NORWICH
–
The
Chenango
County
Fairgrounds
will
transform
once
again
into
a
world
of
knights,
storytellers,
artisans,
and
costumed
adventurers
as
the
Upstate
Renaissance
Faire
returns
to
Norwich
on
August
29
and
30,
marking
its
fourth
year
at
the
venue.
Gates
open
from
10
a.m.
to
6
p.m.
each
day,
rain
or
shine.
Organizer
Heather
Baker,
who
owns
and
operates
the
fair
with
help
from
her
husband
and
a
close-knit
network
of
vendors,
said
the
event
has
grown
steadily
since
its
debut.
“We
have
both
[vendors
and
entertainment].
Right
now,
we’re
hovering
around
50
vendors,”
Baker
said.
“It’s
a
very
tight-knit,
community
all
in
itself.
People
go
in
full
dress,
take
on
personas,
and
they
stay
in
character
the
entire
time.”
A
Market
Place
for
Artisans
This
year’s
vendor
lineup
includes
period-appropriate
armorers,
leather-workers,
potters,
blacksmiths,
woodworkers,
and
makers
of
hand-woven
clothing.
Some
artisans
will
offer
live
demonstrations,
including
loom
weaving
and
historical
craft
techniques.
“You’re
definitely
going
to
find
some
jewelry.
We
have
armorers,
there’s
leather
work,
leather
armor
for
arm
bracers,
belts,
bags,
things
like
that,”
said
Baker,
“floral
arrangements,
hair
pieces,
walking
sticks.
We
have
a
few
blacksmiths
coming.”
“We’ve
got
so
many
vendors
this
year,”
Baker
exclaimed.
“They
vary
in
what
they
do.”
Baker
listed
things
like
a
phenomenal
woodworker
who
makes
goblets,
cups
and
wall
décor,
ladies
coming
in
to
do
tarot
readings
and
things
of
that
nature,
and
one
of
the
local
bartenders
in
town
who
comes
and
provides
beer
and
mead.
Several
vendors
are
seasoned
faire
goers
and
will
be
in
Renaissance
period
tents
and
garb,
while
others
are
not
only
new
to
Norwich,
but
to
Renaissance
Faires
entirely.
Baker
says
they
are
usually
enthusiastic
to
be
a
part
of
the
faire.
They
work
with
them
and
try
to
style
them
so
they
are
period
appropriate.
“We’ve
got
quite
a
number
of
vendors
who
really
have
never
even
heard
of
a
Renaissance
Faire,
and
they’ve
just
fully
embraced
it
and
love
it,”
said
Baker.
Period
Entertainment
Across
the
Grounds
The
Upstate
Renaissance
Faire
has
a
full
slate
of
performances
that
will
run
throughout
the
weekend,
including:
The
Society
for
Creative
Anachronism
(SCA)
an
immersive
history
group
who
will
perform
live
combat
demonstrations;
Thimbleberry
the
Wood
Sprite,
an
interactive
storyteller
for
the
whole
family;
Timbalanced,
a
juggling
performer;
Daniel
Greenwolf
Celtic
Magician,
whose
perfromacne
involves
firebreathing;
Harpist
Matthew
Schwarz;
and
Morgan
Eagle
Falconry
coming
to
do
live
demonstrations.
New
this
year
they
are
bringing
in
an
aerial
acrobatist
performing
choreographed
aerial
routines
with
narrative
elements.
There
will
be
a
roaming
busker
providing
music
across
the
fairgrounds,
and
an
additional
storyteller.
This
is
not
an
exhaustive
list
as
organizers
are
still
planning
the
lineups
and
stage
presence.
Baker
emphasized
that
all
of
the
shows
are
family-friendly.
“That’s
one
of
the
things
that
we
have
really
pushed
for
is
keeping
everything
family
friendly,”
she
said.
Food,
Drink,
and
Local
Flavor
A
wide
range
of
food
vendors
will
be
on
site,
including:
Hocus
Smokus
BBQ,
Sir.
Palmer’s
Shack,
All
Things
Delicious,
Jammings,
Freddy’s
Rockin’
Lemonade,
and
Pepe’s
barbecue.
All
fairly
local
or
regional
places.
“It’s
a
pretty
wide
range
of
everything,”
baker
said,
“something
that
everybody
will
certainly
enjoy.”
Beverage
vendors
include
Dragonfire
Distillery
and
Awestruck
Ciders,
who
will
serve
alcohol
with
adherence
to
ID
requirements
and
on-site
consumption
rules.
Baker
mentioned
that
some
vendors
would
be
offering
the
classic
Ren
Faire
staple
of
giant
pickles.
“Any
typical
Ren
Faire
goer
will
understand
that’s
a
giant
pickle.
It’s
phenomenal
when
you’re
hydrated,”
said
Baker.
Costumes,
Character,
and
Community
Costumes
are
encouraged,
and
attendees
often
arrive
dressed
as
knights,
fairies,
fantasy
characters,
or
even
pop-culture
icons.
“You’ll
see
a
lot
of
people
in
costumes.
A
lot
of
patrons
come
dressed
as
modern
day
characters.
You
may
see
Star
Wars
people
or
Star
Trek
people
wandering
about,”
Baker
said
comparing
the
ambiance
of
costumed
attendees
to
those
at
a
Comic
Con
“because
it’s
an
opportunity
to
dress
up
and
immerse
themselves
in
the
character
as
well.”
The
fairgrounds
themselves
take
on
a
medieval
atmosphere
with
period
tents,
banners,
and
vendor
displays.
Baker
explained
that
an
immersive
renaissance
faire
experience
typically
involves
something
avid
faire
goers
call,
“Ren
Dirt.”
“If
you’ve
ever
seen
the
Princess
Bride
where
they
are
coming
out
of
the
forest
looking
dirty
and
bedragon,
if
you
look
like
that
when
you
leave,
you
had
a
phenomenal
day
at
Ren
Fair,”
Baker
said.
“You
were
having
fun,
you
leave
with
what’s
commonly
referred
to
as
‘Ren
Dirt.’
It’s
just
dust
from
head
to
toe.”
Admission
Information
Tickets
are
available
at
the
gate.
Costs
are
$17
for
adults,
$15
for
kids
6-13,
and
kids
five
and
under
are
free.
Veterans
and
active
duty
military
members
get
a
special
discount
with
ID,
and
firefighters,
police,
EMS,
and
nurses,
pay
$10
with
ID.
Parking
is
free,
re-entry
is
permitted
with
a
stamp,
and
credit
cards
are
accepted
at
the
gate.
Be
mindful
however
that
many
vendors
are
cash-only
and
there
are
no
ATMs
on
site.
If
coming
costumed,
masks
are
permitted
but
you
must
remove
them
at
the
gate
to
to
enter.
No
clothing
with
obscene
imagery
or
symbols
is
permitted.
Costume
weapons
are
allowed
if
they
are
peace-tied
and/or
sheathed,
and
will
be
checked
at
the
gate.
To
view
the
full
costume
rules
find
them
on
the
Upstate
Renaissance
Faire
Page.
What
organizers
hope
visitors
take
away
“Honestly,
as
long
as
you
have
fun
and
enjoy
the
experience,
that’s
what
we’re
hoping
for,”
Baker
said.
“You’re
going
to
see
a
lot
of
things
that
you
probably
wouldn’t
expect
to
go
see
at
a
fair.
There’s
not
necessarily
rides
or
anything
like
that.
It’s
more
craft
vendors
and
an
immersive
interactive
experience.”
For
newcomers
they
recommend
embracing
the
immersive
nature
of
the
faire,
interacting
with
performers,
exploring
artisan
booths,
enjoying
the
creativity
of
costumed
guests,
and
leaving
with
some
‘Ren
Dirt’
on
your
boots.
“If
you
fully
immerse
in
the
experience
and
interact
and
embrace
it,
you
will
be
dirty
and
hot
and
sweaty
but
you
will
be
happy,”
said
Baker.
Find
more
information
on
the
Upstate
Renaissance
Faire
page
found
at
www.facebook.com/UpstateRenFest
(They
do
not
have
website
just
yet
so
check
there
for
updates,
and
rules.)