Sterling Renaissance Festival
| Sterling Renaissance Festival | |
|---|---|
 Crest above the entrance of the Sterling Renaissance Festival | |
| Genre | Renaissance fair |
| Dates | July - August |
| Location(s) | Sterling, New York |
| Inaugurated | 1976 |
| Attendance | 100,000 (average) |
| Stages | 9 |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Sterling Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance Faire that was started in 1976 by Dennis Ouellette, Sr., and later owned and operated by Gerald and Virginia Young in Sterling, New York.[1] The setting is the year 1585 in the fictional village of Warwick, which rambles across a wooded hillside and includes many permanent structures (some two-story).
Attractions
The Festival is presided over by Queen Elizabeth in company with the ladies of her court; also present are Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Francis Drake, and other noblemen of the day. These ladies and gentlemen of the court perform set pieces, such as the human chess match and Tea with the Queen, in addition to interacting with patrons. Additional costumed actors—gypsies, pirates, washer-wenches and others—stroll the grounds, improvising scenarios to entertain the patrons.
Costumed entertainers include Renaissance musicians, bagpipers, illusionists, jugglers, sword-swallowers fortune-tellers, and comedy acts. Twice daily the performers join together in a grand processional through the Festival grounds, and the Festival closes each evening with a pub sing in which everyone is encouraged to sing along.
At the base of the west-facing hillside is the jousting field. Here, full-contact jousting takes place, as well as displays of falconry. In addition, patrons can ride the war-horses of the jousters for a small fee.
Like most Faires, the Sterling Renaissance Festival has a large number of artisans and craftspeople, such as glass-blowers, blacksmiths, bookbinders, and potters. Other vendors include leather and costuming shops, weapon-crafters, and jewelry shops.
There are also a number of games of skill available for an additional fee, such as archery, axe-throwing, "Tomato Justice" (where participants pelt a man with ripe tomatoes), and the "Pillow Fyte." Several human-powered rides and a camel ride are available.
Various foods are available, including such Faire staples as turkey legs and shish-kabobs, but also including vegetarian items like portobello mushroom sandwiches and fresh fruit. The Bad Dog Tavern serves alcohol (including mead) and has a selection of meat pies, bacon-wrapped scallops, and other foods. The Tavern also features live entertainment.
In 2008 for the first time peace-tied period weapons were permitted.
In 2010 the famous "Bad Dog Tavern" was renamed "Rose & Crown Tavern." The change was because they believed it sounded more appropriate for the period.
New ownership
Sterling Renaissance Festival was purchased in early 2008 by Doug Waterbury, who invested $2 million in the business. Several new stages were constructed and existing ones refurbished, and the number of performers was boosted for the 2008 season. Waterbury plans to use the site for additional events, and install a larger jousting theater which could also be used for outdoor concerts.[2]
See also
- Renaissance fair
- List of Renaissance fairs
- Reenactment
- Jousting
- Society for Creative Anachronism
- List of open air and living history museums in the United States
References
- ↑ "Sterling Renaissance Festival Prepares for 29th Season With Original Owners". The Italian Voice. May 5, 2005. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
Much has changed at the Renaissance Festival over the 29 years it has been open to the public, except for the ownership. Gerald and Virginia Young remain the constant force behind the success of the Festival and will open the Festival doors for yet another season on Saturday, July 2nd
- ↑ Diana Louise Carter, "Sterling Renaissance Festival has renaissance of its own", Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, July 6, 2008
External links
Coordinates: 43°21′38″N 76°39′19″W / 43.360485°N 76.655271°W