Have you ever been to a Renaissance Festival? You know, where people of all backgrounds get together, dress up and pretend like we’re back in the renaissance period of time?
It may sound crazy, but here in Michigan, we have a fun event that comes back every year, and has been going on since 1979 – the Michigan Renaissance Festival, which takes place in Holly, Mich. each weekend during the early fall.
I have some fond memories of going to this festival when I was younger. Growing up as a community theater gal, I was attracted to all the mini performances that happen, as well as the characters many of the people who walk around portray. Plus, it’s just a fun excuse to get some mad people watching in and eat a giant turkey leg or soup in a bread bowl like a barbarian.
This past weekend, thanks to winning a Twitter contest with Visit Detroit for tickets, I was able to go and take the hubby, my mom, my grandma and Little K. And boy did we have an adventure!
Since I couldn’t just choose a few pics to share, I’ve included a bunch. Be on the lookout for a photo of me circa 1997 at the Renaissance Festival, plus a leprechaun, a Gandalf lookalike and a man balancing a 15-foot bench…on his chin.
These photos represent just a smidgen of the crazy time we had…and I’m already excited to go again next year. I just need to find a costume.
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- Family pic.
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- Juggling flames. Just another day.
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- No Renaissance Fest is complete without jousting.
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- Entry…hi ho hi ho, off to Holly Grove we go!
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- Juggling master.
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- The pretty, yet muddy path taking us to the woodsy fun!
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- Excuse me? You are in the wrong century. (Love it!)
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- Entry gates.
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- Yum! Soup in a bread bowl.
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- Just a stick? Or a magic wand?
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- Cute little painted building.
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- Where else can you find a sign like this?
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- He’s balancing a bench. On his chin!!!
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- Gandalf, is that you?
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- HA! This guy came screaming “Mom, I found you!” to my grandma.
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- The grandmas found a real leprechaun!
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- Neat little signs to help find our way.
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- A real horse carousel.
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- Neat fountain.
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- Renaissance Festival circa 1997. Yes, that’s me on the left.
Is there any place you’ve gone and dressed up outside of Halloween events?
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Looks like a lot of fun!
It was! Definitely interesting for sure 😉
Loved seeing the pictures! My niece lives in Texas, and they have a Renaissance Fair every year. I’ve never been to one. Thanks for sharing your memories!
The only time I dressed up (outside of Halloween)?: last year when I portrayed my grandmother, a 1930-something housewife during a Twilight Tour. Fun!
Oh, that is fun! Were you conducting the tour?! You need to post about this 😉
I did (probably before we were blog friends)! I actually did two posts. This is the first:
http://thesedaysofmine.com/2010/10/25/portraying-my-grandmother
and here’s the follow-up:
http://thesedaysofmine.com/2010/11/03/the-twilight-tour-pt-3/
Let me know what you think!
I love the Renaissance Festival! My family would go every year, when I was a teen and used to take my daughter when she was a toddler, but I haven’t been in years. I should take my son and give him the opportunity to enjoy a scotch egg. Great post and pics!
Thanks so much! I have never tried one of the scotch eggs…I need to add that to my to-do list for next year 🙂
Love all of your pictures, Lauren! We need to go to one of these 🙂
Thanks, Becky! It’s definitely an experience 😉