My Love for Historical Fiction Inspired Adventure – St. Louis Renaissance Fest
As I have stated many times already in our short lived blog, I like learning about and experiencing how other people lived and even live now. I have always enjoyed a good historical fiction book, and my first introduction to them was from my then 70 year old Aunt Opal who gave me a stack of Jude Deveraux books in the seventh grade. She told me she would give the dirtier ones when I got older. Lol From that moment on I fell in love with that time period of castles, knights, kings and queens, court, and all the encompassed that time period.
After making my way through those historical romances, I explored more authors in the same genres but then expanded into more historically accurate (accurate as the time period could be) books about Henry the VIII and all of his wives. I found Philippa Gregory and read almost all of her books. Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth books were massive books covering fictional accounts of the building of the impressive stone churches that still remain today. And then finally the most recent (being in the last 10 years), I discovered The Outlander Series. Another series of massive books that brought us Jamie and Claire and all the history too.
Often these books romanticize the time period and only concentrate on glorifying those good parts of history (except the 1000 page ones that go into the unattractive parts of history). I know that if I had lived during that time period that it wouldn’t have been as appealing. First I would have been the blind woman roaming the town begging for money because I am lost without my glasses or contacts. Second I probably would have been born into a life as a peasant or servant because that would have been my luck. (Although on the brief bit of research I have done on Ancestry.com, I may have a bit of royalty in me.) And last I probably wouldn’t have lived very long because my independent ideas and mouth wouldn’t have been accepted very well by the men of the time period.
So would I want to go back and actually live in that era of history? No. But I would like to experience a taste of it whenever I can.
On that original Bucket List that I keep mentioning, I had included a Renaissance Faire. Somewhere I had heard mention of a large one in Maryland and I was intrigued. I didn’t want to do the costumes or the role-playing, but I did want to wander through a village and experience what those women in my books may have felt.
I knew I wouldn’t be making it to Maryland for the Faire anytime soon, so I began looking even closer. And I was able to find the St. Louis Renaissance Fest which actually takes places in Wentzville. I found this fest about the same time that Katie and I had started setting out and exploring different events. So around 2014.
I’m not sure if Katie was really into it but being the good best friend she was willing to tag along. It also promised the possibility of different food and that is always a “yes.”
Let me just say this. You need to attend one of these events with an open mind. Grown adults will be dressed up in costumes approaching you as if they are a king or queen and you are a commoner. If you go in with an open mind and embrace the spirit of the day then it will be a much more enjoyable experience.
On the main stage we were able to take in two different shows – a fire-eating juggler and belly dancers. The juggler true to the time heckled the crowd while balancing on various instruments to test his balance and swallowed some fiery sticks. The belly dancers were true to the times as well. Meaning these were what we would consider average shaped women – not the perfect Barbie dolls you would expect today.
We did a little shopping in the market. Which were small buildings or huts worked by costumed shop owners trying to peddle their wares. There was a large selection of handcrafted jewelry, costumes you could buy and wear, knives and swords, and a wide selection of other items. I purchased an assortment of scented bath salts. She bought a gypsy skirt. I guess Katie and I were enjoying the atmosphere because we bought ourselves some wraps with the jingly bells so we could make a little noise of our own. Maybe we were inspired by the belly dancers. LOL
It was a hot day but we made our way up to the arena where the jousting exhibition was to take place. The court entered the arena to take their special seats while trumpets announced their entrances. Jousters entered on their horses wearing their representative colors. We set among the bleachers and watched the show.
And of course we tried the foods. Now the food wasn’t all representative of the period which is something I wish had been a little different. Two of the foods we tried were a lamb gyro and fried oreos which were definitely not of the time but still good.
If you want to take a step back in time then check out the St. Louis Renaissance Fest. If you really want to venture out there then pick a costume and join the fun. Maybe that should be added to my bucket list – design and sew my own costume to be worn to a Renaissance Faire.
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