Irwindale Renaissance Faire

Editorial

Official Site
Have you ever stared at some faeries, watched a joust or a battle, met a queen, shot some arrows or watched belly dancers? Or do you prefer to learn something about history or get mocked by the Puritans? Do you like exotic costumes? Different food? Outdoor shows, plays, juggling, comedy or Shakespeare? Do shows with names like "The Belles of Bedlam", "Broon!", "MooNiE the Magnif'cent", "Bold and Stupid Men", "Pye Powder Court", "Marlowe's Shadowe!" or "The Poxy Boggards" sound interesting to you?

Do you like dancing, bagpipes and revelry? How about getting your face painted, participating in a theatrical wedding or having a henna drawn? Do you want some free Italian Advice or would you like to ride a giant rocking horse with a pretty lady or handsome gentleman? Or would you like to hug some pretty wenches. Perhaps you'd like to watch "Clan MacColin" or "The Copali-Copli Aztez Dancers".

If so, the Renaissance Faire is for you. There are many faires all over the United States, and one of the best takes place at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale, California. Every year starting in mid-April and continuing for seven weekends, the faire comes to Southern California. In past years it was in Agora Hills, and those days are remembered with much fondness by many. My first faire was the year that it moved to Glen Helen park in San Bernardino county, and I fondly remember that faire as well. Glen Helen was well suited to this type of show, with scenic mountains in the background, a lake and some interesting terrain.

I love the faire and look forward with great anticipation to the event every single year.  Most of all, I enjoy the costumes. I enjoy seeing people dress up, sometimes authentic down to the style of sewing and type of buttons, more often a flamboyant get-up with no basis in any history of any nation. The performers (participants) are all, of course, wearing clothes and props from 500 years ago. The visitors, such as myself, can wear whatever they want.

I always take great delight in watching the antics of characters such as Bartholomew Barrel, the May Queen, the Mistress of Misrule, Lady Phoebe and Shakespeare. Then there are more serious characters, such as Lord John Lumley and the Spanish Ambassador.

The guests of the faire are also interesting. Sometimes they come in street clothes, sometimes in something they found in their closet, occasionally something from a costume store, and often wearing, as I do, something purchased specifically for the faire by one of the many shops specializing in such things.

The dancing is always fun to watch, especially the belly dancers. This year they were quite talented and seemed to wander all over the faire, doing their dances on stage, in front of shops and just about anywhere else they wanted. I particularly enjoyed Oojam because of their colorful costumes and genuine friendliness.

I've not seen belly dancers outside of faire, so for me they are exotic and unknown. Some of the dancers were covered in jewelry everywhere; chains hanging from their nose, necklaces around their necks, rings on their fingers and bracelets on their arms. I especially enjoyed the sounds of the dance: the bells, drums and other instruments.

In 2005 and 2006 I attended the faire every weekend, and each time was the same yet different. At first, as usual, the weather was overcast, drizzly and cool. Later, as summer approached, the temperatures grew hot and the air became more dusty.

The faire has more than just pretty costumes and cute dancers: it has sound. Everywhere there are the sounds. Bells, drums, horns, fiddles, voices and just about every other sound you can imagine. I enjoy the music much more than today's carefully crafted, rehearsed, electronically modified and profitable trash. In fact, I could listen to the music at the faire all day long: in fact, that's what I spent a lot of my time doing. I especially enjoyed listening to Patrice Ruane as she played beautiful music on a small spinet.

One of the prime attractions, something that must be seen, is the queen. This lady is the centerpiece of the faire, the character around whom all other characters revolve. The opening act, which starts thirty minutes before the faire opens, sings a song in honor of the queen. The joists and mock battles are all done for the queen and many of the parades feature this grand lady. Her costume is incredible and after attending faire this year I felt like this lady would have made a good queen of England. That's how well she plays her part.

In 2006, the faire celebrated it's second year at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale. The faire increased in size dramatically since 2005; I'd estimate it is at least a third larger. This makes it the largest faire in California by far to my knowledge. I noticed significant changes in shows, the layout of the faire in general and in the number of performers, vendors and people in general. 

Each time I visit the faire, I meet many new people who know me through my web sites, my faire visits or even from life in general. I delight in receiving emails from people thanking me for their pictures or telling me a little more about their characters.

I like this location. There is a lake which tends to keep the temperature down and looks picturesque. Not to mention Santa Fe Dam is much closer to civilization, making it easier for me (and others) to get there and enjoy the faire.

I have many fond memories of a character known as Mychael Wordsmythe. This kind and gentle man entertained me for many an hour with his wonderful tales. He passed away in 2006 and is sorely missed.