Looking back at February 18-24, 2008

Bay Area Renaissance Festival (BARF)

We had a great time this weekend at BARF in Tampa, Florida. There was general first day confusion at the ticket booths causing some frustration to the patrons Saturday. Hopefully that will be resolved as the season progresses. Opening the ticket booth after opening cannon was not impressive.

Everyone coming in knew that the potential of rain existed and, sure enough, a heavy downpour occured a bit after noon Saturday. Thanks to the guys at Legacy Forge, I stayed dry though Leinad, who loves storms, chose to go on walkabout and came back soaked to the skin.

New this season were the Acrobelum Acrobat Troupe and Pirate Tales. Acrobelum–latin for aerial combat and part of Cutting Edge Combative Entertainment— is made up of five persons, four men and a woman, each from a different country and identified only by the color of protective covering they wear. The group is constantly in motion as they wander the lanes, stopping near a merchant’s booth to attempt handstands atop carved mushrooms, doing cartwheels, leaping over each other, and generally entertaining with their mere presence. Pirate Tales is a singing group consisting of two men and five women who deliver sea shanties and pirate tales twice per day, one a family show and the other a PG13 show. Both shows were highly entertaining with outstanding harmonies and saucy attitudes. Each act offered a short performance during the Queen’s Tea to the delight of the gathering.

Florida Renaissance Festival (FlaRF)

It was a long weekend at FlaRF, with Pubsing on Friday night and Monday’s school day. There was rain both Saturday and Sunday but the show went on.

Arizona Renaissance Festival (AzRF)

Looks like the folks in Arizona had an all around great weekend. The weather stayed good, nothing above 80 degrees which is a blessing when you’re wearing court garb.