Located in the city of Annapolis, a 45-minute drive from Hopkins, The Maryland Renaissance Festival, invites patrons to step into a medieval world. Situated on the Timonium Fair Grounds, the festival consists of a number of shops selling authentic, medieval paraphernalia, several food vendors and different areas to stop and learn about what it was like to live in medieval England during the Middle Ages.
Any history buff, Renaissance game enthusiast, or lover of the era’s fashions would be in paradise at the Renaissance Festival.
As soon as visitors enter the grounds, a man stops and encourages them to help retell the story of King Henry’s retrieval of the British throne. The man calls on random members of the crowd and gives them a prop or two, such as a crown or sword, and tells them to play the role of a famous and historical English figure.
He asks the crowd to imitate English citizens and to cheer and boo as he explains the complicated nature of the acquisition of the English throne. He comically compares many of England’s past political blunders to issues in its current government, such as the controversy surrounding Obamacare.
In the back of the fair grounds, there is a stage that resembles William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The audience is positioned beneath the stage and has to look up at the actors.
During a performance of The Dueling Fools, two men who joust while telling jokes and making fun of each other. The humor is a bit raunchy, but tries to draw parallels between current domestic problems, like marital unfaithfulness, and those of medieval times.
There is also a show about different forms of medieval crime and punishment. The man in charge places large wooden signs around different audience members’ necks and brings them to the front to explain how they would be punished in medieval England. He explains how a bard, also known as a prostitute, would sometimes have a mask put over her face that held down her tongue while she was driven throughout town to be publicly shamed. After the presentation, there is an opportunity for visitors to choose their crime of choice and be locked in the stocks.
Finally, patrons can explore the overpriced shops where vendors explain how they make all of their products by hand. There is one vendor who sells several novelties, and even infuses homemade honey with other natural flavors, such as blueberry. One man even builds all of his own wooden rocking chairs.
Even though the festival’s $22 entrance fee is a bit expensive for students, the overall festival experience is worth it to fans of Renaissance history or stir-crazy students looking to get out for the weekend. The Renaissance Festival is open every Saturday and Sunday until Oct. 20th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bring a friend, take a road trip, drink some ale, sing, and rejoice.
