Hear Ye, Hear Ye......

You won't believe where we spent our day....ALL day! 

OH.MY.GOLLY.GOSH.GOSH.GOSH.ANOTHER.GOSH! For years I have wanted to go to one and about 2 years ago Curt was sent to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas for a two week assignment and the local Renaissance Fair was going on there, needless to say when he came home and told me that he went I wanted to kick him out the house and make him take me again.......but that wouldn't be very nice, so I let him stay with the promise that if we were ever near one he HAD.TO take me. 

So yesterday morning started like any other, I was cleaning the house, had just finished the master bathroom and was in the guest one, swishing around the toilet and all that fun stuff, the radio playing in the background while I hummed and danced. Yes, you see when I clean the house I turn on some music and it makes it go a lot faster, plus I get exercise while I dance so it really is a win win situation for me. *snort* 

 

But anyway, sorry I went off track there....I was so engrossed in cleaning the bathtub that I kinda tuned out the radio but suddenly I hear Jasmine scream from her bedroom (she was cleaning her room too). 

 

Jasmine - MOMMY......the renaissance fair!  

Mommy drops the cleaning stuff and gets deer caught in the headlights look - WHAT?!?!?! WHERE?!?!?! 

Jasmine - I just heard it on the radio, it's going on right now....from February 9 to March 30....can we........  

Mommy cuts her off - OH.MY.GOSH.......get dressed, we're leaving! 

 

Really, that's how it went. I ran into the living room like a drill sergeant and said to Curt and Nicholas "Boys get dressed, we're going to the renaissance fair" and I was met with YAY.......so anyway, off I go to the computer to get the directions. It's actually an hour from us, in Apache Junction which let me tell you......is GORGEOUS! 

 

Oh wow.....absolutely breathtaking area. The Festival is held near the foothills of Superstition Mountain which are just...wow. That's all I'll say about it, because you really have to be there to understand. As we drove up to the festival the sky was littered with these small puffy Cumulus Clouds. 

 

 

And HERE we are, at the Renaissance Festival. Just one quick tip, remember to take a stroller or wagon for the little ones, mind you mine didn't complain once that they were tired and we were on our feet for 6 hours. But after a while, you want to put down the drinks and bags and stuff, so it's a great idea to have something for that. 

 

But let's go in....by the way, throughout this post you'll find some videos, so I hope you enjoy and if you don't have your coffee cup refilled....you may just want to go ahead and get it so you can sit back and allow me to transport you back in time to the village of Fairhaven in 1590. 

 

 

Go ahead and buy your tickets, I'll wait...... Now before we start, since the drive is an hour, I suggest you use the Privies LOL 

 

 

Right as we step inside, we see this announcement, apparently Robin Hood is wanted and Maid Marion is missing, which makes me believe Robin Hood took her? Just saying! 

 

I have to laugh at the kids expressions, Nicholas Hood really does look guilty doesn't he? LOL 

 

 

 

Now we have to step out of the way because there's a funeral going on. 

 

 

 

Here's where the King and Queen gather....they were all sitting in these beautiful embroidered chairs and drinking wine. 

 

 

See this lady? she's the Rag Lady, she walks around the city and hands out rags to people who are dirty LOL 

 

We had just tried some free chocolate samples and Nicholas' mouth was a disaster, just brown all over, sort of like our shoes in the dirty mud....so she handed him a blue rag to clean his mouth. 

 

 

Curt bought one of these for himself, a green Knight to go with his Squadron Emblem which are the Emerald Knights. I was looking for a SAHM pink one but no luck LOL 

 

 

This guy was really good, he had this whip on fire and did all these neat tricks. One thing I loved about the entertainment is that it was all really funny and the performers were friendly and wonderful with the audience. 

 

 

I had to take a picture of these two, I wanted to get them so badly. I don't know why, I mean I can't exactly imagine me in that get up driving Jasmine to school or cleaning the bathrooms LOL And it's not like I can see Curt in those tight pants either....AND it's not like I have $300 for each either so...well.....maybe next time LOL They're both gorgeous though aren't they? 

 

 

 

Now we're heading into the Fairhaven Farm, see that big white horse above? That's Nellie, that's the horse that takes the King and Queen around in their wagon. 

 

 

This Goose was so funny, she kept coming right up to the fence and sticking her neck way up, then just standing there. 

 

 

After a few pictures though she got annoyed, and she went over to the husband and they both turned their backs on us. How Rude! LOL 

 

 

For a dollar you could get a huge handful of feed for the animals. The kids had a lot of fun doing that and you should have seen those sheep/goats/whatever they were (sorry I am SO not a country girl, I have no clue which is which). 

 

 

Hahahahah Nicholas always crouched down to feed them, it was so funny watching him. 

 

 

Here are the kids giving some words of advice to Nellie for her upcoming traipse around town with the King. I couldn't understand what they were saying but whatever it was she either liked it or was bored to sleep, cause her eyes kept closing LOL 

 

 

I just love this cow, this is a Scotland Shaggy Cow, isn't she cool? Now let's head into the Storybook Castle for some myths, legends and stories. 

 

 

Sleeping Beauty....must be nice to get a full night's sleep LOL 

 

 

Snow white....that's the stepmother and her magic mirror 

 

 

My favorite, Goldilocks and the three bears..... 

 

 

Mmmmm porridge!

  

Hansel and Gretel 

 

 

Watch out...dragon above! 

 

 

The kids with a beautiful mermaid. 

 

 

One of our favorite shows in the festival. Pirate Shantyman and Bonnie Lass. They were SO funny. 

 

  

Then we decided to get the kids some armor, I mean, after all, they would have to duel to see who would get dinner later. 

 

 

Next we went on the boat ride, which is for little kids but hey, I'm short *shrug* 

 

 

This was one of the pirate's dog and he just sat there with the banner on his nose...."Surrender Thy Treasure" that's what it said LOL 

 

 

One of Jasmine's favorite things....the Harp. 

 

 

Royal Stables right outside the arena where we're heading next, for the Jousting Tournament. I was so giddy with excitement at this point....I've always wanted to watch one. 

 

 

The jousting tournament was the last event of the day so before we left, Curt told the kids they had to duel for their dinner. Whoever won, got McDonald's, whoever lost got nothing. LOL (we were just kidding, but Nicholas thought we were serious....poor thing. 

 

 

Can you see his face? He was loosing and at one point he yelled out "I'm hungry, I really want some dinner" Hahahahahaha 

 

 

There goes the King and the Queen.....and Nellie. She's not really standing up straight I wonder if the kids pep talk from earlier backfired LOL 

 

 

They divide the crowds into four and each of them have to support one of the Knights. Ours was Joseph, the one in red and green....of course he was the first one to get killed. Really, I have NO luck LOL  

Here are the kids and our cheerleader. She was so cute and so funny. 

 

 

 

Just before we left some random sword wielding squire came running up and the kids defended our honor. They did great LOL 

 

 

What an amazing day we had with the Lords and Ladies, the insulter, the jesters and the pirates, but now it was time to head home, off into the sunset, our swords at our side....but never fully disarmed, see how Jasmine is bringing up the rear, making sure NO thieves loot our booty??? 

 

I tell you, if you are near a Renaissance Festival and have never been to one, or even if you have, just GO. Get your family and go...I promise you will have the best day ever. Just another tip though, you might want to eat beforehand....things at the festival are expensive, and not just the crafts and goodies, the food and the drinks too. 

 

 But other than that, LOVED it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Here's the sunset as we drove out, I have never seen so many people stop to take pictures with their cameras, it was just breathtaking. 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are the videos....enjoy :)

 

 Boat Ride 

 Fire Show 

 Jousting Tournament 

 Arizona Renaissance Festival