaissance Festival is open on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event is open rain or shine, and rain checks are not available.

Admission
$18 for Adults aged 16 to 61; $15 for Seniors aged 62 and up; $8 for Children aged 7 to 15. Children under the age of 7 are admitted free. A 2-day pass is available for $28; days do not have to be consecutive.

pulled from: http://www.our-kids.com/static/?f=marylandrenfestival

I'm always playing "devil's advocate" with myself when I let an opinion of mine fly. . . like the recent thought (see opinion blog on Sep 17) about bringing food into faire and that the very act "steals money from the food vendors."

Well today in a very real daydream/hallucination during this plague I've been fighting for three weeks, I came to a very interesting counter-thought to the issue.

As most folks who know me know, my wife Cynthia is one of the finest seamstresses at MDRF. The clothes she makes rival anyone else's. Yes, she's THAT respected. So the thought is. . . . if I wear the clothes she makes to Festival instead of buying the garb at Festival, am I not guilty of "stealing money from the clothing vendors?"

woah.

My brain works in very mysterious ways and this is not a product of second-guessing. It's more like seeing the argument from the opponent's view. . . it's liberating and scary all at the same time.

It gives me a lot to think about. . . . and I don't have that kind of time!

Apparently at one point this evening a member of the Clan McCrack (a national RennFest Drinking Club) was arrested after going way-over the edge of public drunkeness at PARF.

More info. as we get it.

Exciting news for PaRF and renaissance faires in general...Good Morning America will be filming all this coming Oktoberfest weekend! As I understand it, they will be doing some general filming on Saturday and the personalities will be visiting on Sunday for a feature story about the renaissance faire popularity nationwide on the show during the week.

According to the Howard County Times:

Pirates invade!

The Maryland Renaissance Festival will host a kid-friendly Pirate Invasion Weekend event Sept. 26-27. This special edition of the festival will feature a pirate costume contest for adults and kids, adventure stories and live music by the Pyrates Royale and Crimson Pirates. Admission at the gate is $18 general, $15 for seniors, $8 for kids ages 7-15 and free for anyone younger. Call 800-296-7304. For a rundown of events, log onto: www.rennfest.com

pulled from: http://www.explorehoward.com/events-entertainment/65543/town/

http://www.hackandslash.com/bios.htm

OK. I need to tell you something. I can do this. Just do it like a band-aid Meg, just do it like a band-aid...Here we go...I went to The Maryland Renaissance Festival over the weekend. WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! DON'T GO! Here me out:
a.) I didn't go in costume. (Obviously.)
b.) It was Becca's idea. And my sister could be like, "I'm going to skip stones down by the river" and I'd be all, "COOL!!!!! CAN I COME?!?!" Although she didn't really have to spend much time convincing me to go. She had me at "whimsical hair braiding."
c.) Delicious fried foods on sticks.
d.) Endless beer.
e.) There was a two-headed turtle freak show. I mean. Please.
f.) It was the Olympic Games of people watching. A visual all-you-can-eat buffet of sexually active Theater Geeks and weirdos! To which I say, yes and please!

I would be a whore and a liar if I said it wasn't awesome. Maybe the best part of my entire Summer. Yeah, I know, strong statement. But I mean, honestly! It was a free pass to get drunk at 10 o'clock in the morning and observe Meeks in their natural habitat! And they were corseted and chain-mailed Meeks, none-the-less! I had a digital camera, a liver full of Sam Adams Oktoberfest and zero inhibitions. It. Was. Awesome.

Found at: http://www.2birds1blog.com/2009/08/talol-ren-fest-edition.html

I know you have preconceived notions, but if you’re worried that when you go to the Maryland Renaissance Festival you’re gonna be surrounded by D&amp players…well, you’re probably right. And this place they created really is relatively magical. It’s hard not to want to explore every inch of this rustic village. Come in costume, or rent one there, but jeans are also totally fine. Wear comfy shoes, or those moccasin slippers that you’ve secretly been dying to wear outside. While there, you should take the opportunity to stock up on your silver faerie pendants, leather beer stein holders, clay devil horns, or replace that chain-mail bikini that has gotten a little too rusty. And when your tummy starts to rumble…try the huge smoked turkey legs and the cheesecake on a stick. There’s also plenty of off-the-wall booze. With attractions like a chainsaw juggler, live musicians, and—my personal favorite—Shakespeare’s Skum, a troupe that performs ridiculous interpretations of Shakespeare plays, you might even want to come back a second day.

Continued at: http://www.notfortourists.com/listingDetails.aspx/Washington-DC/Events/Maryland-Renaissance-Festival?listingID=844253&city=WA

Special thanks to Extended Stay Annapolis-Naval Academy for sponsoring AlbannachFor reservations call 410-571-9988

Thanks to Staybridge Suites BWI for sponsoring The Crimson Pirates. Visitors attending the Renaissance Festival can receive a special $79 Renaissance Festival Rate rate from Thursday through Sunday by calling 410-850-5666 410-850-5666 . Discount Code: IJOTHRFS www.staybridgesuites.com/bwiairport

This weekend, the house band, the amazing Pyrates Royale headline the Pirate Weekend. With special pirate guest, The Crimson Pirates and The Rambling Sailors.

Don’t miss the Kids & Adult Pirate Costume Contest. Prizes awarded for the ‘Most realized Pirate Costume from Head to Toe’. Kids – 0 to 15. Adults 16+. All pirate contestants should arrive at the Market Stage at 12:30pm, both Saturday and Sunday. (Employees of the Renaissance Festival and their families are not eligible for prizes.)

Musical Guests this weekend: Albannach and Wolgemut!

taken from: www.Rennfest.com

Ladies and knights from 16th century England have been flocking to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for the past 31 years. Named one of the top festivals of its kind in the country for the past seven years, the Maryland Renaissance Festival draws an estimated 300,000 visitors in a
season.

Visitors from Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and surrounding states make the trip to Crownsville, just outside of Annapolis, Maryland, each fall to see and be seen at the Renaissance Festival. Many arrive in costumes befitting royalty, while others rent costumes on site. Children's costumes range between 10 and 20 dollars. Adult costume rentals begin at $20.00 and go up to $60.00. A one size fits all monks robe can be had for a mere $25.00. At times it's hard to tell who is part of the cast and who is a visitor.

Entering through the front gates, visitors find themselves transported in time back to Merry Old England, at the time of King Henry the VIII. There is so much to do and so much to see, one might consider taking advantage of the Maryland Renaissance's Festival two day pass. Magicians, jugglers, and musicians stroll the grounds. There are comedy shows, sword swallowers, a flea circus, Irish Dancers, a human chess game, and everyone's favorite the jousting tournament.

The shows are wonderful but, if you ask anyone who has ever been to the festival what is their favorite thing to do and most will respond, "Eat". Choose between roasted turkey legs, big enough for two, steak on a stake, chicken, pickles, cheesecake and mac and cheese on a stick. That's right, food one might not ever imagine is served on a stick. This is after all the 16th century and forks haven't been invented yet. There is also plenty of food not on a stick, from hot dogs to ice cream available, all reasonably priced.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival runs weekends from August 29 through October 25.

A reduced discount coupon can be printed on line and is good for discount admissions the first three weekends of the festival. Senior citizens 62 years and up are admitted free on Labor Day.

taken from: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2126713/maryland_renaissance_festival.html?cat=16

http://www.dodmystery.com/about.html

Food is allowed to be brought into MDRF but some abuse the privilege. Case in point, pick any day of the season, head down to the Dragon's Inn and find a whole table full of food that people can snack on and fill up on all day for free. I've even seen crockpots full of food on some tables at the White Hart!

If one is on a special diet or needs certain foods because of an intolerance, I completely have no problem with that sort of snack being brought through the gates. I see no issues with wedding, anniversary, or birthday cakes being shared.

I do have a problem with thoughtless playtrons who steal money from food vendors by bringing in their own full, daily meals. The vendors have to jump through hoops just to get a spot to sell their food and rely on the income that it brings for their very lives.

If you can't afford to purchase food at festival, you need to re-think your priorities in life (a sermon for another time).

With all of the low-cost fare at faire, and the variety of foods from fresh fruit to gluten-free offerings, there's something edible there for everyone.

If you want to share food among friends, then go throw a bbq... MDRF is a business and you're taking money out of the food vendors' pockets.

Maryland Ren Faire Welcomes Jousting and Meat on a Stick

Hear ye, hear ye! Time to break out your floral headdress and blouson-sleeved coats, Jaunted readers; 'tis the season for Ren Faire. For a 33rd season, Crownsville, Maryland celebrates everything from jousting to archery at their annual Renaissance Festival. The merry event will be held every weekend, rain or shine, through October 25th, with a full scroll of activities that will take Renaissance enthusiasts back to a time when knights ruled the roost.

Before you don an epic costume and get your Robin Hood on, the official website reminds patrons that no costume or real weapons are allowed by guests. 'Tis a family-friendly event, after all. At the gate, an adult ticket will run you 18 ducats—er, dollars*—while a two-day pass can be purchased for $28. Wee lads and lasses the age of six and under are admitted for free. You also have the option of purchasing a cleverly-titled "Fairever Pass," which is good for the entire festival, will include your photograph, and grants you access to a private entrance to Revel Grove, where the event is being held.

Logistics aside, there is a host of jolly entertainment for you to partake in once you arrive at Revel Grove. Dance to the rollicking sounds of Celtic band Barleyjuice, watch the bawdy bilingual duo The Interpreters perform a comedy act, or catch a stage rendition of Don Quixote, in addition to watching artisans handcraft jewelry and woodwork, or eating renaissance-themed food like a knave sandwich or sausage on a stick. Fear not, vegetarians, there are plenty of options for you as well.

pulled from: http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/9/10/14190/9534/travel/Maryland+Ren+Faire+Welcomes+Jousting+and+Meat+on+a+Stick

Get your shopping done early at Faire!

http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z312/SirBlackFox/MDRF/2009/Rapier%20and%20Roses%20Weekend/

Had a wonderful day at PARF. . .got some ad stuff done for the magazines. . .spent time with the über-hot daphne (and family) then closed out the day by having a 2+ hour conversation with Douglas Kondziolka. . .(a.k.a. Miguel of Don Juan and Miguel) .... . . a lot of enlightenment with a new friend. Now off to Portland this week so for three days, MDRF will be Fox-Free (and there was much rejoicing).

The influence, inflagration, and infusion of Pyrates will continue at Renaissance Festivals, including MD, as Disney announced yesterday the continuation of their series with:

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides"

Johnny Depp has signed on to reprise his Jack Sparrow role. The film is due to be released in 2011. Stay tuned to http://www.thepyratesway.com for more info.

Saturday night "taps" at The White Hart Tavern.

The scary truth about foods found at fairs, festivals, and amusement parks. http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/fat-festival-calories-food-fair?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Deep fried Twinkies are as bad for you as they sound. http://www.fitsugar.com/112316

A special new event featuring dashing swordsman and delightful damsels.

Enjoy the swashbuckling action and romance of the Renaissance with:

Hack & Slash

Fight School

The Duelists

pulled from www.rennfest.com

The three-day weekend of Magic Weekend was truly magic as folks from RenaissanceFestival.com came to visit their FriendsOfMDRF.org brethren.

Here's how we saw it: http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z312/SirBlackFox/MDRF/2009/Magic%20Weekend/

Not to be out-performed by the King, actor Tom Plott (an MDRF staple) slipped on the slick straw that lines the lanes during today's morning dance and split his head on the maypole. 15 stitches later and he was mud-bound.

Our beloved King Henry VIII may look a bit crooked in his saddle. Actor Fred Nelson threw his back out last night and was forced to cancel much of his Revel Grove appearances today including his leading roll in Don Quixote.

Lots of folks from www.renaissancefestival.com made it out to The Maryland Renaissance Festival today . . . as this photo proves!

Very nice write up of actors at MDRF: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bal-ar.rennfaire06sep06,0,1143214.story

Very nice write up of actors at MDRF: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/anne-arundel/bal-ar.rennfaire06sep06,0,1143214.story

All you have to do is subscribe to the Annapolis Capital (a.k.a the Crapital, the Crab-wrapper, etc. . . ):

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/dynsubscribe.pl?SEQ=COMBINED&STEP=START

One of the reasons: "The weekend of the Highland Games has always been a busy one for the county; historically, the festival has competed with the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the U.S. Sailboat Show and, upon occasion, Navy football. This year the Scottish fest was scheduled for Oct. 10."

The full story is here: http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2009/09/01-25/Scottish-Festival-games-canceled.html

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/slideshow/1251731114MarylandRenaissanceFestival