LIFE’S FLAVORS 5/12- ALLISON LIBBY-THESING OF THE OAKS BED & BREAKFAST
We are taking a little detour this week and checking out the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie, Texas. The festival runs April – May on the weekends and is fun for the whole family. No need to wear a costume but if you have one please feel free to wear one. We personally love to dress up and participate in that small way when visiting the faire.
Tickets for faire entry can be purchased at the gate or on-line from their website. Be sure to bring a mix of cash and credit cards, some vendors take only cash but many more are moving towards credit cards as well. Plus it’s always nice to have a few dollar bills for tipping the entertainers and food vendors at the end of a show or purchase.
Enter the realm of mid-century England, where there are knights, ladies and pirates abound. Explore the artisans who have created hand made items for your purchase. Watch a show about a juggler, a falconer, or a pincushion. The Renaissance festival is never short on entertainment.
One of the best parts about the faire is to see all the costume and just people watch. It’s worth the price of admission to see the creativity and detail people take into creating a costume that fits the desired character they want to display. Wood sprites, lords and ladies, pirates, and commoners. Over the years the period costumes have changed to add in more mythological creatures, different fantasy genres, and more as people create costumes that are no longer just medieval in time frame.
If people watching is not enough entertainment you can enjoy a sword fight. There is always a part of the faire where someone is attacking someone else with a sword. Do not worry no one is harmed in this sword play. There are foam swords for the kids to try, plastic swords with leather armor and of course, metal swords and armor carried by the actors and used to “play” out a scene for your entrainment. So pick your poison and enjoy a round or two with your friends and family. Take out some of your frustration on them in the form of sword play.
After you have taken your frustration out on your family or friends, pull up a bench and watch a show. There are many to choose from and it’s a come and go type of participation. You can come in late and catch up to the display or plan your arrival and watch the show from the start. Be sure to tip your artist before leaving, it’s how they make their money. You can plan your day based on what show you want to see or just wander around and find someone to enjoy.
As you wander be sure to stop in to the artesian booths to find something to take home. There is something for everyone at the faire. Add a part to your costume or buy a whole new one. Hats, jewelry and armor of all kinds. Leather, metal and cloth to cover or uncover a person as they desire. There are toys to purchase as well, such as swords, bows and arrows and juggling sticks. Add to your ladies hair style by purchasing a crown of flowers or having one of the hair braiding booths create a hair style for you. Face painting and henna art are available as well. There is something for everyone at the faire.
If you are not interested in bringing home items to keep, there is always the food to enjoy while at the faire. Turkey legs are still probably the number one seller at the faire, be sure to stop by and grab one. You can almost travel the world just by food; gyros, crepes and fried items are available. I really feel like that the faire has come a long way in offering a better variety of food to patrons who might not want to eat meat or have allergies. There is something for everyone to enjoy, including fresh fruit and sweet roasted nuts.
You can’t forget the drinks. Most vendors offer some type of bottled drink, but there are also booths that will sell beer, wine and mead. Save your bottles from water or fruit juice to refill from water fountains stationed around the park. Since the faire is during months that can be hot, be sure to stay hydrated and move around to shaded areas. First aid is available on site, but no one wants to have to use their services, for dehydration or heat exhaustion if they don’t have to.
You can’t forget the games. Try your hand at archery, “jousting,” ax or dagger throwing, and there are plenty of games for kids. As well as rides, such as swings, rock climbing, pony, camel, or elephant rides, and more. The entertainment goes one depending upon what you want to experience. The atmosphere is truly like a festival every weekend in a mid-century village.
We hope that you will take a trip to Waxahachie and explore the Scarborough faire with your friends and family. It is well worth the trip and such a fun adventure, that you do not want to miss. Check out their website for more information on themed weekends so that you can find your favorite. Plus they offer special food , and drink experiences as well, for advanced purchase. Just one more way to enjoy the faire and gather memories that will last a life time.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl7lcUA0QTE
Contributed by Allison Libby-Thesing
