I'd previously heard of Renaissance Festivals in a couple of comics, ('Sandman' and Zolastraya & the Bard'), so understood it was a dressy-up sort of thing. While in Florida my niece mentioned it was on and so we decided to spend an afternoon out at Quiet Waters Park.

     First things that struck were the number of people clamouring to get in and people wearing swords, (admittedly peace bonded but I hadn't seen that at con's for about ten years). Also, this re-enactment-cum-crafts fair was over five weekends. It was held in one corner of a country-park in Boward County, though set in "Ye Towne of New Brighton (1535)". During the day, (everyday, presumably), there was a running play of King Henry visiting the town, taxes being stolen, political intrigue etc. Familiar enough from British re-enactment events.

     There were also twelve performance areas presenting acts ranging from story-telling, through musicians, comedy routines, (I caught parts of Axel the Sot, [rated PG] and Hack and Slash), Hercules/Xena look-a-like contest, to Falconry and a Full Armoured Joust.

     There were eight encampments, where different groups presented their versions of Living History. These included Sheepfold Studios who demonstrated weaving; Adrian Empire who did combat; Sunnerisle Spinners who demonstrated weaving; Thatha de Doonen (sic) who could cook; the Creations encampment who demonstrated weaving and from a local High School the Paladin Society which allows students to participate in the whole spectrum of period life; from costume and armour-making to dancing and cooking. Yep, they probably do bloody weaving too.

     From the free program, (I'll cover the sponsorship later), I discovered that in the run-up there had been art, writing and photography contests. The photography taking place at the previous years. The craft stalls were the sort of medievalist stuff you could find at a British re-enactment event, or even, (to a lesser extent), our own Fantasy Fairs. With the number of people this was known to attract, sponsorship had come from a local TV channel and newspapers as well as Pepsi, Harp and Guinness.

     One of the sponsors was an English-language Hispanic newspaper and knowing a little of Floridean history I was glad to see a 'Spanish Court' representation at the event. As it was also Black History Month though, the only nod to this seemed to be Temujin the Storyteller. Africans were present in Europe to some extent at this (supposed) time and before. Couldn't a 'Moorish Court' or 'Envoys from Aethiopia have been considered? Or as America had been discovered, (my history is a little rusty as to John Cabot's date, off-hand) either Caribbean or New England natives?

     The price was $12.95 for adults for one day and a fair number of the attendees came in costume, (usually indigo velvet - and that was the blokes) and even amongst the re-enactment groups some costumes were better than others. But what some lacked in authenticity, they made up for in cuteness, (I'm thinking here of the fairy- folk amongst others).

     I guess the Renaissance band-wagon comes south for the winter and heads back north for the summer. My eldest brother, who works for Nottinghamshire County Council, knows that some people from his Tourist Board go over for a Renaissance in Colorado. Some of the traders in Florida came from New York, Illinois, (no, I don't want to buy a kilt!) and even California. If Peterborough/Cambs./Northants Councils ever want to promote our own tourist attractions, (Cathedral / Cromwell county / Cambridge University / Rockingham Forest's Robin Hood tales / Hereward the Wake etc.) I guess I could be persuaded to go.

     One thing though, if those plastic objects were indeed the 'yards of ale' that they were advertised as, I'm a giant.

Reviewed by Cardinal Cox.