Saturday morning I woke up to rainy, cold weather. This was totally unacceptable, so my husband, daughter and I jumped into the car and headed for the sunshine and old friends.
That's right. We headed back in time to a place where traveling minstrels perform on the streets of the open market, royalty mingles with peasants, and food, drink and sunshine are plentiful.
We went to the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville for the 11th year in a row. We arrived just as the cannon was being set off to announce the opening of the gates. The king and queen, along with their royal court, greeted their visitors cheerfully from the balcony of the castle.
As we walked through the gate, we were transported to another time. Many people were dressed in period clothing. Street vendors offered trinkets and minstrels told stories, performed magic and sang medieval songs.
We stopped to say hello to Mother and Father Goose and the geese then moved on to a magician who demonstrated some slight of hand for us.
We continued through the market where artisans of all types, - glass, metal, jewelry, leather, potters and weavers - sold their wares.
We passed by the food vendors, saving them for later, but when we stopped to get a drink we met Amanda Wilson, who is from Hickory. She has been a beer wench with the festival for five years now.
We saw some old friends, Don Juan and Miguel, Dextre Tripp the Acrobat, Thom Selectomy the Sword Swallower, The Tortuga Twins, London Broil, Ded Bob and the Green Man.
And we met some new ones. Cast in Bronze is a 13-ton traveling carillon which features 48 bells. It is the only musical act of its kind in the world. Manolete Flaming Boleadoras demonstrated Flamenco dancing and the Nunnie Nunnies offer some very funny counseling for visitors.
Our day would not be complete without some steak on a stake and the Final Joust of the Day, which became a duel to the death. Fortunately, our knight, who was good, defeated the bad knight who usually wins and received the good favor of the queen.
As we walked to the gate and the 21st century, the cannon boomed, announcing the end of the day. We were tired, but we were happy and are looking forward to next year. Huzzah!
Did you go to the Renaissance Festival? I want to know. E-mail me at mzimmerman@hickoryrecord.com.
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