Reality feeling a little too drab? Searching for a doorway into another world? Each fall, The Maryland Renaissance Faire opens its gates into a realm of revelry, fantasy and royal gossip.
From various Renaissance-themed events, like jousting and archery, to an endless array of vendors for all fantastical goods, the “Ren Faire” offers a look into a world of joy and merriment. Take hold of your daggers, don your flower crowns and get ready to bellow “Huzzah!” from the rooftops.
The Maryland Renaissance Faire is an annual festival that takes place in Annapolis, Md., during the start of fall, between August and October. The story of the event follows the timeline of King Henry VIII, with performers, staff and participants playing a key role in the immersive narrative and breathing life into royal drama. Unlike most other Renaissance festivals, the Maryland rendition has been progressing chronologically through Henry’s reign, moving forward in history season by season.
This year, 1539, the village of Revel Grove prepares for Henry and his courtiers to arrive and meet the artist Hans Holbein, who will be painting Europe’s most eligible ladies. For us, those who have arrived in the village, rumors swirl as we excitedly chatter about which woman will be the next Queen of England.
Though I personally had hope, I doubted that my reputation as the runaway princess who was obsessed with poems did anything but scare the suitors away. With my band of hooligans that consisted of an exotic court jester, a wandering thief (who somehow made his way into the group wearing shorts and a T-shirt), a silly sorcerer and my fellow princess, I felt more like a leader of a traveling circus than a proper candidate for the crown.
While the royal intrigue is an essential part of the spectacle, the Faire sprawls across a 27-acre village that is filled with merriment, music and never-ending opportunities to indulge in imagination. Over 200 performers take part in stages, taverns and streets to delight incomers with songs, comedy and theatre while a 3000-seat jousting arena delivers armored combat.
With over 140 artisans selling handcrafted wares — including everything from jewelry to pottery to leather goods and glasswork — and over 40 food stands and 5 taverns ready with roasted turkey legs, mead and more, who thinks of ever leaving? The faire is an all-day adventure, one that allows you to wander shop to shop until you stumble upon a group of jesters that make you laugh until your sides hurt.
During the day, I found myself traversing through bookshops in search of a leather holster worthy of carrying my stories (after all, a runaway princess must always keep her verses close at hand). Our sorcerer, distracted as ever, led us from temptation to temptation and tavern to tavern. My fellow princess drifted toward some of the most stunning garments: corsets that I only admired from afar as I clutched my coin bag a little tighter. The jester gaped at the sight of turkey legs, plotting on how he could manage one in a single sitting. Even the thief, still dressed in his shorts and T-shirt, poked through dragon-scaled cuffs and studded daggers.
At the Renaissance Faire, you’ll stumble upon everything from dazzling knights in armor and glittering fairy queens to delinquent pirate captains and even the occasional wandering wizard. Whether you’re a history buff, a fantasy lover or just there to indulge in the fruitiest of mead, there is a little something for everyone. For me, it wasn’t just the corsets or the books that made the day magical, but the way that Revel Grove let my band of misfits and me slip out of reality and into a world of imagination. Now, that is a kingdom that’s worth coming back to.
