Tuesday, August 2, 2011

A Day Trip With My Nephew: a Wee Hoosier Renaissance Faire

After coming home from the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution global conference I had some catching up to do. One of those joyful obligations on my list was to spend some time with my great-great-nephew, Andre. Cathi suggested that the two of us go visit the Renaissance Faire in Huntington Indiana. I do not normally think of such things as guy time but Andre and I both have vivid imaginations so it sounded good.

Now to be sure it was not your usual Renaissance Faire. There were bar maids and pirates, flood control outside the park and carnival food. There were however lords and ladies, minstrel singers, carnival games, jousting and the Queen.

Now to be sure, watching the Queen hold court was exciting by there was something else that kept grabbing my attention and was that Shakira I heard singing?

It was a grand time and a great way to spend time with a seven year old boy.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire

The Queen was holding court. Kids were being presented to her. I asked Andre if he wanted to meet her but he was a little too shy. After a little too much teasing from me he let me know that she was “fake”! Fake, that was just madness.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: The (fake) Queen Holding Court

We both enjoyed the jousting. The suites of armor were so cool and the rules of engagement were taken seriously. We both thought it would be cool to be a knight.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: Jousting

We both had different favorite knights. Which one is your favorite?


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: Jousting

However, the best part of the day was the singing pirates. They got everyone involved, they were fun and funny. I was told their songs were very different in the evening when they sang just for the grown-ups.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: Pirates Singing

They involved everyone, the adults hiding in the back, the young children and everyone in between.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: A Group Sing

We were all honored with a visit by the Queen. Still, Andre would not allow himself to be presented to the “fake Queen.”


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire: The Queen Visits the Concert

Oh, and there was just one more thing that made this Renaissance Faire unique, Hoosier Belly Dancers. I liked them because they were so comfortable and clearly having so much fun. I liked them because they were enjoying the dance and the music and not trying to just be provocative. I liked them because they brought a little something extra to the stage! Cathi noticed that I was filming Belly Dancers but focusing the camera on their faces. Andre just knew we had a geat day together.


Day Trip: Huntington's Renaissance Faire (Hoosier Belly Dancers)