Brightly coloured and elaborate outfits surround you and the sound of music can be heard in every direction. A glance to your right shows you a queen, king, gypsy, and a fairy. Merchants’ voices shout above the noise, offering their wares of flowers, chain mail, glassworks and pottery. For some, this scene could only be one from a dream or a movie of the distant past, but to a small community of people, it’s their everyday reality. Some will recognize this scene as that of a Renaissance Faire.

The Renaissance Faire has been happening in cities all over the country since the early 60’s. It’s a few weekends where a portion of a park steps back in time and becomes a magical and medieval realm where patrons can go to enjoy a taste of fantasy.

The Renaissance Festival in Kansas City celebrated their 40 year anniversary this year and is the largest faire in the mid-west. It boasts many attractions, including numerous stages with acts ranging from fire dancing to musical comedy like the group The Turtle and The Hair.

There is, however, a closer festival. St. Louis has had their own festival for 16 years. It was moved from Spring to Fall this year, and will run weekends of September 17 through October 16. It has its own barrage of gypsies, fairies, kings, queens, knights and more. “It’s a whole new world,” said Hollyn St. Clair (17’)

Many students and faculty from Holt participate in, or visit, the faire each year. Some get jobs as part of the cast, which is the term for people who play period accurate characters around the faire.

One such person is German teacher Mrs. Elder, who said her favorite part of the faire is “entertaining the patrons through games of chance or demonstrating our wall of weapons [in the German guild]”.

Faire is not always fun and games for its employees; it is hard work. Zach Nevin (18’) also spent time working at the faire in the forge. He remarked on a less than opportune moment at the faire, saying, “(once) I had to work the forge all day in the hard pouring rain”.

But it is all for a good cause because the patrons who come almost unanimously enjoy themselves. “It’s a cool, unique, beautiful place. (…) I’d absolutely go again,” said Dominic Stringer (18’). It is certain that there is no shortage of beauty and entertainment at a faire.