Renaissance Event

AUTUMN ROSE

GAILSVILLE, WI
09-04 THRU 09-06

On Friday, September 04, 2009 Cole, Austin, Bill and I went to Gailsville, WI to a Renaissance Festival called Autumn Rose. This event went on thru Sunday, September 06. We got there a little before 6pm. We found one of Bill's friends, Willy; and put our camp up right next to his. After we got all set up the kids put their renaissance clothes on. Austin took off right away to look for some friends to hang out with. Cole stayed back and helped Bill and Willy start the fire for dinner. This first picture is of Cole in his peasant shirt and peasant pants (not his full outfit), and Bill in his regular clothes. (The people there will tell you you are naked if you aren't in renaissance clothes.)

After dinner Cole got the rest of his outfit on and posed for me. He looks pretty cool now, huh?! Austin took Cole with him to meet friends. Cole found someone who was 11 to hang out with. This boy wasn't the greatest kid for Cole to be hanging out with, but at least they weren't doing naughty things and getting into trouble.

A little bit later Austin came by with one of his friends. They had battery operated tea light candles. Austin insisted that I take his picture with it. Which was good anyways, so you can see his outfit. He wore a red pirate shirt with black pants. His pirate pants didn't come in time for this event, so he just wore black pants on Friday and blue pants on Saturday.



I did get dressed up and promised a bunch of people pictures of me, but was intending on taking pictures on Saturday. However, I had a tooth that caused serious pain at 3:30am on Saturday. I had to go to adult urgent care in La Crosse to get some pain killers. The rest of the day I spent in the tent sleeping and dying. I got up occasionally to see what others were doing . Everyone else seemed to be doing good; so, I kept on sleeping. So, I have a couple of pictures that Bill took of me at the last event when I wasn't paying attention.





They are the greatest pictures, but at least you can see what I am wearing. Yes, it's a little revealing, but in the hot weather it feels really nice.



Saturday is the day to be there if you ever want to go. This is the day they do all the cool stuff on. In the morning til early afternoon they have sword fighting. I got to see a little fighting when we got back from the hospital. They wear armor and use very heavy swords. I'm not sure they are sharp, but they sure would hurt if you got hit with it. Bill used to fight and wants to get back into it but has no armor. He was talking with another group (kingdom), and invited us to join his group. They said they would provide armor for him and it would be free to join. So, we are now part of the North Shield Kingdom!! (Bill was in the Buddha Kingdom before.)

Also, on Saturday the merchants open up. This is a bunch of shops where you can buy all sorts of things. Such as clothing, jewelery, books, dishes (feast gear), swords...that sort of thing. Austin brought $7 that he had earned and bought a pouch for Cole and himself. These pouches that he bought are normally for the ladies, meant to hold money and whatever else. Austin used it to put his guys and money in it. Cole tied his to the back of his belt. Sometime, Cole wants to get the leather pouches that are made for his outfit and for the men. Austin, also, bought 4 large freezie pops for Cole, and 2 of his friends and himself. Cole bought a mood ring that was 25 cents. Bill bought some pewter platter dishes for 50 cents each. I bought a strawberry milk shake. For dinner you could pay money to eat the feast or make your own food. Bill made steaks for all of us (except me cuz I couldn't chew very well). Next year I hope we will have money so we can go to the feast. It sounded like so much fun. I heard all hooting and hollering and drums and music going on in there. So, not only did you get the feast, but you, also, get entertainment, too. At 7:00pm the feast was over and people gathered around the bigger tents and the party began. This party is so much fun to go to. I went to it at the last event (Poor Man's), but was unable to this time. I asked Bill to take Cole to it so he could see what all the noise was about. This is where anyone who has drums play them with their hands. There is usually belly dancers with all this jingling stuff on their outfit that dance around a fire. At the last event there was even a swordsman doing a dance with his sword. It's very cool to see and is such a blast! There are people of all ages that go to these events. Some travel many hours to go to them. Some go every weekend and others go once in a while. You don't need to know anyone to go to have a fun time. Everyone is there to have a fun time. Everyone is very kind,willing to help you with whatever you need. Many people stopped by our tent to check up on me to see how I was doing. The kids just ran around and played with other kids and had fun. If you ever get a chance to go to one of these events, I recommend that you go even if its just for the day...very cool experience...very cool.