SNOHOMISH—Many of the cast and crew members working the annual Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire this year shared a similar story of how they initially joined.
While some were born-and-raised to Rennie parents, traveling the Ren Faire Circuit as performers, actors, or vendors, most recalled their first introduction to Ren Faire life as a simple peak of curiosity.
Some were traveling down a highway and stopped to see what all of the tents in a field all were about, others were invited to attend by friends and family, some saw the faire being advertised and just thought it would be a unique thing to do on a sunny summer day.
Whatever the case, most are left feeling enchanted in some way, not unlike the enchanted illusion of being transported to a time nearly 720 years ago. For some that enchantment is enough, for others it manifests in a need to get involved.
Typically, this begins with volunteering. Depending on how you do, who you meet, and the connections you make, the opportunities only go from there.
My wife and I had a similar experience to many of these story tellers, attending our first Ren Faire four years ago when the Faire was still down in Bonney Lake. We started in plain clothes, just dipping our toes into the scene to see what the deal was.
It only took a couple hours before we were purchasing Ren Faire garb and weapons, finding a place to change, and adopting the experience full force. While sporting swords and cloaks on a city street might provoke more than a few questionable glances, we felt strangely out-of-place walking the Ren Faire in jeans and t-shirts.
After a full day of watching jousting, jugglers, and bards, perusing the shops, scarfing down turkey legs and washing it down with mead, we left that year at a loss for words except “wow.” Every year since we found ourselves getting more and more involved, befriending cast and guild members, camping, and eventually joining the Faire’s crew as volunteers.
The shifts were simple enough; directing cars into parking lanes, checking campers in as they arrive—the typical task assignments for Faire volunteer newbies such as us.
It was a scorching, nearly 90-degree, weekend from August 8 through August 11 and the worst part about the work was standing in the sweltering sun in thick costumes and no access to a shower. Still, for the price of admission, camping, and food and drink vouchers, it was worth it. For the opportunity to help the festivities come together it was priceless.
We were free to roam the faire after our shifts and engage in any activity we desired. Back at Cast and Crew camping, where we were placed, we saw many of the actors and performers take their breaks to eat their food, rehearse for their next show, or cool off in their air-conditioned campers.
Of these crew members the Wyldewood Fae Guild, our camping neighbors, shared their story of how the mother/daughter guild was founded almost 30 years ago. By the end of the weekend, they were asking us to join their guild as cast for upcoming Ren Faire in Oregon and subsequent years of the Washington Midsummer Renaissance. I told them we would have to decide between their guild and the Queen’s Court, who had offered us acting positions just days before.
We fit in a lot in our four days at this year’s Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire, beginning our day bright and early to check-in for our shift, taking a break to take a baby wipe shower back at camp, and returning to the fairgrounds to embark on a day’s worth of activities like archery, escape rooms, fencing, tabletop games, and viewing shows like the trending social media icon Jacque Ze Whipper, jugglers, standup comedians, and singing bards.
When the sun goes down, the afterparty begins when Red Dragon Inn opens its doors featuring karaoke, costume contests, burlesque shows, and jaw-dropping fire dancers.
Was it worth the hard work of standing in hot sun all morning helping guests, getting sun burnt, and feeling achy all-over wearing boots and a heavy sword across my back for four days straight? Absolutely and we have every intention of doing it next year.
The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire could not have been possible without the help of its cast, crew, and volunteer staff members. To get involved all you have to do is fill out a volunteer form on the Faire’s website at: https://washingtonfaire.com/volunteers/
Although this year’s Faire only has one weekend left (on August 17 through August 18), there are still plenty of years to come to either enjoy as a patron, volunteer as staff, or participate as one of almost 200 different vendors selling everything from soaps; to swords; to leather; to musical instruments.
For more information about the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire please read the Lynnwood Times’ last year’s write-up by clicking here.
Kienan Briscoe, Lynnwood Times Senior Reporter
COMMENTARY DISCLAIMER: The views and comments expressed are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Lynnwood Times nor any of its affiliate
Author: Kienan Briscoe
