My but time has flown! I tend to get caught up in the doing of faire, rather than the writing about faire!
Santa Cruz Renaissance Faire was small but wonderfully cool and temperate! The guild picnic and games were wonderful fun and every visitor to court recieved a wee gift from the Queen. Kogair! I do hope to see more folk at Santa Cruz next year....this faire needs to grow!
Oakland Scottish Festival at the Dunsmuir Historic Garden Park was splendid! This year we set up our encampment right by the front gate. The tall trees did give us goodly shade and the weather did cooperate nicely. We had the pleasure of a visit from an a capella group called the Solstice Singers which are part of the California Revels. What a special treat that was! I'll be keeping an ear open for those heavenly voices in the future.
The next event will be the Scottish Highland Games and Festival at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA. I've heard this two day event (Aug 30 &31st) is the largest Scottish Gathering in the USA. St. Gyles will have the Royal Court of Mary Queen of Scots this year. Several of the guilds will be participating in a huge battle pageant. There will be knightings, squirings, a medieval wedding, handfastings, and bar brawls aplenty! Come to Pleasanton for fun and frolic!
The Sacramento Valley Scottish Games was quite warm, a bit windy and very dusty. That weekend in April was just a small taste of the heat to come. There was no way to prepare for the tremendous heat which did smite everyone attending the Livermore Scottish Games! Friday was over 100 degrees and I would be surprised if Saturday did not reach the century mark as well. Sunday was in the 90's, but being the third day in sun was almost too much to bear.
The highlights of the weekend were many and varied. I enjoyed the entertainment during the Queen's Feast. Peter Daldry and the Wicked Tinkers did appear to perform for the Her Royal Majesty! That such talent should grace the court of Mary, Queen of Scots was phenomenal! Well met Gentlemen! Chieftan of the Highland Warriors, Diarmid Campbell was raised to Cardinal Knight of the Red Dragon. The ceremony was well attended by faire folk and tourists alike! A special treat was attendance of HRM Mary Queen of Scots and HRH James Stewart of Scotland did recite the Lord's Prayer in Latin!
The next event is Dragon Slayers Renaissance Faire. June 14th at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds. This is a one day event and the Royal Picnic for Saint Gyle's Royal Lancers. A day filled with fun and games! If you have never attended this faire before, you have missed out on a wonderous time. This faire is growing fast and the new location will allow a wee bit more elbow room for everyone! I hope to see many new faces this year! Mark June 14th upon thy calendars!
Well Met Faire Gentles! For the California Faire Goers....Pittsburg Faire has been Cancelled! The City of Pittsburg did not renew the park permit for 2008.
Saint Gyle's Royal Lancers has suffered a setback. The trailer containing 90 percent of the props was stolen! Saint Gyle's is in the process of rebuilding. I do hope the guild rising from the ashes like a phoenix will be better and more beautiful than before. However, I do not look forward to the extra work this will entail.
I recently joined the Brewers and Vinters Group on Renspace. I would be most pleased to converse with anyone on the subject of Homebrewed Libations.
Murphy's Irish Day t'was a faire not meant for the faint of heart! The rain did clear off and there was sunshine during the parade. Soon after the snow did start to fall. The weather treated us to bouts of hail, sleet and snow. The river was magically a flourescent green and the wine & port tasting divine! Check out this video of of Murphy's and Saint Gyles Guild http://gogoldcountry.com/id08Vid.htm
Please leave a comment to tell me you passed this way! Anon! Lady Keturah
