By Janis Mara. Bay City News.
At the Bay Area Renaissance Faire, people can try their hand at axe throwing, watch Shakespearean comedy, dress in period costumes and enjoy a trip back to the Elizabethan era. The Northern California Renaissance Faire in Hollister runs every weekend through Oct. 23.
The event, held in a glen in Casa de Fruta, recreates a village during the reign of England's Queen Elizabeth I. Attendees are encouraged to dress to suit the theme, but even if you're not up for donning a corset or speaking Old English, there should be more than enough to keep you entertained. Entertainment includes live music, jousting, dancing and refreshments.
“I don’t eat fire to impress the crowd. I just like the taste of kerosene,” said Brian Howard, one of the Fair’s entertainers. The Los Angeles resident is not only a fire-eater, he’s also an improv comedian, which adds a whole new dimension to the concept of multitasking.
The Fair's shows also include an abbreviated version of "Twelfth Night," one of the world's first romantic comedies. Written by William Shakespeare, it is packed with comedy and various machinations by characters with names like Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek.
Pirates will invade the event next weekend, according to organizers, although International Talk Like a Pirate Day was already celebrated on Monday. Guests are encouraged to dress like pirates, and there will be a pirate costume contest for children under 7. Children under 12 are admitted free to the Fair; adult admission is $35.
Jousting has long been one of the most popular activities at the Fair, with what organisers describe as full-contact jousting “for the entertainment of the Queen”. As well as watching others risk life and limb, there are plenty of participatory activities, including axe throwing, archery and knife throwing.
As you wander around the 11-acre glen, if you work up an appetite, there are plenty of provisions including turkey legs, tri-tip sandwiches and grilled artichokes.
The origins of the popular event are often disputed, but many sources report that the California Renaissance Faire began in 1963 in Agoura Hills in Southern California. The event also has a considerable history in Northern California. The Northern California version began in Marin County in 1967 at China Camp State Park, according to numerous media outlets.
This year's Fair opened last weekend and continues through October 23, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online at www.norcalrenfaire.com.
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