From Wikipedia
"A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, open to the public, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Renaissance fairs generally include an abundance of costumed entertainers, musical and theatrical acts, art and handicrafts for sale, and festival food. Most Renaissance fairs are set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England . Renaissance fairs encourage visitors to enter into the spirit of things with costumes and audience participation. All tolerate, and many welcome, fantasy elements such as wizards, fairies and elves .
Most Renaissance fairs are arranged to represent an imagined village in England during the reign of Elizabeth I , as this period has been generally considered to correspond to the flowering of the English Renaissance . In a modern Renaissance festival there are stages or performance areas set up for scheduled shows. Other performances include dancers, magicians, musicians, jugglers, and singers. Between the stages the "streets" are lined with stores ('shoppes') and stalls where independent vendors sell medieval and Renaissance theme handcrafts, clothing, books, and artworks. There are food and beverage vendors. Larger Renaissance fairs will often include a joust as a main attraction.
In addition to the staged performances, a major attraction of Renaissance fairs is the crowds of professional actors who play all sorts of historical figures and roam the fair, interacting with visitors. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes, contributing to the illusion of an actual Renaissance environment. Many of the fair vendors sell or rent costumes for all ages and types. The Renaissance fair subculture's word for these costumed guests is "playtrons", a portmanteau of the words "patron" and "player", and they add a second level of enjoyment to their experience by "getting into the act" as Renaissance Lords and ladies, peasants, pirates, belly dancers, or fantasy characters."
The Dream
For several years Chuck and Wendy H. (aka Lord Dark Wolf and Lady Gwyndolyn) have been attending Renaissance Festivals and talking to the merchants, staff, entertainers, playtrons and patrons. Listening closely to the complaints and compliments on how these festivals are run. Having each person that they talk to tell them what their "ideal" festival would be. Taking all of this information and in their minds and hearts building a Renaissance Festival that would fulfill all of the dreams and desires of the merchants, staff, entertainers, playtrons and patrons. Without them, there is NO FAIRE!!!
Knowing that they themselves want the focus to be on FAMILY, Chuck and Wendy began two special events in Frankenmuth Michigan called the End of Season Renaissance Gathering (November), and the New Years Eve Renaissance Masque (December). The idea of both gatherings was to once again bring their Renaissance Family and Friends together in the celebration of the "Love of Faire". At the same time, being able to bring new people into the large circle of family and friends in hopes that, they too, would fall in love with the Renaissance Festival.
The Reality
After sharing the thoughts of Chuck and Wendy H.'s dream with a Frankenmuth business owner, that set into motion the steps to making their dreams a reality. The business owner spoke with a few other local Frankenmuth residents telling them of the dream and talked of how to make this dream happen in the number one tourist town in Michigan. The first local contacted was Vincent K. Vincent has had much contact with local business and has attended and been involved in Frankenmuth events his whole life. After speaking with Vincent, Toni K., Vincent's mother was contacted. Toni owns a large piece of property in Tuscola, Michigan. The combine force of this group of people brought the dream to an instant reality.
Once everybody had shared their thoughts of making this dream a reality, Vincent and Toni approached the Tuscola Township Planning Commission to obtain their blessing to move forward this event The Planning Commission received idea with open arms, and the Mid Michigan Renaissance Festival was officially born. Mid Michigan Renaissance Festival is bound to be one of the largest and most successful Renaissance Festivals in the USA.
We at the Mid Michigan Renissance festival want to keep in mind the wants, dreams and desires of the Renaissance merchants, staff, entertainers and playtrons. We all have joined together to make the dreams of everyone come true. This fall, the dream of Mid Michigan Renaissance Festival will come true.