See a preview of the Renaissance Faire this weekend.
Maidens and knights: Thee Northern California Renaissance Faire is painting Casa de Fruta red through Oct. 16. With a pirate invasion planned for this weekend, there’s plenty to see, do, hear, smell and taste. Details: www.norcalrenfaire.com.
PIRATE INVASION
With this weekend’s pirate invasion theme, it’s time to take out those eye patches and swords, and go “Arrrgh!” at the Northern California Renaissance Faire. Filled with events and activities for all ages, there’s something for everyone. According to organizers, it’s one of the most popular weekends.
During this invasion, many Johnny Depp look-alikes as well as a magician who goes by “Captain Jack Spare-ribs.” Some have been collecting and building them for years, while others create them just for fun. Children under 7 years old are welcome to enter the costume contest, as they will be awed by an audience with Queen Elizabeth and Sir Frances Drake, an infamous privateer and rumored consort of the Queen.
There are eight stages of entertainment from a variety of acts ranging from Punch and Judy to Comedia.
For hands-on activities, visit the Past-Times Workshop Garden, where renaissance art and handcraft workshops are offered all day. Workshops include learning how to make pirate and princess hats, decorating Venetian masks, mastering Viking weave or Japanese braiding, and many more. Knights will also be on hand to teach sword fighting lessons.
Enjoy tea with the Queen, chat up the Queen’s Guard, gossip with members of St. Lukes, take part in a drill at the German camp, or admire the Gypsy Horses ridden by member of the Equine Guild. Watch joust, a major attraction that plays on loyalties to each of the knights. The audience transforms into citizens celebrating a festival day at the faire cheering and jeering as knights play the most dangerous contact sport.
The faire is also a place to appreciate the art and handcraft of our artists and artisans. On the Silk Road, visit Traders’ Market to see the most unusual sights ever to enter England. From the Far East, try on costumes of fine silk or choose a traditional tracery by henna body artists. Excite your imagination seeing relics from trade with Indian and African colonies.
Year after year, guests come back because of the food, playful atmosphere and amazing costumes, and as well as the entertainment. With reality suspended during the faire, senses and thought are fully occupied. Sights of beggars, constables, trades persons, and nobility go about their daily life with the sounds of vocal and instrumental music, odors of English and foreign foods together.
Community service volunteer opportunities are available for high school and college students. Past-Times Workshop Garden and several of other guides are non-profit organizations. Students with interests in acting, teaching, art, music, recreation, hospitality and many social science professions will find the faire a good place for learning and giving.
WHAT: Northern California Renaissance Faire
WHEN: “Find Your Fantasy” every Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 17 through Oct. 16
TIME: 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. (Celtic Rock Series starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday)
WHERE: Casa de Fruta, 10031 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister
COST: $25 at the gate; children 12 and under will be admitted FREE the entire run of Faire.
A weekend pass, which covers the admission for one weekend, is $35. A ‘Fairever’ pass, which allows unlimited access all 10 days, is $150
INFO: For more information and tickets, visit www.norcalrenfaire.com or call (408) 847-FAIR
