By Michael Breckenridge
The 16th annual Northwest Renaissance Festival kicked off this weekend in Nine Mile Falls, Wash., with plenty of live action role playing, including jousting, melodrama, battle chess (LARP+chess=battle chess) and pub singing.
The festival, which runs four weekends this summer from June 26 to July 18, is an excellent family venue with simultaneous events held on multiple stages to keep everyone in the family entertained, all at the same time, not necessarily at the same place. Gate is open 11am to 7pm and each day opens and closes with a traditional cannon fire.
Jousting! Photo by Michael Breckenridge
Attendees are encouraged to dress in character, so naturally, there I was. All medieval, Renaissance and pirate goers are welcome. The festival website offers a dollar-off coupon to help save on expenses. It’s also worth noting it’s quite a drive to the “Village of Pleasance”, as the permanent facility is called, so it’s good to plan accordingly. It’s also difficult to find on Google Maps by the address given on the festival website, so I’ve done the hard work for you: here’s the exact location. The site is in Stevens County, and it’s beautiful country up there.
For the best experience, a costume should be accompanied by appropriate accessories. There is a water wench who will fill your own silver goblet or pewter stein (lead-free, of course) as you sit and watch the events at The List (where the joust is held). Even if you don’t have a costume, wear a hat. Not only is a hat considered an absolutely required part of a medieval costume, it also keeps at bay the ravages of the sun, filtered through trees though it is.
The festival is held in a forest of huge ponderosa pines, the Northwest’s version of Sherwood Forest. The grounds are also home to a family of peacocks who roam freely across the grounds, cocking their heads up and calling loudly to one another and occasionally giving their own impromptu performances with a show of their beautiful plumage.
Approximately 50 costumed cast members make attendance a memorable experience. There are also numerous vendor booths selling period wares for men, women and children so you can take a piece of the Middle Ages home with you. Everything from articles of clothing and jewelry to knives and swords are available.
A choir of ladies join Hawke in singing "The Dark Lady". Photo by Michael Breckenridge
The festival attracts numerous regional Renaissance acts, including Hawke (mix of folk styles and bardic hymns), the Silver Strings (Celtic fiddle music), Red Hugh (Irish traditionals on guitar), and Jameela (Mideast dances).
This year’s daily itinerary includes dancing, games on horseback, a mud show, the Court of Barony, a gypsy show, a comedy show called Zoupa de Zonia, jousting, and of course, the pub sing, which includes a stirring rendition of “The Dark Lady” played by the bard Hawke on his acoustic guitar and accompanied by a choir of bodiced wenches.
It’s at a time like this that having one’s own goblet comes in especially handy. Beer is served at the pub, an outdoor seating area called the Whitethorne Inn, and a cold pint never tasted better than when dressed for the part and giving a hearty “Arr!” and toasting “Here, here!” in choruses of the Dark Lady, a traditional pirate song.
The festival doesn’t end at the gate, however. For those who have a Renaissance costume and would like to see themselves on the big screen, movie director Joe Lynch left some fliers at the ticket booth for his new film, “Knights of Badassdom”, which will be shot in the Spokane area this summer.
Related Reading:
Related posts:
