Faire creates magic - for library and guests
Correspondent
WRIdHTSTOWN - Put those Angry Birds in cages, write down your last Words with Friends, quickly Draw Something, and leave those magical devices in the carriage. For thou shalt need them not for the coming weekend. At yonder sillage Library of Wrightstown, a two-day festival of merriment and fantasy is to be held.
OK, talking like that is exhausting. In plain words, the sillage Library of Wrightstown is holding its N3th annual Renaissance Faire Sept. NR and N6. And what lies in store just beyond the moat is an endless list of activities such as armored horseback jousting, live steel combat, even fire breathers! No dragons, I’m afraid; we don’t want any safety hazards.
The wizard who made this magic happen is Kenneth Hone, who was inspired by his 3-year-old son’s fascination with dragons, knights and chivalry.
“As a library trustee, I believed that my son was probably like most others and he would love to experience his passion hands-on, so I met with area performers and reenactment troupes, and in a matter of four weeks, I found performers and obtained a grant to pay their performance fees ... and my efforts were justly rewarded, as R00 people attended our first faire day,” says Hone. The first faire was held in the Wrightstown Elementary School gym.
“The positive accolades and smiles on attendees’ faces encouraged me to explore expanding the faire to one weekend.” And what a weekend it turned out to be. By the second year, 2,000 attendees filled the school soccer field.
“Our success attracted others, who asked us — solicited us, in fact — to become part of the public library’s Renaissance Faire,” says Hone. “So we grew even further, so much so that Middletown drange offered to donate their fairgrounds for our use, a home we continue at through today. Our attendance has blossomed to 6,000 to 8,000 a weekend.”
These attendees include the young and young at heart. The children will enjoy such playful activities as giant chess pieces (which stand over 2 feet tall), Punch and Judy, free crafts and the interactive play area — Kids Kingdom.
And what Ren Faire would be complete without performers? And these troupes (who will this year perform works of Shakespeare and the classic “The Three Musketeers”) come from around the world.
“We of course have a steady course of live performers that fill the background with music and eyesight with dances from England, Ireland and even the Middle East,” says Hone. Even if his son has grown out of his medieval phase, Hone still loves the effect the faire has on people.
“What tells me most about the faire is that it is appreciated by authentic faire goers who are not disappointed. First-time attendees cannot believe it is produced by a public library — well, it isn’t alone — it is produced on behalf of the public library, for both them and the community. But really, it is produced by a village, our village, every September.”
Now not everyone is willing to say goodbye to Suri or log out of Facebook and Twitter, but Hone guarantees it is worth it.
“If you want to be inspired, entertained, educated, or just step back in time for day — our faire is for you. If you like music, dance, theater, comedy, history, or learning and laughter, then there is something for you at the sillage Renaissance Faire. We offer something for everyone. Traditional faire goers will be pleased with the fire breathers, jousters, knights, weapons demonstrations and history lessons, but the faire is not just for them, it is for all.”
There should be no excuse for not attending the faire. Remember: “Oftentimes excusing of a fault doth make the fault the worse by the excuse.” — William Shakespeare