The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire - the one we’ve attended the most. We are very familiar with the cast and since we’ve known them so long, they feel like family. We first discovered Empty Hats here and have been fans of theirs ever since. We try to attend other events the Mount Hope Estate hosts throughout the year (they have a Celtic Fling in late June). Prices have gone up, since changes were made to the Faire. Runs August through October. The photo is of my brother Owen at my wedding, July 21, 2000. His garb is from Ruffled Feather’s Finery (the shop has been missing from the Faire for years).
The Maryland Renaissance Festival - This is my personal favorite. There are so many trees (when one suffers from migraines, shade is always a plus!). It was the first Renaissance experience that I had. We don’t go as often as I’d like, but the feeling that this Festival evokes is almost like Sherwood Forest. And I love Robin Hood. It is definitely a place I love to visit! Runs mid-August to mid-October.
The Sterling Renaissance Festival - We’ve been to this Festival twice now - for our honeymoon and for our first anniversary. We wanted to hire Empty Hats for our wedding, but it didn’t work out. So my new husband suggested we travel to them - if you can’t bring the band to you, take yourself to the band (since that’s where they were). It’s a great faire nestled in the trees of upstate New York near Lake Ontario. Runs July through mid-August. Runs mid-February through the beginning of April.
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival - We attended this Festival just once in 2001. We took a road trip to Florida to visit Vic’s grandmother and on the way home we stopped in Clearwater to attend the festival. It’s great! Seeing the palm trees and feeling the warm Florida air while enjoying the renaissance period was thrilling. They did move after we went and we haven’t seen their new location, but it’s bound to be a terrific festival no matter where they are.
Fairie Festival at Sproutwood Farm - An awesome festival the first weekend in May. Spoutwood Farm Center is an organization dedicated to bringing people and nature together. I took Kira in 2006 for the first time and fully intend to return on a yearly basis. There is plenty of music and many shows to enjoy and the setting is picturesque.
Maryland Faerie Festival - The photo above was taken in May, 2006. It’s a small festival in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It’s very quaint and has a nice atmosphere, but it’s not well marked - it’s hard to find. Runs one weekend in mid-May. It’s a bit of a drive for us, but they have wonderful vendors and lots of music. I picked up a crown to go with my Arwen look.
Outdoor events that we have attended
Costume Links
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Quality custom Renaissance, Elizabethan, Tudor, Period, Celtic, and Medieval dresses and garb, bridal gowns and groom’s wedding attire, Gothic, Fantasy, and Pagan clothes, cloaks, coats, and doublets. |
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Creates Renaissance Inspired Bodices and Corsets, Wedding Dresses and Gowns, Chemises, Blouses and Skirts for the Renaissance Faire, Weddings, Elegant Affairs and anywhere your imagination takes you! |
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A guide to commercial costume patterns |
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They manufacture and design garb for women, men and children. |
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A company started in the early Seventies, quality clothing and costume of the periods loosely known as the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. |
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Founded with the aim of providing the finest in authentic renaissance attire to the royals and nobles of the realm. Recently added apparel suitable for the upper crust merchant or squire, as well as a fledgling line of fantasy clothing for magical folk. All are constructed from the finest silks, velvets, linens, and brocades, and are built to last! |
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Peasant-style blouses, full-layered skirts and form fitting bodices |
These are sites that I frequent when looking for garb or ideas for a character I want to create for the Faire. They are companies that I have bought from, or would love to buy from. Some of them have shops at the faires / festivals we’ve attended, so I’ve seen and touched their offerings.
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My brother Owen at my wedding
In an Arwen-like gown at the MD Faerie Festival
Site Created February, 23, 2001
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