Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Renaissance Faire Finds Its Village In Siloam Springs
Until now, the Renaissance Faire of the Ozarks has lived the gypsy life. Founded in Fayetteville, it moved during its five year history to Springdale and has now settled in Siloam Springs, where entertainment director Donald Rea says it has found a permanent home at Riverside Entertainment.
Located about 2 miles east of Siloam Springs, the location has both indoor and outdoor spaces, but Rea says the faire will be outside “because we don’t have a castle. Yet.” Rea is a veteran of the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival of Muskogee — which does — and has been training this year’s cast of 36 in improvisational acting to support the storyline. Set in 1537 in the small village of Crossroads in the County of Wiltshire, Southwest England, the faire celebrates the progress of Her Royal Highness Marie de Guise, who is on her way to marry King James V of Scotland — unless King Henry VIII’s envoy manages to change her mind.
Jonna Summers, founder of Banshee Manor, a Halloween haunted attraction in Fayetteville, has joined the cast this year as Molly McCraulic, wife of the chieftain of the Scottish McCraulic clan. She has traveled from her home in Port Ness to make sure all goes well for her youngest son, who is serving under King James’ envoy Laird McRae — and selling some potions and charms along the way.
“Every character you meet has worked hard on creating their backstories and their purposes for being in Crossroads at this particular time,” Summers says. “And as actors, we’ve learned to interact not just with each other but with our guests. It’s going to be fun for everyone.”
The festival includes five stages with some 15 acts — including an aerialist, belly dancers, magicians, musicians and comedians — plus jousters on horseback, live steel fighters, street performers, food vendors and more than 35 artisans selling their wares. Rea laughs when he says even period clothing for dogs is available, as are craft beers, wines and other locally made items.
“As we grow our fair, it gets harder and harder to see everything in one day,” says Rea. “But that’s a good problem to have.”