Author Archive

August 16, 2019

One of my favorite things about bringing my friends to ORF for the first time is showing them all the fun stuff to experience. More than once I have heard people complain that the faire is essentially an outdoor mall, albeit a very bohemian one. It always stuns me when people say this because I […]

August 13, 2019

Day One Music festivals exist as liminal spaces, at least for me. While some names may stick out as the headliners of an event others exist as an unknown, which opens up the opportunity for me to experience something new. This is especially true when it comes to a genre of music I’m generally unfamiliar […]

August 9, 2019

Throughout her life, people flocked to Elizabeth. Some sought alliances, others to fall into her favor. But only a few truly left an impact on her. From political allies to romantic partners, some stood out from the crowd and others who were most notable in their absence. I could easily have made a Top 10 […]

August 6, 2019

Go to a concert and take a good look around. You’ll be able to tell who in the audience is a newcomer versus a long time fan or roadie without even speaking to them. They’ll have a t-shirt that was only available at a tour ten years ago. Maybe their jacket was signed by the […]

August 2, 2019

On Tuesday, we talked about the complexity involved with getting your hands on some high-quality, one of a kind renaissance garb. “But Kalynn,” you say, “there is no way I can afford to do something like that! I don’t even want Elizabethan garb! I want to be a pirate/bellydancer/original character.” Well, no worries! There is […]

July 30, 2019

There is an undeniable sense of pageantry that comes along with the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Hours before the gates open – and in some cases, before the sun comes up – cast members and guests alike spend time crafting a look to present during the season. Much of this has been in the process for […]

July 26, 2019

The renaissance festival has long stood as a complex and wonderful means of exploration into history, anachronism, and popular culture. While its origins were ones of educational pursuits, the Faire has since grown into a convention as multifaceted as a diamond. The Ohio Renaissance Festival provides a diverse escape in many forms with each of […]

July 23, 2019

Welcome to the real-life geographic location of Willy-Nilly-on-the-Wash, snugly tucked in between Warwick and Bishop’s Itchington roughly ninety miles from London. Rather, should I say the ‘theoretical’ location of Willy-Nilly, being that Willy-Nilly exists best and truly in the hearts and minds of its people and primarily in Harveysburg, OH. To be fair, this is […]

July 19, 2019

Nothing quite beats a cold drink on a hot day at faire! You take the brand new mug or goblet you bought, saunter on over to the bar and have the lovely beer wench fill it to the brim. As you head out into the streets and onto the next show, you want to be […]

July 16, 2019

One Hand on the Throne The history of Queen Elizabeth I is as fascinating as it is complex. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, her storied life was one of grandeur and political intrigue. Elizabeth went from princess to bastard, orphan to prisoner, and eventually to Queen. Her reign has since been heralded […]