Iowa Renaissance Festival

[Prof. John Bull]

I was there playing guitar as part of "Hardtack Jack."  We all had a great time in spite of the weather.  While the OWRF at Twig (no longer active) will always have a special place in my festie heart, the Iowa festival captures some of the same magic and is a fine place to be early in the year when the festival in Shakopee is still far in the future.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

It was going seeing you folks, good show, even though the crowd was small.

[Lady Rosalind]

I was there playing guitar as part of "Hardtack Jack."  We all had a great time in spite of the weather.  While the OWRF at Twig (no longer active) will always have a special place in my festie heart, the Iowa festival captures some of the same magic and is a fine place to be early in the year when the festival in Shakopee is still far in the future.

Loved the music! Thank you for being there! 

[Godric]

We were there on Sunday, and got to hear Hardtack Jack. Well done! I also saw Gauwyn there but since we didn't get to go in garb, didn't introduce ourselves...

[Keno]

My group was vending there for all three days.  I believe my cat in her birdcage got most of the attention.

[Rowan MacD]

  We spent most of the day Saturday inside vendor tents.  We tried to walk around a bit, but the rain would pick up again.
  We saw Gauwyn and his Lady, met up with Sunshine again (gorgeous favors) had some custom leather work done at The Den of Antiquities, and talked hats and construction techniques with Felicity of Fyne Hats.  Hubby looked over a few swords, and we watched Punch and Judy and William and Blackjack story telling. 
   It was wet fun.
   We headed back to Ankeny to see the Grandkids and visit graves for the rest of the weekend.
   We will be back next year, hopefully the weather will cooperate.   

[Charlotte Rowan]

It was going seeing you folks, good show, even though the crowd was small.

Loved the music! Thank you for being there! 

We were there on Sunday, and got to hear Hardtack Jack. Well done! I also saw Gauwyn there but since we didn't get to go in garb, didn't introduce ourselves...

I was also there, fluting with Hardtack Jack. Thank you so much for your support!  It was nice to see a few familiar faces and I'm glad you enjoyed the music.

[Sunshine]

I'll throw in some more compliments for Hardtack Jack. You guys delight at both conversation and song. I'll have to get better pictures and video when it's sunny. Did Chris pass along the few I sent him? And hey, are you sure "The Night I Punched Russel Crowe" doesn't count as period...?

It was good to see Lord Gauwyn & Lady Addilay again, and Rowen, I'm glad you liked the feathers. I wasn't sure how well they'd come out, so I'm glad they were well received. Your own served admirably as a shawl clasp for the faire. Speaking of shawls, I'm glad I had them since it was so cold (jeans under the skirt, too, once I wised up), but I do dislike it when the most prominent part of my garb is something I didn't make myself! Gonna have to make a cloak next, but it'll be hard to get motivated now that it's summer and I've got ideas for another theme for my blue dress... #firstworldproblems

[Rowan MacD]

  Does anyone have the dates for 2014? Faire is under new management as of this year, so Festivals International has nothing on it.

  Hope we get drier weather this year!

[Rowan MacD]

 Via E-mail- 2014 dates are here!


http://www.iowarenfest.com/iowarenfest/home.html

Memorial day weekend 2014-24-25-26 May
Middle Amana Park, Ia
$10 adults
kids 4-12-$6
Under 4-free.

[Butch]

Yay!  It looks like Michael and I will be going this year!

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Yay!  It looks like Michael and I will be going this year!

Yep!!!

[Rowan MacD]

 Sweet!
  This having been one of the dryer winters, hoping for a dry spring too (sorry farmers).  2012 was gorgeous. This such a pretty little faire.
  Do we have a vendor list yet?

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Dryer would be good - it rained hard and constant for the first two days last year, but did let up on the third day.  Too bad too, since it was the most vendors I had seen, but low turnout due to the weather.

Not sure how dry the winter was here - there was snow on the ground until recent, but it was quite cold so hardly any thawing of what snow we had.

Wonder how the new guy will fare with the faire?

Butch, I have warned the neighbors you are coming and staying 

[Lady Rosalind]

Dryer would be good - it rained hard and constant for the first two days last year, but did let up on the third day.  Too bad too, since it was the most vendors I had seen, but low turnout due to the weather.

Not sure how dry the winter was here - there was snow on the ground until recent, but it was quite cold so hardly any thawing of what snow we had.

Wonder how the new guy will fare with the faire?

Butch, I have warned the neighbors you are coming and staying 

There is no new guy... the sale fell through, last I heard.

Have Court, Will Travel will be back performing (are we gluttons for punishment, or what?). Last year, we spent plenty of time under the shelter, watching the flooding, watching the people trying to get their vintage Airstream trailer out, NOT watching jousting, because it was too dangerous, and giggling over Punch and Judy a couple of times a day (which was hilarious).

The thing about this faire: at least ONE day will be rainy. If you get really unlucky, like we did last year, all three days will have rain, the bathroom floors will be wet and muddy, and you will either be BOILING hot, or FREEZING cold. There is no in-between! However, with a little good attitude, and good humor, you can still have fun!