Come to the Faire

Long live the King!

Come to the Faire--May 1 on the Oval a chessboard was used to determine the Monarch of this year's Medieval & Renaissance Performers' Guild Faire, the 36th so far. A good time was had by all, with drinking contests, the normal carousing, jousting, madrigal feasting and lively swordplay as the annual Faire came to a satisfying conclusion. Several vendors offered everything from magic wands to period dress, to turkey legs (there's a difference?) The high point of the day, though, was the human chessboard with its array of feisty combatants, all in period dress, hefting swords and truncheons in bold attempts to gain the crown. All very fusty and quite romantic in a parsley sage rosemary & thyme sort of way. I expected to see Launcelot & Guinevere arrive in a chivalric rush at any moment.

The weather finally cooperated, proceeding went on apace, and at last performers chanted home one and all, with a joyous rendition of A Health to the Company: Till next year me hearties...

So here's a health to the company

And one to my lass

Let us drink and be merry all out of one glass

Let us drink and be merry all grief to refrain

For we may and might never all meet here again...

Indeed. Congratulations for a Faire well done.