By Susan Macdonald
For the past few weekends, my husband and I have been dancing at Shelby Farms in 90-plus degree heat, practicing the Black Nag, the Queen’s Almaine, and the Brawl. I’ve been making bunting and putting up posters. My husband has been hammering, drilling, and grommeting. My son, a Millington Central High School Trojan, has been testing walkie-talkies and choosing a muffin cap. My daughter, a Millington Middle School student, has been reading Shakespeare over summer vacation and learning to Brawl. Why? We’re getting ready for the Inaugural Mid-South Renaissance Faire. What do you need to do to get ready for the Renaissance Faire? Put on some sunscreen and a hat, grab your wallet, and come out to Shelby Farms the last two weekends of August. There’s plenty to see and do at the Renaissance Faire. Luckily, four-day passes are available at a discount price. Queen Elizabeth I and her court will be there. There will be a children’s quest and a scavenger hunt; boys and girls who complete either (or both, for ambitious youngsters) will be knighted by Good Queen Bess herself. There will be jousters, jesters, jugglers, and jewelers. There will be merchants, magicians, and minstrels, fighters and fairies, bagpipers and buccaneers, dancers and dragons. Be sure to bring your wallet, because the vendors will have a wide variety of merchandise for sale: leatherwork, clothing, jewelry, knives, jams, tankards, soaps, dulcimers, toys, and more. Henna tattoos, fancy braiding, and face painting will also be available. Games include Giant Chess, Jacob’s Ladder, Dunk the Dunce, and Tug of War. Three stages will offer plenty of entertainment: dancers, musicians, magic shows, juggling, and storytelling. There will be three jousts daily, plus demonstrations of archery, swordsmanship, and historic arts and crafts. You can’t have a faire without feasting. There will be turkey legs (a Renaissance Faire staple), meat pies, chicken salad sandwiches, corn dogs, funnel cakes, Italian pimiento cheese sandwiches, gyros, steak on a stake, fish and chips on a stake, ice cream, and more. Drinks include bottled water, lemonade, iced tea, and for those over 21, beer, hard cider, ale, and mead. Ale and mead tastings are scheduled twice a day. The Mid-South Renaissance Faire will be at Shelby Farms, Aug. 22, 23, 29, and 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, check out their website: www.midsouthrenfaire.com.
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