Middle Age festivals

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An big European middle age festival is here in Denmark just one mile down the road where I live. I am telling you it was a blast of an experience. I feel really excited and relaxed.

We came at 2 pm and left here at 11 pm, and we weren't bored one moment. Tournaments, random events, music, Market places, archer practice and of course middle age brewing. Further, the whole festival is one big scenario with two rivalling Knights and their men. At night time the whole place turned into a magical place with dancing, singing and amusements. I felt like beeing part of this event next year.

I am just curious, what are your experiences with such middleage festivals, giant live roleplaying sessions and the like? Are some of you even participating?

 

I read an interesting thing in a newspaper article the other day. Apparently there have been more tourneys in the last 2-3 years than there were during the whole of the middle ages. Just an amusing piece of information.

 

I haven't been to one of those since I was a kid. I can remember dressing up as Robin Hood and being scared of the cannons. It was great fun.

I haven't been to anything like it since unfortunately.

 

Oh damn why they don't make such ones here! You know the last time I was dancing something mediaeval... Or sword-fighting someone able to at least hold it properly...

 

I believe they're more or less refered to (slightly inaccurately) as "Renaissance Festivals" here in the states. "Renfests" if you're hardcore about it.

I attended my first almost 3 years ago and it was great. I plan to attend this year, and I vowed that every year I attend I'll buy some kind of cool weapon there. At the Texas RenFest, there are about a dozen or so booths set up selling all sorts of swashbucklin' toys. I've bought something the last 2 years. My little arsenal is shaping up quite nicely.

 

Hey! There is some difference between Middle Ages and Renaissance, you know...

 

@ chev

That's exactly what I meant by "slightly inaccurately." I guess you missed that.

There is very little, if any, "Renaissance" history being celebrated at the festivals I've seen. It's all knights and jousting, Kings and Queens, court jesters and troubadours. It would be more fitting to call in a Mideival (sp?) or Middle Ages festival, but they don't.

 

Actually knights were jousting even in 18th century and it was still very popular in the 17th, although 'twas just a courtly diversion, no more to do with fighting than olympic fencing. In Renaissance true mediaeval-style tournaments were still quite common up to the middle of 16th century, I think. This way those renfests aren't all that misguided as they appear - though I'm not sure if that's because their organisers actually know about any tournaments after the Middle Ages were over Personally I'm pretty sure they mess things up semi-consciously.

 

No matter what they're called or how historically inaccurate they are, such festivals are lots of fun. I've been to productions that are almost professional in their theatricality (Tuxedo, NY; Mt. Hope, PA; Napa Valley, CA) and to local events that are anything but. I ALWAYS leave with a smile. It's my one chance to fence anymore, and it's fun when the actor realizes that I actually know what I'm doing. I usually get more than the "three touches for $5" (or whatever) they're supposed to give out.

 

These type faires are a lot of fun. Check out this link for one in your neck of the woods.

http://www.faires.com/

If you have a chance to check one out I would highly recomend it.

 

Nobleman: you are one lucky man. there is a middle age festival near me, but it isnt that great

 

Well, I went to France a couple years back and there was this middle ageish city over there. It's called Carcasonne (sp?) and it's pretty good. The city acctually was a middle age city. There's some shows and jousting and sword fighting. But it's only show. I wouldn't mind some of those like the one Nobleman went to. In fact, I'd love it!

 

Not too terribly far from me (a few hours or so), they have a faire every summer. It's called the Bristol Rennaisance Faire. Here's a link to a site that has some info about it.

I've never made it up there, but I keep meaning to someday. I've heard from friends that it's not quite as good as it used to be (used to be called King Richard's Faire, IIRC), but it should still be a ball.

 

King Richard's Fair was great! I'm working on getting to the Bristol gig the first weekend of August. My daughter (2 1/2) will love it!

 

I've been there too and it was quite nice... actually first time I saw a complete originally mediaeval city. There was no jousting at the time though... only loads of butcher's tools everywhere ranging from roman gladii to Nazi officer's dagger.

 

I was at one on Sunday. It wasn't big, but it was really good. They had all these stalls selling weaponry. There was one bloke, was a full swordsmith. I was very tempted to buy a Battle Mace, but didn't.

Watched a mate of mine get thrashed in a mock battle. He's a member of the local medieval troupe. Good fun.

 

I want to go to one!

Sure, LARP games are fun, but to get to a faire... *sigh*

I wanna go. That's all I have to say.