News Flash Blog

For me, the end of summer always meant two things. Last week Jody wrote about the first thing: the State Fair. But there's another place where you can brave the crowds and the heat while eating great food. I'm talking, of course, about the Renaissance Festival.

Me and the Fest go way back. Yep, when I was in high school, I was one of those people. Donning a doublet and boots, I worked at the Festival for four summers. I started by convincing people to catapult frogs (fake wooden frogs, I must add) for a dollar a try. I wasn't very good at it. Then I moved on to the Royal Guard, where I was a pawn in the Human Combat Chess match. I didn't make a very good pawn either. I frequently fled the board. (You would too if the Mother Superior was coming after you with a club.)

Still, I had fun and I love going back. If you're heading there, here's some tips from a former insider:

• If you arive at opening, you'll probably be tempted to start at the front of the Fest and move to the back. Beat the crowds (at least for a bit) by heading to the back and move to the front. Personally, I always like to start around Witchwood Stage.
• Prepare for the conditions. I don't just mean a late-August heat or a late-September chill. During the first few weekends, there's plenty of grass so the ground isn't too bad, rain or shine. But later in the Fest, it's a different story. By then you should expect dust (if it's sunny or windy) or mud (if it's rainy). I've seen more than a few people lose flip-flops to the mud, so be prepared.
• Buy your tickets in advance. Advance tickets are cheaper than those bought at the gates. You can even get the tickets on your way there by stopping at a Walgreens, SuperAmerica, or other participating locations.
• Get yourself in mood for the Renaissance by reading some great historical fiction. Of course, a bit of magic isn't out of place at the Festival so maybe some fantasy is more to your taste.

So put on a frilly shirt and head out to Shakopee for summer's last huzzah. The past awaits you!

posted by Meg at 10:14     0 comments