Renaissance faire celebrates three years
(Photo courtesy EPONA EQUESTRIAN TEAM) The cast of Epona in front of Castle Melusine on Schweitzer.
(Photo courtesy SANDPOINT RENAISSANCE FAIRE)The queen enjoys a ride at the 2017 faire.
(Photo courtesy DAN COPOGNO)Sir Judd and Sir Guy tilt, shattering lances at a full gallop at the 2017 Sandpoint Renaissance Faire.
SANDPOINT — Hear ye, hear ye: prepare thyself for merriment as the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire cometh to town.
This weekend will mark the third annual event, complete with two day of jousting, medieval fighting, music and more.
“It’s just a neat, magical way to bring the community together and just enjoy the weekend,” said Tanya Anderson, vice president and co-founder of the event, also known as “Her Majesty the Queen.”
One highlight of the Renaissance Faire is the jousting, with the Epona Equestrian Team from Spokane.
“We are very lucky to have Epona … they are so authentic when they are out there riding,” Anderson said, adding that there is a local equestrian team on the land where the Renaissance Faire is held that performs as well.
Other entertainment includes belly dancing, comedy, a mud show and the Blind Pew’s Pirate Cove, among others. The Fairy Realm, a craft area place for kids to make masks, flower crowns and other hands-on activities, has been upgraded this year, Anderson said.
“It gives them (the kids) a place to come in and really feel important in the faire, too … creating something and doing something of that time, and I think it is just another magical aspect of this,” she said, adding that there is no additional cost for the activities.
This year, Anderson said, they have also added Vertical Elements, a group from Spokane who does aerial dance and other entertainment. There are also more food and merchant vendors than in previous years.
Anderson said the event started after faire co-founder Anita Pew volunteered at Sandemonium a few years back. There is something about the Renaissance — the dresses, the food, the language — that both Pew and Anderson loved. So after the local comicon, Pew called up Anderson, her co-worker, and threw out the idea out of having a Renaissance fair.
“Of course there was about five minutes of screaming, ‘Yes, of course,’ and so that is where it began,” Anderson said.
They started out with four board members and have continued to grow each year, she said.
“Each person who has come in, be it a volunteer, board member, merchant, entertainer or participant, they each bring such a unique difference in quality and character that it really makes a full, rounded fair.”
The faire is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 784 Shingle Mill Road. Performers and musicians will be on stage throughout the day, with the Epona Equestrian Team holding jousting tournaments at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days.
Tickets at the gate are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and children 5-17. Children 4 and under are free. Adult tickets are reduced to $8 for anyone who brings a bag of canned food to donate to the Bonner Community Food Bank.
“We encourage people to come as you wish,” Anderson said. “Whatever costume or non-costume you want to wear — we just want people to come and enjoy.”
Information: sandpointrenfaire.com
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and ollow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.