sbrobert
By Robert Bernstein
Lompoc hosted its first Renaissance Faire this past weekend in Ken Adam Park near Allan Hancock College.
Here are all of my photos and several videos.
We were invited by Solstice costume designer Clau Orona whose family owns several popular businesses in Solvang
She also creates the annual Solvang Faerifest each October. She was in her best faery outfit to paint faces
And here was another faery
We arrived at lunch time and this lovely Thai lady served us a delicious plate of shrimp and noodles
Not sure how authentically Renaissance that was, but these festivals are full of fun anachronisms and mixed themes! Another theme that was mixed in? Pirates!
And I am not sure what was the relevance, but this cannon firing certainly got plenty of attention, watch the clip here
As we finished lunch a parade passed by
Music was also a big feature
Which went along with dance
Children could get a treasure map and seek out the map destinations
There were also some animals. My wife especially enjoyed the goats as she used to raise goats
Solstice builder Jim Sun Bear practiced archery with his best friend from junior high and his friend’s son
Most people arrived with appropriate Renaissance garb, but there were also opportunities to purchase more outfits
One of the highlights of the Faire was a skillful and entertaining performance by the Bawdy Juggler Adam Reid who I had met years ago at the Isla Vista Juggling Festival
His children were with him
He first drew a crowd with a gong and with our cheers
Then he worked his way up from one ball and three ball contact juggling
Adding one more object in the air at a time
Up to five balls, which is very rare in a juggling show
But then he even got up to seven balls. It was brief, but even more rare and quite impressive, watch it here:
Be warned, he is called the Bawdy Juggler for a reason, so please don’t be offended! He went on to juggling clubs
And on to his grand finale with flaming torches as he flirted with his audience helper Meredith
More clips here:
But the other main highlight of these Renaissance Faires? The people! Especially those who are beautiful with HUUUUGE… Tracts of Land as referenced in this Monty Python and the Holy Grail clip, see it here:
This lovely lady was happy to pose when I commented on her huge tracts of land
And there were plenty of other posing beauties and handsome men
Some with children
And these were my favorite!
The event was organized by the Ventura group http://oldetymeproductions.com
