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Volume 1 • Number 39
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Going medieval in modern times Renaissance Faire offers immersion in historical fun
By Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT
In the year 1574, the Port of Bristol is astir with excitement at the impending visit of Queen Elizabeth I, her Royal Highness, and ruler of the kingdom. Repairs were made throughout the city and new paint on the buildings, allowed the city to shine. Everyone was busy. The women of the community visited their favorite seamstress to order lovely new gowns befitting a visit from the queen. This was followed by a visit to their favorite jeweler to pick the jewels, which would make their outfit exquisitely unique. The knights polished their armor and were certain that their horses were appropriately groomed to make them spectacular as they participate in the jousting tournament. On a warm, sunny Saturday morning, we entered the Bristol Renaissance Faire along with many other visitors and immediately joined the spirit of the 1500s. Surprising to me was that not only were the cast members dressed in the style of 1574, but also many of the visitors came dressed for the times. We were met by Julie McMillin, publicity and social media director for the faire dressed as all members of the faire in her period dress. After greeting us warmly in her English accent, she shared some information about the dress of the day.
“Women of the time were required to wear a hat while in public and their gowns were long enough to cover their ankles. You can only see the tips of the toes on their shoes – no ankles can be seen, ” she said. As she led us through the city, back towards the jousting arena, she recounted the history of the faire. It began in 1972 when Richard and Bonnie Shapiro founded a four-weekend event known as King Richard’s Faire based on a fictional King Richard. It did incorporate a generically historic view of life in the medieval times. Through the 1970s and 1980s the faire added fantasy-based elements that included trolls, elves and wizard battles. The Renaissance Entertainment Corporation purchased the faire from the Shapiros in 1989 and moved it across the Illinois-Wisconsin border to Bristol. Changes were made including replacing the mythical monarch with Elizabeth I of England, producing more authentic costumes to represent the time which was then set as 1574. Overall the Faire became more historically correct. Feast for the eyes Wandering through the Faire, there is much to attract both the eye and ear. Musical parades meander through the
See RENAISSANCE, Page 7
SANDRA LANDEN MACHAJ Hi-Liter
Dressed in their medieval finery, this couple spends a recent afternoon meandering through the fictional 1554 community at the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Kenosha County. The faire is open weekends through Labor Day.
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