Texas Renaissance Festival: 2013

It's that time of year again.

I went to the Texas Renaissance Festival this weekend with some friends. It was the first time I've ever dressed for it (basic serving wench costume - and no, there are no pictures) and I don't think I'll bother next time, or at least go for an outfit I don't have to be laced into. It wasn't especially tight, but it was hot, and the corset made bending difficult. Not worth the fuss. Besides I'm not as entertaining as the other people attending, and I don't see the point in competing. They win, hands down - see the pictures for proof.

The theme for this weekend was Barbarian Invasion, so there were a lot of pelts, leather armor, furry boots and horned helmets. 

inspecting the troops

Fear me, puny mortal! 

The ladies can do barbarian chic too

But it wasn't all macho Conan-wannabes.

Isn't he a gentlemanly looking fox?

And there are all the performers:

Sound and Fury - bad puns galore

fire juggling - I never caught a shot with the fire, unfortunately

And the animal rides (for big and little people):

I'm riding a camel!

on a hay break

 Intriguing tattoos:

I thought it was flowers, but it seems to be dancing mutant fish?

Home-made costumes:

Watch out! - It's Bud Light Man!

The kids are the best:

But by the end I was tired and feeling like this guy:

Hope your weekend was fun. Until later.

Texas Renaissance Festival - Final Weekend 2012

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving, or just a good weekend. I was lucky enough to have both. Thanksgiving was a potluck at my friend Vero's house. I brought dessert and she very kindly kept all the pie, whipped cream and chocolate mousse I made (actually insisted on keeping) so I didn't have any leftovers to worry about. Yay!

This weekend was also the last weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival. I haven't been in years and it was too lovely a day to stay indoors - so off I went.

The Green Man

Everyone has their favorite thing about the festival. For some it's the performers:


Sholo, the Nubian -  barbarian love poetry
(Kipling's "The Female of the Species" among other things. Great voice.)



Stick juggler



Pirate magician



For others, it's the games

Test your strength

Target practice - with oh-so historically accurate paintball guns

Some people even like the food



and don't forget the turkey legs!



I did it all. It's my kind of fun: I love jugglers and magicians and really corny jokes. I got my tarot cards read (the cards say I think too much), tried my hand at the longbow (I should stick to typing) and had meat on a stick. But all in all, my favorite thing is the people watching. RenFest brings out every type of costume imaginable, even those that don't really go with the theme. Darth Maul was there, as was a lady in an 18th century powdered wig, and even a ancient Greek warrior. It's weird and mixed up, but it's a lot of fun.

Texas woodland Greek

  

You can't see it too well, but he's wearing mistletoe on his codpiece - oh, for a telephoto lens!

None shall pass

 

Shiny!



The Cthulu Choristers - They sang a rousing rendition of "Oh Come Let Us Abhor Him."

The Blue Faerie

What? You've never seen a man walk down the street with a drink?

 

One of the wedding chapels (they have four, but this is the prettiest)

 

She looked so sad - I gave her a dollar