May 22 and 23, 2004, Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino, CA. Lorri and I took off on Friday, the 21st and drove the 100 or so miles to Glen Helen for our first visit to "The Faire" in a few years. We camped at the Park campground which is about a half mile from the Faire entrance.

We found a good spot, level and with some shade, but no ants! There are a lot of ants around here. Anyway, we got all dressed up and ready to go. The only way to really have some fun at this Faire is to dress up and get into the Elizabethan era, or at least try to. Say stuff like "good morrow" and "good day, m'lady" and "prithee, another ale kind sir".

There are at least four or five stages scattered about the Faire that offer continuous entertainment, much of which is of a "bawdy" nature - not recommended for children or sensitive adults, or perhaps adults with any sense.

We saw the "Poxy Boggards", singers of dirty ditties and "Bold and Stupid Men", sort of an "R" rated Two Stooges meet the Renaissance show.

We also attended the Jousting Tournament which I guess was the middle ages equivalent to pro wrestling, at least the way it was presented here. We sat (entirely by chance) in the section that was assigned to cheer for Sir Anders of Denmark (third photo from right), who shouted insults in an unintelligible language (Danish?) at his foes while appearing to guzzle ale at an alarming rate. Thanks to our deafening cheers, led by our own lusty cheer-wench, he won the competition over his English, German and Italian rivals.

Here are a few scenes from around the Faire including Queen E her royal self in the photo on the right.

The "tree" next to Lorri is actually a person who moves slowly along the paths pretending to be a tree.

There are many "troupes" of actors or "Guilds" that portray different types of Renaissance characters. Most of them are fairly obvious as to what or who they are supposed to represent, but there is one group that is quite mysterious. They don't talk or interact with the Faire-goers, they just sort of hang out and do their own thing. Sometimes they move about, monkey-like along the ground, they make mud sculptures and just generally do odd things. But somehow, they are captivating. People stand there and silently watch them silently do their thing. The woman on the right was on a large rope strung from a couple tree branches. Every so often she would change poses or scramble off to get a bite of an apple. The guy on the right was playing a tuneless, though rhythmic, anthem on some sort of bass instrument. Notice the lower incisors. 

Little Miss Lorri.

On Sunday, May 23, we were joined by our good friends and long-time fellow Faire goers, Jeffrey and Pamela, from Laguna Beach.

This was the scene outside the gate as we waited for the Faire to open.

Here Pam & Lorri make ready.

Wenches in the upstairs windows welcome the crowd.

Sir Jeffrey takes an important call via ye olde cell phone

Faire royalty on the left and peasant low-lifes on the right.

Some of the many roving musicians.

Jeff with desert. Lorri with a couple ales. Did I mention that two of the main activities at the Faire are eating and drinking?

More of the mysterious saber-tooth people.

Jeff, Pam, Jack & Lorri pose for a couple final photos.

Later we went back to see more of the mystery people and were taken aback (!!!!) to see this addition to their troupe!