There’s only a month and a half left until the beers, bratwursts
and bosoms return to Casa de Fruta for the annual Renaissance
Faire, and the city of Hollister already is having to deal with
some early bird troublemakers
– Pirates.
There’s only a month and a half left until the beers, bratwursts and bosoms return to Casa de Fruta for the annual Renaissance Faire, and the city of Hollister already is having to deal with some early bird troublemakers – Pirates.
Sir Frances Drake appeared at the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce meeting Wednesday night to warn county residents about pirates who may be running around the area and raising havoc before and during the faire. Apparently, International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19 is the same weekend the faire opens to the public, but Queen Elizabeth I has released a statement declaring that any pirate who tries to mess with the faire will be “dealt with severely,” he said.
“Her majesty Queen Elizabeth will hold court at our village marketplace,” Drake told the Free Lance. “Privateers who enter our land and create disturbance will be arrested and held in the stocks.”
Drake, known in the real world as Will Wood, passed out cards at the San Benito Chamber of Commerce mixer Wednesday night to promote the event.
“We really want to encourage everyone to dress up and participate this year,” Wood said. “There will be beautiful costumes to rent and clothing to buy at the faire, and no matter who you are, you can participate in the acting in the streets.”
When they’re not enjoying the shows or acting themselves, visitors of this year’s faire can dine on food from different eras and different countries. Complete with fish and chips, a chocolate maker, steak-on-a-stake and wild rice served with quail, Wood said there is something for everyone’s taste buds.
After 37 years of entertaining the South Valley, the faire almost came to an end after the Renaissance Entertainment Corporation – which produces similar shows in San Bernardino, Chicago and New York – decided to cancel the Northern California show.
The Northern Faire lost more than $900,000 in revenue between 1999 and 2003, according to a statement released by the company last October. That’s when participants were given notice that the show would not go on – or so people thought.
Less than a week after getting notice about the company pulling out, vendors and performers rallied together and decided they would put on the production themselves. They formed their own company called Play Faire Productions, and in May, the company finalized a contract with Casa de Fruta to present the 2004 faire on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 18 to Oct. 24.
“We’re really delighted to be coming back to the area,” Wood said. “This has been a tradition in this area for so long, and we’re happy to be carrying on that spirit.”
For more information about times, events and more, log onto: www.norcalrenfaire.com.
