Bristol Ren Faire

Faire skies ahead

The Door County Renaissance Fantasy Faire takes place Saturday and Sunday and July 2-3 at the Gerald Kuehn farm at 5526 Monument Point Road, a half-mile east of Wisconsin 42, just north of Carlsville. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. The Faire is open rain or shine.
Tickets are $12 for ages 16 through 60, $9 seniors and ages 5 through 15 at the gate; cash only. A $1 discount is offered for bringing a canned or nonperishable food item or being dressed in period or fantasy attire. Admission is free to active or retired military personnel with proper identification. Parking is free.
For more information, call (920) 973-8233, email dcrff@att.net or go to www.doorcowirenaissance .com or www.facebook.com /RenaissanceFaire.

It's certainly nowhere near as large as its more famous and longer-running neighbors — the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in the Twin Cities and the Bristol Renaissance Faire near the Wisconsin-Illinois state line — but the Door County Renaissance Fantasy Faire enters its second year with something to build on after what producer/director Sandy Stetler described as a strong debut in 2010.

"The numbers we drew, everyone said it was phenomenal for a first-time event," Stetler said. "The vendors and entertainers, they've worked at other Renaissance fairs, and they said that this was one of the best venues to hold this type of event. There's a mix of open fields for the jousting and other events and wooded areas for the vendors and entertainers."

That venue — the Gerald Kuehn farm, just north of Carlsville — will see knights, jousters and jesters, fire jugglers, belly dancers, minstrels, faeries and dragons, ale tankards and turkey legs, sword makers and silk artists, the Royal Court of King Edward and Queen Catherine and more when it hosts the 2011 Faire the next two Saturdays and Sundays.

The Faire, like others held across the country, is an adventurous trip back in time — way back, to the England of the mid-20th century, with costumed performers and artisans showing what life was like in those days. Unlike some other Renaissance festivals, Stetler said this one is more family friendly, lacking the bawdiness and double-meaning banter seen and heard elsewhere.

"We really feel it provides something we need in Door County," Stetler said. "It's something (Kuehn) wanted to do to give back to Door County. It's something for families and children to do together ... like a step back in time and an escape from reality.

I want to carry the Bristol Renaissance Faire's Jane the Phoole ...

Mention that you’re visiting a Renaissance Faire and you’ll be met with a couple of different reactions. One of them is a raised eyebrow and a slightly alarmed look. That usually comes from someone who thinks of a Ren Faire as a weird Star Trek-ish convention for 16th century fanatics. (No offense to the lovely @dearbadkitty , who is a Trekkie.)

The other reaction is a wide-eyed, “I’m so excited for you” expression of happiness. That one comes from someone who has been to a Ren Faire.

I took my trusty sidekick Michelle with me to do a “ Cruzing Chicagoland ” video shoot at the Bristol Renaissance Faire , which is located on the Wisconsin side of the Wisconsin/Illinois border, just off I-94. The season doesn’t begin until July 9th, but the folks there were kind enough to arrange for one of the performers (who has portrayed the real, historical character Jane the Phoole for twenty years!) to meet us there in full costume (which was amazing in itself), ready to be on camera talking about the Faire for as long as we needed.

And she was wonderful. (Everyone there was!) Michelle and I had a great time learning about the Ren Faire and it only took about five minutes for us to look at each other and start trying to figure out when we could bring our families there, together.

I could go on and on about it, but I think you’ll enjoy watching Jane the Phoole (who, if you close your eyes and listen, sounds very much like Russell Brand!) a little bit more. And before you wonder, yes, I will be assembling a blooper reel from the extra footage.

Renaissance Faire

Encyclopedia of Observances, Holidays and Celebrations from MobileReference

Plunkett's Entertainment & Media Industry Almanac 2006, The Only Complete Guide to the Technologies and Companies Changing the Way the World Shares Entertainment and Information

Lonely Planet's 2011 Best in Travel

Renaissance Fairs, Wicked Events, Bristol Renaissance Faire, Jonbeel Mela, Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, Sterling Renaissance Festival