Bristol Renaissance Faire, it’s all happening… at the Faire
review by Paul Mc Kenna
photos by Maggie Mc Kenna

It’s all happening… at the Faire. I know this is going to sound like a commercial
but I can’t help it. Bristol Renaissance Faire is by far one of the coolest events I've 
ever attended. You enter the fairgrounds and it as if you stepped into a time warp. 
If you've never done it, now is the time. The Faire runs every Saturday & Sunday 
until August 25th and it is truly unique. It is above and beyond any festival, carnival, 
or amusement park I've ever seen. It has the ability, like Disney to get you into the 
other world frame of mind, but it is much more real (and cheaper) than anything 
Disney does. You walk down dirt paths (the fairgrounds twenty-five years ago was 
a campground)  like you would have in earlier centuries around a lake and a pond 
through tree lined paths as the actors put on a constant show around you. 
 
 

Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

A Man is kissed by the Mud man for the benefit
of being the gross one...
Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

You’ll see outrageous behavior, such as mud eating at the mud show done by 
beggars who take what they have, nothing, and turn in into highly charged comedy 
as if by magic (for details see www.mudshow.com). It’s dirt cheap too, all they do is 
pass the hat. Or watch the  Royal jousting with real knights on real horses, ride 
elephants if you wish, see the precious works of creative artisans (200) from around 
the country (much more than a craft fair my friends). Sixteen stages showing 
performances though out the day make it impossible to catch  everything in one or 
even two days. I saw a wonderful dyslexic storyteller named Zilch the torysteller 
doing Cinderella and Goldielocks and the three Bears in a twisted Pig Latin that was 
extremely creative and kept you on the edge of your seat just to follow the story. We 
watched the Queen dine and be entertained by performers and jesters in The Noble'’ 
Glade. This is an especially authentic area that has been setup to look like a Royal 
Camp. It is kind of hidden off to the side of the main paths and should not go unseen. 
 
 

Children enjoy an amusement ride from the time period.
Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

Youthful Visitors decked out in the proper attire for young maids.
Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna
 
 

The Kid’s Kingdom has been setup to help amuse the little ones with storytelling and
a few rides, like a twenty-five foot rocking horse or DaVinci’s helicopters with wings 
creatively propelled by human power. They can enter a maze to find gold coins or
tour the dark and disgusting, yet funny, Dungeon of Torture. My kids were able to 
throw knives, shoot arrow and crossbows, and even hurl tomatoes at a heckler in 
a stockade. 

The show and atmosphere created by Bristol is extraordinary, but the thing that 
surprises and enchants me more than anything else is the patrons, like you and me
who come to the Faire dressed in character. It is the best people watching show
I have ever encountered, because in addition to countless number of highly skilled 
and trained (some from Second City) actors, you’ll see customers like you and me
who have lost their identity to the era and donned fascinating costumes (If you get 
carried away, you can rent one for the day). The costumes are to-die-for incredible! 
These people are just having fun dressed as scantily clad trollops, Vikings complete
with ox horns that blow, kilted Scotsmen, knights in armor, and Ladies in Waiting, 
Swordsmen, and beggars. They have a contest for the best costume for adults and
children. So get out your tights and dust off you finery and leap to the Faire. 

The cost of the Faire is $16.50 per adult for entry and $7.50 for kids (5-12) but make
sure you bring your wallet because the rides and games all cost and well… fun does 
cost money. The food is in period too as you can gnaw on turkey legs or beef jerky, 
eat steak on a stick, roasted corn, vegetable tempura, garlic mushrooms, fish & chips,
great bakery or fresh fruit crepes. Wash them down with a yard of beer (or daiquiris)
and you’ll be quoting Shakespeare. The Faire opens at 10:00 am but the story for the 
day, a plot to keep you intrigued, starts at 9:45am so get there early. Be prepared to 
stay until the end at 7:00pm as the whole troupe parades you out of the park with songs
and revelry.
 
 

Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

Oak Park Journal photo by Maggie Mc Kenna

Get Wild at the Bristol Renaissance Faire

KENOSHA, Wisconsin (June 1, 2002)… Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!  Well, 
perhaps not exactly, but you will encounter some incredible wildlife when you join the
fun at the Bristol Renaissance Faire.

“It’s not immediately apparent what an animal lovers paradise the Faire is,” says Linda McFeters
, the Bristol Renaissance Faire’s General Manager.  “There truly are a wide range of encounters
you may have with the animals here at the Faire.”

It’s true!  Elegant swans greet Faire-goers at beautiful Lake Elizabeth and native Wisconsin
waterfowl grace the Nobles Glad on the Faire’s 30-acre rendition of a 16th century Elizabethan 
village.  Although the Faire is unable to accommodate pets, animal lovers will enjoy a variety of 
encounters to sate their passion, from the brightly festooned and brave joust horses to the thrilling
birds of prey – up close and soaring overhead – in the Falcon Show.

No re-creation of 16th century life would be complete without the greyhound, historically 
associated with knighthood and the first dog breed mentioned in English literature.  With the
help of Dairyland Greyhound Park, these regal hounds, long a favorite of English aristocracy,
grace the Queen’s daily procession.  Representatives from Dairyland’s Adoption Center are 
on hand during the day to talk with Faire-goers about their program for retired racers.  The 
Bristol Renaissance Faire is honored to assist in their effort.  According to Julia Romanski, the 
Faire’s Marketplace Director, “It’s a delightful surprise to see one of those proud and feisty 
dogs strutting in the parade with a ruffled collar or a floral garland round their neck.”  An avid 
animal lover herself  Julia is committed to this effort.  “We’re so happy to be able to help 
these great dogs find good homes.” 

Faire guests wanting a closer encounter will enjoy the pony and elephant rides and the 
glorious petting zoo packed with unusual animals.  Here, you can feed a llama, pet a shaggy
Highland Cow or play with an adorable furry miniature chickens.  The petting zoo is the baby 
of Don Meyer, the affectionate Dr. Dolittle of Jo-Don Farms of Franksville, near Racine.
When the excitement of the Faire season is over – and the site is closed to the public - the 
property becomes a wildlife sanctuary.  Native animals including deer, squirrels, chipmunks,
birds and waterfowl move in.  “Hunting is a very popular sport for many of the Faire’s neighbors
but we’ve decided that the Faire grounds may be a good place for the local wildlife to take a
break from that part of the circle of life,” says McFeters. 

Linda goes on to explain, “Animals are an important part of our world.  The Faire is very 
proud to work with such caring and reputable organizations to bring them closer to our guests. 
The effect of being touched by an animal ranges from simple smiles to being truly life altering. 
The Bristol Renaissance Faire is so happy to be able to offer this experience.”

The Faire is open every Saturday and Sunday from June 29 through August 25, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m. rain or shine.  The Bristol Renaissance Faire is located just west of I-94 on the 
Wisconsin side of the Illinois/Wisconsin border near Kenosha. 

For more information, call 847-395-7773 or visit the website at www.renfair.com. 

An Adrenaline-rushing Joust—complete with Knights in Shining Armor!
Special Musical Guests, including the four-time Grammy-nominated “Scottish Rogues” 
—guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles! 

Nearly 200 Unique Merchants in marvelously delightful Shoppes. Items range from 
museum-quality fine art pieces to baubles for the sheer joy of it!

 Dirk and Guido: The Swordsmen! and their hysterical lessons in “Manly Behaviour,”
not to mention the Sturdy Beggars Mud Show—see it to believe it!

Festive Kids Kingdom, featuring the splendor of the Knighting Ceremony with
Queen Elizabeth herself!

Mouth-watering Foods of all description!

Special Weekends jam-packed with activities like Scavenger Hunts, Costume 
Contests, Treasure Hunts and Celtic Feasts!

Tasty Food, shopping for Handcrafted Treasures or having your own personal serenade from a strolling 
Minstrel are just a few reasons why this Shire has been honored as one of the American Bus Association’s
“Top 100 Events in North America” and in The Network craft magazine’s “Top Show Recommendations.”

1. The character of Jane the Phoole is based on the real-life jester to the real-life Queen Elizabeth I. 
    The actress who portrays her, Ann-Elizabeth Shapera, is the Faire’s Director of Street Theatre.

2. The roving street performers are all on a rotating system where they will “work” an area for an
    amount of time and then move on.  If you position yourself in one location, you can eventually
    have the whole street show come to you.

3. ComedySportz or Second City in Chicago trains many of the Faire’s street characters.

4. David Woolley, Guido Crescendo of The Swordsmen!, is also a professor at Columbia University
    in Chicago and a professional stunt choreographer and instructor.

5. Bristol’s performers are required to complete a five-week training course to sharpen their acting 
    skills and gain a working knowledge of life in 16th century England.  This training course, which
    brings together instructors from all over the world, is called the Bristol Academy of Performing 
   Arts and is in its 11th year.

6. Most of the upcoming feature film “Sword of Hearts” was filmed at the Bristol Renaissance Faire.

7. The Faire will feature a commedia del’ arte zanni character this season who you may spot roving 
    the streets and stages.  Trinity Hamilton, a principle dancer with “the” prima ballet company in 
    Chicago, performs this character.

8. All of the members of the Guilde of St. George - the Queen’s Court - are based on people who
     really lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I.

9. At the encampment of the Guilde of St. Michael - aka the English Military - you can try on a 
     practically full set of historically accurate armor.

10. The Dead Parade kicks off daily around 6:00 by the Dirty Duck Inn and makes a nearly full 
      circuit of the Faire site.  In keeping with folklore, this performance piece – based on the Danse 
      Macabre - is never listed on any schedule.