The Battalion
Lifestyles
r 10, Friday • October 10, 1997
23rd Annual Texas Renaissance Festival celebrates
he 'Chivalry and Romance' of the 16th century
ike walking into the pages of a fairy
tale, the Renaissance Festival cap
tures the aura of times past. Fairy
st lingers in the air and tranquil tunes
at through the woods as ribbons stream
st from young girl’s hair. Spicy aromas
ft about as the lush velvet and sparkling
Id of costumes dazzle in the light.
With the sound of a trumpet, a jousting
latch begins and the King’s court parades
rough the crowd. Lush furs and exotic an
al skins cling to troops of barbarians as
e radiant armor of passing Knights gleams
I the sunlight. Dragons and warriors, uni-
dbrns and princesses, as well as crystals and
izards all create a magical mood.
Every sight at the festival intoxicates
e senses and transports the imagination
to a world of fantasy. Everyone is a Lady
a Lord in this festival of “Chivalry and Ro-
ance” where the mystique of the 16th
ntury comes alive.
Patrons of the festival are diverse and
eccentric with more that 300,000 people
attending each year.
■ Lord Blueberry of Microsoft said he en-
Item pys the revelry of the festival.
> “I am here for libations of the women,
lasting, ale, dancing, and nakedness,”
Blueberry said. “Do you need more?”
jjm' m Brother Patrick and Brother William of
| the Holy Order of St. Bernard the Brewer,
{Jatron saint of brewers and distillers, said
they came to the festival to assist the fall
en women of the village.
“For venial or small sins, we have ‘Get
Out of Hell Free’ cards,” Brother Patrick
said. “We can place your name to it, and
you can pretty much get away with all
your sins for the day.”
King Henry VIII of Hidor said the food is
what brings him back every year and the fire-
breathing dragon is the best new attraction.
“The entertainment upon the stage is
bar none,” Henry said.
Lord Thredmagyro, a dental assistant,
said he prefers pillaging.
“Terrorizing, of course, is my favorite
part of the festival,” said Thredmagyro.
Feasting on the various cuisine is also
a major attraction. From the famous
turkey legs and scotch eggs to fried alliga
tor and emu trencher, the fare is an eclec
tic array of foods.
Asdrid, a Nordic barbarian, said the
seven-course banquet at the King’s Feast
is a highlight of the festival.
“It’s a gourmet meal that is incredible,”
said Asdrid. “For two hours they put on a
performance, and you can have all the
wine and beer you can drink.”
Pretzel vendor Todd Runfeldt said his
mother told him not to play with his food,
so he figured he would play with some-
one else’s.
“Pretzels are part of a well-bal
anced diet,” said Runfeldt. “They’re twist
ed and kinky, soft but firm and slightly
salty because you are what you eat.”
As the Renaissance Festival is a step
back in time, everyone wandering around
embodies the culture of the Renaissance.
As such, King Henry VIII had never seen a
tape recorder before and thought the little
machine recording his voice was fascinating.
“O, there’s a small scribe inside,” said
the King. “He must be very tiny, indeed.
Could he come out?”
Entertainment ranges from wandering
minstrels and dancing gypsies to jousting
matches and sword fights.
Politically incorrect jugglers, The Flam
ing Idiots, are one of the comedy routines
at the festival. The three members, Pyro,
Gyro and Walter perform daring antics like
swallowing balloons and juggling pins
that are on fire.
Gyro said all of the acts at the festival
could headline at any comedy club.
“The festival is the new vaudeville,” he
said.
Highland bagpiper E.J. Jones, a member
of the Celtic band Clandestine, said what he
enjoys is playing his bagpipe amidst the pres
ence of so many fine musicians.
“The most lovely thing about the bag
pipe is that I don’t need amplification,”
Jones said. “I don’t ever have to plug in,
and I never worry about being heard. I’m
always loud enough.”
Belly dancer Carol Shannon, who has
been coming to the Renaissance Festival
for 22 years, said she dances for the emo
tion and joy the festival audiences can
give her.
“The people, the beauty, the atmosphere
and the feeling are wonderful at the festi
val,” Shannon said. “I get goose bumps
when I talk about it. It’s a place to escape.”
Merchants and artisans line the New
Market Village where people can browse
an assortment of leather, pottery, jewelry,
swords, candles, perfume and woodwork,
just to name a few.
Warlord Kilber K’zar, owner of Castle
K’zar, creates custom weaponry, leather
armor and fantasy artwork. He said dress
ing in costume for the festival is an exten
sion of himself.
“My character is a fantasy character,
and it just bleeds over into my work,” K’zar
said. “It’s just a base, egomaniacal, kid-like
part of me that gets to come out and play.”
K’zar said his character likes kids more
than he does in real life, so he enjoys in
teracting with the children as Warlord
K’zar by handing out small glass beads,
which he calls “dragon tears.”
“The festival is Halloween and Christmas
rolled up into seven weekends,” he said. “If
you want to come and see things you can’t see
anywhere else and do things you can’t do
anywhere else, this is the place.”
In the words of the Flaming Idiots, this
is for the “party pagans.”
Clockwise from Top
Left:
Jen, lead singer and
guitarist for the Celtic
folk band Clandestine,
pauses after perform
ing at the Renais
sance Festival.
A jouster, races to
battle at Tournament
Field.
A young girl per
forms, with other bel
ly dancers at the
King’s Beer Garden.
The Flaming Idiots,
Walter, Pyro and Gyro
perform their comedy-
juggling routine.
Warlord Kilber K’zar,
owner of Castle
K’zar, a shop special
izing in fantasy art
work, stands outside
his storefront.
ifill