The Fishers Renaissance Faire

The city of Fishers, Indiana, will be holding its second annual Renaissance Faire on Saturday September 30, 2006 through Sunday October 1, 2006. The Faire takes place at Heritage Park in Fishers from 10AM to 6PM, rain or shine. Shuttles will be available to transport visitors to the Faire from remote parking lots, which will be clearly marked from multiple directions and quite easy to find. Handicap parking will be available onsite.

Patrons are welcome to arrive wearing period costumes, as it lends to the realism and enjoyment of the Faire. But casual wear is perfectly acceptable and no one will feel out of place wearing street clothes. Weapons will be allowed on a case by case basis, with safety of patrons being the primary concern; unsheathed weapons will not be allowed.

I was invited to the opening day of the inaugural Fishers Renaissance Faire in 2005 by a pair of artisan friends who had driven in from Oklahoma City to sell beautiful handmade fairy wings. Having never been to a Renaissance Faire, I was apprehensive. I was concerned that the kids would be bored, and I mistakenly thought attending a Renaissance Faire would feel awkward or dowdy. I was wrong. It was a wonderful experience that our entire family is looking forward to attending again this year. We arrived early in the day last year; it was a cool autumn morning, and the light fog hanging over the park made the event seem a touch more magical.

Just as last year, a variety of artisans will be on site selling their wares, including swords, beads, jewelry, glass, ceramics, and period costumes. An Usborne Books representative will be set up selling books on dragons and fairies and knights. There will also be almost two dozen participating food vendors at the 2006 Fishers Renaissance Faire, including ice cream and gelato booths, kettle corn, BBQ, pizza, and Quizno's sub sandwiches. While most vendors at the Faire are able to accept credit cards, food, games booths, and special attractions may require cash. There will be no on-site ATM machine, so come prepared.

While patrons of all ages will find enjoyment at the Faire, there are a few special events worth mentioning that are just for the youngsters. For a fee, little boys will have the opportunity to be "knighted" and little girls can be made official "princesses" for the day. And a special Kids Karnival area will provide games for preschool and school age children.

Of course the Fishers Renaissance Faire is primarily a visual history celebration. The vast array of performers around the Faire are really what make the day enjoyable. The As You Like It Players will perform brief Shakespeare vignettes on their outdoor stage. I was lucky enough to catch one of their performances last year, and found it quite comical. Another popular performance last year was the jousting knights on horseback; the small hillside to the side of the jousting arena was packed with visitors enjoying the colorful tournament. The Royal Falconer will be returning this year as well, demonstrating his birds of prey. There will also be a puppet theatre, story tellers, irish dancers, and wandering madrigals, magicians, and jugglers. Visitors will truly feel like they have been transported to another time.

More information about The Fishers Renaissance Faire can be found at the official website, www.fishersrenfaire.com. Or visit www.renfaire.com for information about Renaissance Faires in general, including a general history of the Renaissance time period, as well as a helpful language pronunciation guide.