Final Day at Bristol for the Season
Even though Lynne and I weren’t feeling all that great last weekend, we felt good enough on Sunday to head back to the renaissance faire for one final time this season, and it may have been the best day of the season too. The temperature was very pleasant and though it was a little crowded, it was bearable. Our plans were to make it from opening at 10 o’clock to closing at 7. We took it very easy all day and spent quite a bit of time just sitting around people watching. As always, there were lot
s of very interesting people to watch. We didn’t make it till seven, we came close, but headed home a little after five.
We took in a couple of the shows on Sunday, including the hilarious Doktor Kaboom. Doktor Kaboom puts on a very funny act of interactive science comedy. He uses kids from the audience to be his lab helpers in his experiments and his interactions with them are priceless. He travels all over the country, so if you get a chance to see him, go for it. You won’t be disappointed. Check out the videos on his web site for an idea of what he’s about.
We were also able to catch two sets from our favorite maritime singing group, Bounding Main. They were great, just like they always are.
I ended up taking quite a few pictures, 187 to be exact. I was trying to catch the spirit of the faire by shooting a lot of the activities going on. I also had a couple characters I wanted photos of who had eluded me previously. Of course I had to find a Fantastikal or two to photograph also.
Here’s the link to a slide show of the photos from Sunday: Bristol Renaissance Faire, Final Weekend
When Lynne and I first walked through the gates of Bristol on opening weekend in July, I never dreamed that this place would touch my soul so deeply. There’s a magic there that can’t be described. Maybe it’s the child in me that grew up loving fantasy books, movies, and games, or maybe it’s something deeper. I don’t know. I do know that the four days I spent in Bristol were not only highlights of my summer, but maybe of my life too.
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Very cool. The few renaissance faires that I’ve been too are traveling shows that set up in a local park for a weekend and then move on. Is this Brisol faire in a permanent facility? Why does it shut down (other than because winter is coming on)?
Yes, it’s in a permanent place. Check out this Google map to see the property: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=bristol+renaissance+faire&sll=42.498183,-87.956146&sspn=0.004738,0.011362&ie=UTF8&hq=bristol+renaissance+faire&hnear=&ll=42.496988,-87.956393&spn=0.009477,0.022724&t=h&z=16
The faire runs from the second weekend in July through Labor Day. So it’s a summer thing.
I guess I always wonder how places that are open for less than half the year can make a go of it financially. I’m assuming that place is a draw for the whole Chicago area though. It looks really neat. If I ever get back there’s I’m gonna go.
Their average attendance for a season is just under 200,000. They are perfectly located to draw from Chicago and Milwaukee. They also get you with food and drink prices which are pretty high. Another thing is that the company that owns and runs the fair also runs 3 other fairs across the country, including one in Irwindale, CA. So I’m sure they make a good profit.
Here’s the link for the Irwindale fair: http://renfair.com/socal/ It runs from April 9 – May 22. That’s a little closer to you and might make for a fun weekend getaway.
Looks interesting, though surely the arid, sun-blasted, gravel pits and scrub brushy slopes of Irwindale can’t begin to compare to the lush greenery and England-like landscapes of Wisconsin. Weren’t the Raiders going to build a stadium in a gravel pit in Irwindale a decade ago?
LOL!! I’ll agree with you there!
Yes the Raiders were.