New Additions abound at Village Renaissance Faire this weekend Sept 16 & 17

Village Renaissance Faire adds new activities TOO!

It’s bigger, bolder, and more boisterous than ever. But, its still has not stopped looking to making this year even bigger, so on from our Herald, and either come to our faire, or become part of it, either way you will not be disappointed.

Aerialists, birds of prey, jousters, and giant turkey legs return to Bucks County as the Village Renaissance faire continues for its 18th glorious year on the donated Middletown Grange Fairgrounds this September 16 & 17.

Take a step back in tyme as the faire transforms of agrarian fairgrounds into a celebration featuring arts, crafts, food, music, dance, and shows led by an incredible cast of characters who allow you to suspend disbelief and become, for albeit one weekend, immersed in the chivalry, glamour, and glory of renaissance and medieval times.

“The Faire offers a perfect blend that is designed to entertainment everyone.” Faire Director Ken Hone exclaims. “Patrons are sure to become immersed in our family friendly blend of living history and fantasy led by Period Productions Living Literature, and followed by each of our stages and venues that entertains, involves and educates all.” The alluring taste of the shows of skill daring, and high class are matched by the interactive fun that allows it (i.e. FUN) to be had by everyone. “We would not have it any other way,” Hone explains, “its our world and we should live, laugh and love it.”

Hone proclaims that he doth not know what else the faire can offer at all, never mind for the pittance of $5 a student, but that does not stop him from looking. The magic of wizardry has captured air, created new game shows, and this year a time warp. But its not only magic that grows, Chaste Treasure brings their national talent to our stage. Chaste Treasure is an all women’s A Cappella singing group with a look and flair like no other. These beauties are no wenches, but do not be fooled by the high class clothes! Their singing combined with highly entertaining and engaging shows will be sure to have you laughing in the aisles. Comprised of professional actresses and musicians, these ladies have extensive years of experience in interactive theatre and live performance. Each brings a unique quality of voice and improvisational theater expertise to the show, making each performance remarkably different and unparalleled.

The Faire goes multi-cultural as well, as its expands on its English, French, and middle-eastern flare to welcome the Italian Renaissance. We are the small renaissance world, come partake.

This year the traditional irish song and dance that fills our stage receives a youth boost as not only do young stars fill our stage, but the wee watchers and wee attendees gain their first opportunity to compete in the wee highland games. This is a introduction which will hopefully bring the bug guys next year, as pictured above, but for this year the wee ones have all the fun with the following activities:

Children Activities Athletics

Our Inaugural year is a training year for our wee lads and lassies as well as the faire. So its merely an exhibition, but games came arise in year to come, maybe from youth to adult. As always with the faire our growth and reflection depends on you and what you enjoy. We believe this will be a new favorite.

CABER TOSS

Probably the most famous of all the heavy events, the Caber Toss dates back to the 16th century, where there are references to “ye casting of ye Bar.” This event is also one of the most misunderstood. Distance has no bearing on the outcome of the event. The object of the contest is to toss the Caber end‐over‐end so that the small tapered end falls directly away from the contestant. A long tapered log is stood upright and hoisted by the competitor who balances it vertically holding the smaller end in his hands. Then the competitor runs forward attempting to toss it in such a way that it turns end over end with first, the upper (larger) end striking the ground and then the smaller end, originally held by the athlete, following through and in turn striking the ground in the 12 o’clock position measured relative to the direction of the run. If successful, the athlete is said to have turned the caber. Cabers vary greatly in length, weight, taper, and balance, all of which affect the degree of difficulty in making a successful toss. Competitors are judged on how closely their throws approximate the ideal 12 o’clock toss on an imaginary clock. For the Wee version of this event, the athlete will be able to aim the caber at an actual image of a clock with the score calculated based on the distance to Midnight. The closer to Midnight, the higher your score. Competitors will use authentic cabers for younger athletes. Each competitor is given two opportunities to toss the Caber and all tosses are scored for a cumulative score. Technique will be explained or demonstrated by volunteer.

SCOTTISH HAMMER THROW

The modern or Olympic hammer throw is an athletic throwing event where the object is to throw a heavy metal ball attached to a wire and handle. The name “hammer throw” is derived from older competitions where an actual sledge hammer was thrown. Such competitions are still part of the Scottish Highland Games, where the implement used is a steel or lead weight at the end of a cane handle. With the feet in a fixed position, the hammer is whirled about one’s head and thrown for distance over the shoulder. Then they apply force and pick up speed by completing one to four turns in the circle. In competition, most throwers turn three or four times. The ball moves in a circular path, gradually increasing in velocity with each turn with the high point of the ball toward the sector and the low point at the back of the circle. The thrower releases the ball from the front of the circle. The two most important factors for a long throw are the angle of release and the speed of the ball. Each athlete gets two attempts, with the best throw being scored.

For our wee laddies and lassies, we continue our play on words and the weighted ball is replaced with a foam and canvas cover hammer. We do not ask they spin for safety of all, but the goal remains distance within a confined area.

SHEEP (play on word SHEAF) TOSS

The origins of this event obviously lie in the agricultural regions of Scotland. In the traditional event, a 20 pound sheaf of hay enclosed in a burlap bag is tossed with a three tined pitch fork over a bar. For our wee laddies and lassies, the pitchfork is replaced with a plastic pitch shovel and the bale of hay is replaced with a smaller and lighter sheep that fits into shovel. Each competitor will start at an age‐determined level and be allowed continued attempts until he or she fails to toss the sheaf over the bar. Successful clearance of the height allows the athlete to advance into the next round at a greater height. Activity will be scored in feet and inches for highest successful toss.

KILTED SPRINTS & RELAYS

It's time to dust off your Kilts and get ready because The Great Kilted Sprint & Relays has now begun in Bucks County PA. We hope to have our kilts finely prepared for this inaugural activity, but feel free to bring your own. We will encourage athleticism and healthiness, with some fun themed relay races and sprints, hopefully with a full band of kilts from our celtic kilted partners.

Come and see, or…if you like, contact Ken Hone, www.villagefaire.org, thedefenders@hotmail.com, 267-304-8060, and who knows, one of the new additions you maybe…HUZZAH!!!

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18th Annual Village Renaissance Faire—A Faire for a Cause

Come see the event that earned a visit from Renaissance Magazine.... Support the public library & have fun too! Its an authentic, affordable, and local Renaissance Faire with a CAUSE----ALL proceeds got the public library. This all volunteer community event attracted over 9,000 in one weekend last year. Please come join us. An event for all ages and affordable to all. Its hard to believe, but once you come its even harder to leave.

WHEN: Sept 16 & 17, 11:00-6:00 p.m. daily

WHERE: generously donated Middletown Grange Fairgrounds, 576 Penns Park Road, Wrightstown, PA 18940

ADMISSION: Adults $10; Students still just $5.00; under 5 free with paying adult. FREE parking.

SUSPEND DISBELIEF this September and be entertained by hundreds of performers every half hour on our ten stages. The Village Faire is designed to entertain, educate, and involve visitors of all ages.

• Armored Horseback Jousting
• Flying Birds of Prey @ High NOON & 4:00 p.m.
• Aerialist shows every hour
• Armchair Wizards, walking tree, roaming wishes, and pyrates of fortune’s folly
• LIVING LITERATURE-We are on the Same Side
• Human Chess, Archery, Historical Demos
• Puppetry, Juggling & Comedy
• Live Music, Theatre, & Dancing
• Steele Cavalier fencing lists, demos, lessons, and foam weaponry fun for young
• Children’s Quest, Dragon sized Games, Kids’ Kingdom
• Human Flail & Merlin’s World of Captured Aire
• Petting Zoo, Carriage & Pony Rides
• Crafts, Games & Inflatables

Whats new this year? As always, a lot:

· Italian Renaissance Flaire-- Orlando Furioso

· Mylins –Merlin’s whimsical counterpart—magic, science or something else

· Chaste Treasure, Voted 3rd Favorite Stage Act: Musical Group 2016

· Harry McNoggin Tree Wishes & Trunk Shows

· Lord Oakhart Giant Walking Treeg

What do past Visitors say:

• Really, all of this for $10 adults, $5 a students, and under 5 FREE
• All proceeds support the library
• How could I have missed it & When is it next year

Come early and stay all day as the activities are varied and ongoing. For more information call 267-304-8060, email thedefenders@hotmail.com, or go to www.villagefaire.org

###- Photos, Videos, and interviews Available upon request

WHAT: 18th Village Renaissance Faire

WHEN: September 16 & 17, 11-6 Daily

WHERE: donated Middletown Grange Fairgrounds

ADMISSION: $10 adults; $5 students; under 5 FREE

ADVANCE TICKETS https://villagefaire.ticketleap.com/18th-village-renaissance-faire--a-faire-for-a-cause/

ALL Proceeds benefit the Village Library of Wrightstown