are there any particular vendors or acts I should see/buy from?
Whenever I have made it, I enjoy the Sirens, the Tartan Terrors, the archery demonstration, the shakespere playsand the featured artists contracted specifically for the different themed weekends.
The Swashbuckler Brew Pub. :D
The plotline stories are always good to check out if you like to follow the story. The chess match and final joust should be really good this year. I'm just starting to hear some plans at our rehearsals and they are shaping up to be really exciting and fresh this year.
Oh, and come to peasant dance. Its a fun show to get involved with and meet some new people (and I"m not just saying that because I'm one of the instructors ;))