Aye, ye shall find medieval fun just a short drive away A renaissance faire returns to Maine after a three-year hiatus By Michael Fern edge staff writer mfern@themaineedge.com MANCHESTER – If you’re looking to try something new this summer, consider going old – real old. After disappearing from the southern part of the state in 2003, a renaissance faire has returned to the Maine shire with a new organization, a new location, and a brand new start to what organizers hope will be a faire for years to come. The Maine Renaissance Faire at Castle Treasure will be held Aug. 2-3 at the Treasure Equestrian Center in Manchester, a 50-acre site just outside Augusta that will be turned into a 16th century English village complete with merchants, artisans, games – drench a wench comes to mind here – comical characters, sword fighting and swallowing and yes, a joust. Sir Devon and Dame Fiona, performers with Paragon Jousting and Adventure Theater, clash at the 2008 Festival of Celts held in Chatham, N.Y. Paragon will be staging a similar show at the Maine Renaissance Faire at Castle Treasure. (Photo courtesy of Paragon Jousting) According to Jeff Urbanczyk, general manager for the faire, the decision to hold the renaissance faire was an opportunity to bring a cultural festival found in most states across the country back to Maine. “There hasn’t been a renaissance faire in Maine for the last four or five years,” he said. “For us, it was really that we were committed to bring something unique back to Maine.” Set in England circa 1508, the faire will include about 40 entertainers who will be clothed in authentic period costumes, armor and have 16th century English accents and attitudes to match. Urbanczyk said the entertainers and vendors are veterans when it comes to putting on such a festival. “A lot of the acts and some of the vendors we have were involved with the prior faire,” he said, referring to the renaissance faire held for years in Lebanon, just north of the New Hampshire border. While the overall theme for the faire is comedic, with various performers singing, juggling fire and even staging a mud act, the historic reenactment of sword fights and a joust may have you think otherwise, as such festivals traditionally bring the realism of old Europe back to life. “They fight, they’re not acting,” he said of the swordsmen and jousters. “They’re very skilled at what they do and they always tell the kids, ‘Don’t do this at home.’” The choice of holding the faire at Treasure Equestrian Center was a natural match, as Urbanczyk said it makes the faire centrally located and easily accessible off Interstate 95, yet far enough away so you can’t hear the traffic. The village is positioned in the center’s horse fields, allowing enough room to stage the joust while making the village compact enough to enjoy all the acts and vendors without a lot of walking. “The village is kind of tight and long,” he added. With a promise to “perform a variety of bawdy songs with the sweetest of voices,” Autumn Tree Productions’ Pretentious Wenches are sure to delight the crowds. (Photo by Jess Boynton/Autumn Tree Productions) In addition to the performances, the village will have a plethora of vendors and merchants with wares authentic to the period, as well as games of skill for both children and adults who are “young at heart,” and food that you can eat with (gasp!) your hands. “We’re going to have clothing vendors with different styles and stages of period clothing for both adults and kids, and you can actually dress up in period clothing and [a vendor] will burn a DVD for you.” he said. “We actually have a weaver who will be doing weaving demonstrations, and we’re hoping to have a wood turner from Pennsylvania.” Several performing companies are involved with the faire, including Aurora, N.Y.-based Paragon Jousting and Adventure Theater, which has performed in shows across the country, as well as Gardiner-based Neville Companye, whose performers will stage a 16th century military unit encampment over the two-day event. The faire will also feature the Pretentious Wenches and Tragidiots, courtesy of Worcester, Mass.-based Autumn Tree Productions, LLC., as well as a psychic. Urbanczyk hopes this year’s event will be a harbinger for years to come, as festivals in most states run for multiple weekends over the course of the summer. “I’d love to get to that point, but it all depends on the demand,” he said. “We just don’t know how many people will come – it’s exciting and scary at the same time. It’s a nervous anticipation.” If you go: The faire is open 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Aug. 2-3. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for kids 5-12 years old. Children 4 and under are free, and the faire also offers a discounted admission price of $10 for senior citizens and military personnel (with proper ID). The Treasure Equestrian Center is located just off I-95 in Manchester. Take exit 109 (109B if you’re heading from the north) toward Winthrop until you reach Prescott Road. Turn onto Prescott Road and go about a mile to the center, 238 Prescott Road. On the Web: For more information about the faire and its performers, or to get specific directions or download a coupon worth $1 off your admission, visit their Web site at www.mainerenfaire.com. Want to be a part of 16th century England? If you ever wanted to be part of 16th century England, now’s your chance. The Maine Renaissance Faire is looking for volunteers and craftspeople for the two-day event. Craftspeople in the areas of blacksmithing, candle and soap making, glassblowing, and herbs and pottery are asked to contact Urbancyzk at mainerenfaire@yahoo.com.