Huzzah! Time Travel Back to The Renaissance at Bristol, Voted Country's Best Ren Faire

Bristol Faires Well on Brink of Next 

Quarter-Century

“Country’s Best Renaissance Faire” Announces 26^th Season, July 6 - Sep. 2

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama in merry olde England this summer.   Click here to check out loads of our original photo filled past Bristol Renaissance Faire coverage.   The faire has been a hotly anticipated fav of ours for years.   For jousts and jesters, sword fights and silks, turkey legs and tea ceremonies... Bristol has it all!   We can't wait for opening day and we'll have a new photo filled recap for you.

Voted Best Renaissance Faire in the country in 2012, this summer’s 26^th annual Bristol Renaissance Faire will open Saturday, July 6, for nine weekends through Labor Day Monday, Sep. 2. While more than 200,000 visitors immersed themselves in the multi-sensory revelry of last summer’s Bristol Renaissance Faire, partaking in an eclectic array of 16^th Century arts, games, food, music, comedy and dance that earned top national honors from subscribers of Renaissance Magazine and the Renaissance Festival Podcast, Bristol’s producers were not content to rest on their bum-rolls. This summer’s creative team has again hit it out of the joust yard, with new construction on the 30-acre Faire site, enhanced immersive experiences for patrons, and an A-list of nationally-touring acts and artisans rivaling any season to date.

“Over the past two and a half decades, we have hosted a thousand thrilling jousts, variety performances by the hundreds, trained more than 20,000 actors, and served too many turkey legs and pints of ale to count,” said Linda McFeters, general manager and co-producer of the Bristol Renaissance Faire. “We are committed to building upon the unprecedented history, fantasy,

merriment and spectacle that is the Bristol Renaissance Faire, as we kick off the next 25 years!”

More Kid-Friendly Fun

The Bristol Renaissance Faire is filled with kid-inspired experiences, including more than 30 games and rides, shows that make kids laugh, and special play areas bursting with whimsy and photo-snapping charm. Always entertaining and engaging, Bristol’s Kids Kingdom boasts a climb-aboard pirate ship, giant sandbox, crafts and games activity center, its own theater and a full cast of beloved fairy tale characters. Magic shows, story-telling and interactive role-playing adventures take center stage throughout the day, and at 4:30 p.m., Queen Elizabeth herself shows up in Kids Kingdom for the celebrated Knighting Ceremony, at which she personally dubs all attending children lords and ladies.

Other popular, kid-friendly diversions include mad-cap tea parties with Lady Ettie, kid pike drills at the Military Encampment, toy ship sailing on Mouseboro Pond, and chance encounters with the Faire’s most elusive inhabitants, curious faeries known as Fantastikals. 

Fire-Whips and Bagpipes

Sixteen Bristol entertainment stages feature nonstop music, merriment, feats of daring and an eclectic assortment of comedic performers who invite their audiences to become part of the act. Joining Faire favorites, including Dirk and Guido, the comedic sword-fighting duo known as “The Swordsmen,” ropewalker, juggler and foolish mortal MooNiE the Magnif’Cent, Guinness World Record-holding fire whip artist Adam Crack, the Barely Balanced acrobatic comedy troupe, and the Sturdy BeggarsTM Mud Show^®, will be newcomers Iris and Rose, singing sisters whose bawdy humor promises to have Faire-goers splitting their doublets, and, returning to Bristol for the first time in a number of years, hammered dulcimer virtuoso Glenn Morgan.

Long-time Bristol jousters Steve Cowan (Sir Mauldron) and Matthew Mansour (Sir Maxmillian) will be putting a new twist on the Faire’s most popular spectator sport this summer with ever-changing tests of skill guaranteed to keep man and horse at their competitive peak, and audiences on the edge of their seats. Hard-hitting and exquisitely choreographed, these new stylized jousting exhibitions will take place at various times throughout each Faire day.

Among this summer’s special musical guests, the explosive Celtic group, Tartanic, will appear during the Faire’s first three weekends, and the Dread Crew of Oddwood, a folk-punk pirate band that’s coined the genre “heavy mahogany,” will perform the final two weekends.  Making their Bristol debuts in 2013 are the sea shanty crooning Crimson Pirates (July 6-7), Jamila Lotus Bellydance Carnivale (July 13-14 and 20-21), the Iron Hill Vagabonds acoustic music duo (July 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28), and VaNa MaZi, with their unique brand of Gypsy

Jazz (final four weekends, Aug. 10 through Sep. 2).

Beyond Turkey Legs

As iconic as a giant, barbecue sauce-slathered turkey leg is to the Renaissance faire experience, Bristol patrons enjoy an extensive, and often unexpected, array of epicurean delights, ranging from Teriyaki chicken to Cornish pasties, and bakery-fresh scones to Italian strawberry gelato dipped in chocolate. New to this summer’s Faire is Shehadeh Mediterranean cuisine, featuring falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, and other vegetarian delicacies.

A large, new coffeehouse will bring specially-blended Old World Italian coffees to the Bristol beverage mix, which includes imported, domestic and non-alcoholic beers and ales, wines and mead, sassafras, lemonade and other popular selections. A perfect complement to the Faire’s new hookah smoking tent, a variety of international sipping beverages, such as Turkish raki, a grape brandy, will be offered for the first time at this summer’s Faire. 

One-of-a-Kind Wares

Bristol’s ever-expanding Marketplace offers a breadth and depth of unique shopping experiences that can’t be found anywhere outside the country’s top Renaissance faires. Nearly 175 artisans and crafters display wares ranging from stage-combat-approved swords and handmade chain maille to Scottish kilts, handcrafted leather masks, tapestry wall hangings, sterling silver jewelry, rare-edition books, hand-caned brooms, bamboo flutes, even steampunkery and jester socks. Often, patrons have the chance to watch potters, glass blowers, bowyers, blacksmiths and other working artisans create their wares on-site.    

Back by popular demand, the annual Bristol Marketplace Weekend is scheduled for Aug. 3-4 this summer. Shoppers spending $200 in one day can show their receipts at the Guest Services Gazebo and receive two free tickets to return to the Faire another 2013 weekend.

Live Action Fantasy-Play

Among the most anticipated events of this summer’s Faire, Bristol’s live action fantasy-play game, RenQuest, will return with an epic conclusion to its Chaos Trilogy. Originating in 2008, RenQuest brings the worldwide popularity of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, like World of Warcraft, into the live action dimension of the Renaissance Faire. The interactive theatrical gaming experience offers players an unprecedented opportunity to experience the Faire through completing quests, honing skills and defeating evil villains. The game spans the entire 30-acre Faire site and employs 30 non-playing characters dedicated to enriching the fantasy experience for patron-players.

            

**Kids Quests provide the Faire’s younger patrons, ages 5 to 11, with two daily opportunities to embark on their own, age-appropriate adventures. The 30-minute adventures are led by Willow Spellworthy and Astrid Treeswift, and their pet trolls, Stirling and Bucket, as they set out to fight the evil Snifflewort. 

Weekends to Remember

Once-a-summer events create special opportunities to enjoy the Bristol Renaissance Faire in new and different ways. Debuting in 2013, Swashbuckler Weekend will unleash a booty of Buccaneer-themed revelry, July 13-14, while Bristol’s nod to ladies night, Wenches Weekend, sets participants on a self-guided wine tasting tour of the Faire, Aug. 10-11. Among notable events returning to this summer’s Faire, Bristol’s third-annual Steampunk Invasion is slated for July 21-22, and the ever-popular “Renaissance Runway” Costume Contest will celebrate all expressions of character couture, from lords and ladies in full Renaissance regalia, to Trekkies and Greek gods, July 27-28.

Steampunk Invasion is one of our family favs!!   We caught the first one ever.

Taking its framework from the summer day in 1574 when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visited the English hamlet of Bristol, the Bristol Renaissance Faire is located on 30 wooded acres, just west of I-94’s Russell Road exit, near Kenosha, Wis. Open rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday, July 6 through Sep. 2, and on Labor Day Monday, Sep. 3, tickets are $19.95 for adults and $9.50 for children, ages 5 to 12. Advance ticket discounts are available at renfair.com or by calling (847) 395-7773.

Top Reasons Ren Faire in Rain Still Rocks #photo feature

"That should be a drink....Renaissance Drizzle.   Maybe a gin and tonic slushie?"  the slightly sodden vendors in the circus arts tent said as they juggled and demonstrated diablo in the rain.   Sunday was that kind of day at ye olde Bristol Renaissance Faire.   But even without fair weather, we had a fabulous time revisiting the 1500's.

ChiIL Mama's Top Ten Reasons Ren Faire in Rain Still Rocks

*1  The crowds were down, and we could walk right up to most food and even ye olde flush privies without a wait!   The dust and heat were down,  too.   Huzzah!

 

*2  There was something satisfyingly absurd about seeing water balloon acro in a downpour.   The overfilled balloons popping on the pre-soaked actors was still amusing.   Barely Balanced's new aptly named 2pm "Water Show" was a wet and wild good time.    The slippery surfaces made for more of a challenge and they needed a bit of extra stabilization, but that just added to the fun.    And ice down the pants is still cold...and funny, in a chilling rain.   It was raining enough that I kept my camera packed away, but we highly recommend seeing Barely Balanced!



*3  It was the weirdest rain I've ever seen.  It repeatedly rained in very hard, short bursts then cleared, then rained hard and short again all day.   When I mentioned to a vendor friend of ours, that I'd never seen it so short and hard and over so fast, a corset clad bar wench passing by laughed and said, "It's like a guy doing it."   We laughed at the time, but it got funnier the more I really thought about it. *4  We ended up seeking shelter in little stores we'd never visited in our decades of doing Ren Faire, and stuck around longer looking at the goods in some of our old favs.   

We found secret hidden gardens, licorice & sassafras rootbeer,





awesome drums, didgeridoos 

and wicked cool witch hats, all while dodging the raindrops.

 

*5  Long haired boys look hotter when wet....Yeah, alright.   So do the bald ones.





*6  Whips still light and crack gloriously in the rain.   We highly recommend checking out Adam Crack, the fire whip guy, who holds 10 Guiness World Records...



and knows how to open a pop can like no other!






*7  And the kings of Ren Faire...The Swordsmen, are a must see as well, even with their altered casting this season.   Guido is "locked in the tower in London for reading ribald love poetry to the queen", so Dirk and Guido's young nephew, Bravo, are entertaining till he can be freed.   

In actuality, Swordsman David Woolley is recovering from a heart attack, and healing well, but still taking it easy.   We like the colorful back story, though!  You can follow The Swordsmen on Facebook  for health updates and future show info.    

Bravo's risen to the occasion admirably.   He's like a 1500's Orlando Bloom type in velvet tights and thigh high leather boots.   And Dirk and Bravo can play off all the age difference jokes in both directions.    Catch 'em while you can.    Guido is slated to return by the 2nd week of Ren Faire in Ohio.   Huzzah!   (It was also raining a bit hard for my good camera to make an appearance, but you can look back in our archives below for years of Swordsmen fun).

Here's a shot of the boy, Bravo, the only one we don't have prior mug shots of...from the Swordsmen's FB page. My husband, Dug, did the audio for The Swordsmen's DVD, so we've been taking annual Dug and Doug pixs for years. (see Dirk with hair!!).

     

2007-2011

And our favorite shot--the bloopers roll--from the "felled by a bootlace fight" also involving a cookie, a kid wipe out, and an accidental stoning!!   Click here for the full sordid tale.





Click all these links for our photo filled past features

Steampunk Day 2011 at Ren Faire

Huzzah-2011 Photo Filled Adventures

Play Locally-Bristol Ren Faire Opens 2011 Lost:   Ren Faire 2010

Faire Weather Friends-2009 Now That's a Hat

Ren Fair Photo Filled Feature 2008 

Ren Fair Redux 2008

*8  Downing swords in a downpour!   This time around, we also dug The Clan Tynker Circus in the rain.    



We were able to shoot the bulk of their show, including stilts, accordian, fire eating, sword swallowing, juggling and duo diablo, before the drizzle became a deluge.   

 But the short, hard rains came just in time to make their grand finale extra challenging.   No more spoilers.   Come see the show for yourselves, or you'll just have to wonder...



*9  Giant waffle cones and mile high chocolate crepes are just as tasty under an umbrella!






*10  Bravo for the brave--Rain adds an extra element of misery and danger to aerial arts, acro and wire work!   



Huzzah to the performers who brave pelting rains, fire & ice, machetes, knives and swords, slippery tightropes, and bodily harm for our amusement.

    

Also, huzzah to my brave and awesome 9 year old daughter who broke her permanent front tooth on Saturday, doing a Chinese Pole demo for a circus open house.   Her hands slipped and she did a face plant right into a metal pole, braved the dentist, and despite a fair amount of pain, she was up for a visit to Ren Faire the very next day.   Instead of hiding out, embarrassed, she rocked her gap toothed grin, proudly declaring it as an extra Renaissancie touch to her costume!!    We'll get her patched up with porcelain next Saturday when the root's calmed down.   Then she'll have a self proclaimed "bathtub tooth".

Bristol Renaissance Fair runs one last 3 day weekend, Labor Day Saturday through Monday.     Come on out and play while you can. 

Be sure to snag discount coupons at Walgreens before you go.   Also, check out  Bristol Ren Faire's main site right here, for advanced tickets, specials and must see events.   Then head out of town and back in time for some merry olde adventures at Bristol Renaissance Faire.    The fair runs through Labor Day Monday, then there's a special 25th anniversary bash September 14th & 15th this year.    Huzzah!!      

This year, for the first time, Bristol is also opening it's two day cast party to the public.   The fair will be packed up, but food and drinks will be plentiful.      

September 14 & 15, 2012 12550 120th Ave Kenosha, Wisconsin 53142  It's Bristol's 25th Birthday and we're throwing a party  - for you! This isn't a Renaissance event, it's the Faire in full party and dance mode. Come join the celebration September 14th and 15th, 2012 and for the first time ever, experience the magic of Bristol by night. Enjoy a wide variety of beverages including tasty specialty beers and unique cocktails. The green fairy herself will pour the Absinthe. Savor juicy cooked to order food while swaying in time to the vibrant beat of popular bands, 3D and 89 Mojo. See you there! Sincerely, Bristol's Birthday Hosts HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS:  Tickets can be purchased by calling the office 847-395-7773. Tickets can also be purchased at the Guest Services Gazebo during any faire day. $6 per night or $10 for the whole weekend.  The fine print: Office is open 9am-5pm Monday thru Friday and 8am-8pm Saturday and Sunday. Cash, check or credit card accepted. Tickets are only valid for the date on the ticket. No exchanges are permitted. No refunds. Lost tickets cannot be refunded or replaced. Orders placed using a credit card will be charged a $3 processing fee per order. Physical tickets will be mailed for credit card orders. **NOTE:  This is not a Renaissance faire. Costumes and Masks are not permitted. This is a modern rock concert event where everyone is invited to simply come, party, and enjoy a great night out!**  Bristol's 25th Birthday Experience the Magic of Bristol at Night! We start at 6 PM Friday the 14th and party until midnight.  Saturday the 15th we open at 3 PM and close at 12 PM. Cover charge is $6.00 a night or the whole weekend for $10.00.  This is a limited ticket event.  First come, first served.  Watch for additional information. Where & When 12550 120th Ave Kenosha, WI 53142 September 14 (6PM - Midnight) September 15 (3PM - Midnight)