Queen Bess & the Pyrates!
I had a great time at Queen Bess & the Pyrates, which is very much a fantasy faire. Where else in this area would you find later period dressed Pyrates, including Jack Sparerib (a Jack Sparrow lookalike), hobnobing with Good Queen Bess, with flighty fairies abounding?
Yeah, at many Ren faires it seems.
But this one was very good, lots of fun, not nearly as hot (although very windy on Saturday), and located in a beautiful location in Fresno's Woodward Park (back area near the dog park). From the top of the Queen's hill, we could not see one single modern building, unless you looked behind us. The view of a distant river was lovely, and the green grass, shady trees, even with gopher holes, was worth the treck up the hill to be in Court.
I would love to enjoy a SCA war on this site, although I have no idea how well that would really work, having never been to a war. So maybe just a nice large SCA event here?
It was also good seeing an old friend who made the treck from Northern California to this event to recite his lengthy Irish poems and sagas. He even came over and recited the Queen's favorite story, Bridget's Bog, iirc. About an old woman in the middle of a battle between the English and Irish. Rather fitting for the day, considering the Irish that were about the shire, including Grace O'Malley and her crew (of course she was there, she's a Pyrate!)
And I got a chance to get the Earl of Derby in trouble with the Queen... but what else am I to do, when he has Sir Francis Drake yelling out "Make way for his Grace(!!) Lord Derby!". Oh, really... and who elevated Derby to Duke (or King?)! Actually got them both in trouble in a wonderful little gig, that I took photos of as I could.
Which reminds me... I now know why I need a digital Rebel. I could take more photos, share them on CD, and not run out of film in the middle of a gig. Someday.
It was a good event, and I had a good time. And at dinner after teardown, the courts discussed plans for next year's events for QE1. They also discussed a bit about plans for 2 years from now, when Tulare will celebrate their 20th anniversary! (Gads, I've been doing faire for 21 years this Hanford, minus those years I took a sabattical). IoM will be doing late 1590s, approximate date, and we have two years to make new garb for it. I am thinking I want to make mine up to be finished by January of that year, so I can enter it into Pentathalon that year. I just need to find an inspiration piece to work from.
Well, I need to head off and start dinner. Then finish up my client's outfit. I will be up late tonight for sure.
Yeah, at many Ren faires it seems.
But this one was very good, lots of fun, not nearly as hot (although very windy on Saturday), and located in a beautiful location in Fresno's Woodward Park (back area near the dog park). From the top of the Queen's hill, we could not see one single modern building, unless you looked behind us. The view of a distant river was lovely, and the green grass, shady trees, even with gopher holes, was worth the treck up the hill to be in Court.
I would love to enjoy a SCA war on this site, although I have no idea how well that would really work, having never been to a war. So maybe just a nice large SCA event here?
It was also good seeing an old friend who made the treck from Northern California to this event to recite his lengthy Irish poems and sagas. He even came over and recited the Queen's favorite story, Bridget's Bog, iirc. About an old woman in the middle of a battle between the English and Irish. Rather fitting for the day, considering the Irish that were about the shire, including Grace O'Malley and her crew (of course she was there, she's a Pyrate!)
And I got a chance to get the Earl of Derby in trouble with the Queen... but what else am I to do, when he has Sir Francis Drake yelling out "Make way for his Grace(!!) Lord Derby!". Oh, really... and who elevated Derby to Duke (or King?)! Actually got them both in trouble in a wonderful little gig, that I took photos of as I could.
Which reminds me... I now know why I need a digital Rebel. I could take more photos, share them on CD, and not run out of film in the middle of a gig. Someday.
It was a good event, and I had a good time. And at dinner after teardown, the courts discussed plans for next year's events for QE1. They also discussed a bit about plans for 2 years from now, when Tulare will celebrate their 20th anniversary! (Gads, I've been doing faire for 21 years this Hanford, minus those years I took a sabattical). IoM will be doing late 1590s, approximate date, and we have two years to make new garb for it. I am thinking I want to make mine up to be finished by January of that year, so I can enter it into Pentathalon that year. I just need to find an inspiration piece to work from.
Well, I need to head off and start dinner. Then finish up my client's outfit. I will be up late tonight for sure.