Big Sky Ren Fest

A few weeks ago I went to the Big Sky Renfair. I missed some of the bigger events, which took place on a rainy Friday when I was insanely busy; but I managed to catch a couple of entertaining acts.

A woman did an contortionist act involving two long swaths of fabric attached to a tipi of poles. Except that she mostly did climbing and posing rather than swinging and jumping, it reminded me a bit of the trapeze. I’m guessing the fabric was parachute silk.

There were regular sword fights in an area separated from the rest by wooden poles. There was jousting, too, but I kept missing it. I’d look up in time to see the horses trotting away from the jousting area before I could find a good place to watch it from. Apparently they only had one round at a time.

You could rent Renaissance era weapons. I tried tossing a javelin a few times. Unluckily, javelins apparently require the use of legs. Mine weren’t up to the task. My billowing skirts weren’t helping matters.

I ate pasties and eyed the mead until I remembered the stuff is made of honey, and I had to drive home anyway. I also had eggrolls and soda, so not all was historically accurate.

There was sword swallowing, and fire swallowing, glass walking, and joking around by Eric the Excellent and company. There were booths selling everything from pencil’s with runes carved in the sides to tie-dyed scarves.

All in all it was quite entertaining. The only thing I really missed was the lack of music.