Minnesota Renaissance Festival

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Amish Village on Acid?

Renaissance Festival starts in mid-August ( hot and sticky -- especially for performers in heavy "authentic" clothing; vendors of tiny cups of warm soda make a killing.) Finding the fest is simple -- just follow Hwy. 169 south from Minneapolis. You will see the signs after about 40 minutes of driving.

The scenery is nice along the way, so even if the traffic is heavy, you might enjoy the drive. Farms along the way provide a nice distraction in the form of defunct farm machinery.

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The Fest brings together a score of likable weirdos and a larger score of visitors. The admission is $12.95 -- expensive but worth the money for some. At the Fest bozos like me and David can photograph an alien culture without either bothering the Amish or performing costly time travel.

Basic courtesy is still encouraged: (participants carry swords and justice tends to be prompt and absolute)
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Samples of each segment of the population are represented.

(hi-res)Young
Sagacious elders (hi-res)
(hi-res)Valiant (or just pretentious) men
(hi-res) Fair Ladies
(hi-res) Travelers
(hi-res) Cute pets

If you are not content to carry heavy camera bag and a tripod around just for fun, other entertainments are available.
The most popular one is, predictably, flirting

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When accosting ladies, excerise caution, for in addition to sharp wit, some wield sharper blades.

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(special thanks to Sarah Losey for getting up before dawn for the two photos above)
Conversely, some maidens enjoy being walked on a leash

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After flirting, hanging around comes a close second.

You can throw veggies
at fellow humans and not be arrested for it.

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Much to the disappointment of many, auto-da-fe and other charming Renaissance practices are not permitted at the Fest (those with younger siblings or pets can try them at home anyway.)

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Various music from flute for the timid to bag pipes for the masochistic -- sounds throughout the fairgrounds. Those who really dislike a particular sort of music may obtain any one of the variety to weapons from the local blacksmith

Many of the musicians (hi-res)have attended this festival for many years.

Most, including this talent

(hi-res) have tapes for sale.
Some, such as this wunderkind

(hi-res)alternate between playing music, helping parents in selling crafts (or pickles) and mugging

(hi-res) for the cameras.

And some (hi-res) require no musical instruments to make noise.

Besides cameras, glasses

(hi-res) and wrist watches

(hi-res) are most common anachronisms.

Costumes vary enormously
from simple modern dresses

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to fancy outfits

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to light outfits

(hi-res) appropriate for the heat of August

One place especially recommended is the Irish Cottage.
Good singing

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and friendly denizens.

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Food and refeshments at the Fair are costly. Most of the exotic variety are quite good -- but Renaissance versions of fast food are best left unsampled. My personal preference is to lunch on local game (hi-res)

Thanks to DDB and Bill Little for help in debugging.

Thanks to Renfest organizers for media pass, to participants for patience with the lens in their faces, to DDB for introducing me to the Fest and for help with this page, to Gamini Kumara for use of his Mac. Special thanks to Bill Alkofer of Pioneer Press.