Barefoot Blue Jean Life: September 2010

This is the 34th year. I worked here 2 seasons in High School. LOVE this place. In case you decide you might want to make a trip I will give you basics, then its picture time. I am devastated I accidentally saved over some of the originals with my edited for facebook copies. So they are to sharp and unavailable to print. Most of the ones I wanted to print I can't. I guess it means my little sister, son and I will have to make another trip to remake memories. The pictures with black borders are ones I can't print. Ahhh.

Dates and Times:

Festival Schedule for 2010

August: 28, 29

September: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

October:2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24

Open from 10:00am - 7:00pm

We open Rain or Shine

Let Merriment Abound!

This Fest is, of course, in a 125-acre field located on Crownsville Road, in Anne Arundel County in Crownsville, just outside of Annapolis, MD. The roads are marked, so it is easy to find. Very good directions can be found at the website. This 16th Century village is called Revel Grove and, like Scarborough Faire in Texas, is centered around King Henry VIII. This one runs 8 weeks from the middle of August to the end of October each year. This is the second largest Renaissance Festival in the country.

Parking is, as usual, a dirt & grass field. Try to come in an SUV or truck if you can, as it gets pretty muddy if it happens to storm. This Festival does have handicapped parking available by the main gate, but it is still not a smooth drive.

Privies here primarily consist of port-a-potties. Ick. There is, however, running sink water outside the privies in which to wash ya grimy hands.

After strollin' down a row of vendors of every shape and size, you come out into the main village... which is to say you come upon a center, which has many roads leading off it. This faire has tons of permanent buildings built to the 16th Century style. This Festival is here to stay. This Fest has 130 craft shops, so you can definitely find whatever it is ye be a-wantin'....many fine sword shops, garb galore, toys and trinkets to strike awe in the hearts of kids of any ag.

Jousting at this festival is by The Free Lancers, a group of guys that do just this, joust. While it is choreographed and the guys have stunt training, it is VERY good. They put on a great show, and do leave some element of danger, while tickling your funny bone mercilessly!

The last weekend of every season this Fest has the Jousting Tournament, where the winners from other fests come to compete for the year's title. This is not to be missed!

This Festival does not allow you to wear your weapons. They used to, but this stopped after 9/11.

Food is ample and actually reasonable here. Naturally, they have the staples of huge Turkey legs and peasant bread. There is quote a lot of food to choose from, 42 places to be exact about it. There is even a tavern for those so inclined, with bagpipes and dancin' to entertain ye as ye sip of the fine honey Meade. (Which I partoke in)

There are many games to play here... ye kin test yer skill at axe tossin or grab a bow and see if ye kin shoot as well as an elf. The first weekend of the season is Children's Weekend and they get in free. There are various activities for the wee ones such as Pony Rides and Juggling School.

As I said, this Festival is the second largest in the U.S., and as such, you cannot miss it! This is the best time of your life! Do plan to spend more than one day here. There is no way you can see everything in one day. Make it a weekend outing at the very least.

A break down of the cost, since I know if you have never been you would have no clue.

Parking: FREE

Admission: ($28)
2 adults @ $18 each, I had a coupon that expired Sunday and we got in for $12 each

Games: ($8)
$2- Slingshot
$2- Drench a wench
$2- Archery
$2- Slide

Other: ($26)
$12 Sabrina Elephant
$7 Tristan Elephant
$7 Sword

Food: ($42)
$5 Turkey Leg
$4 Chicken on a stick
$3 Potato Wedges
$2 Bottle of green tea
$2 Bottle of water
$3 Italian Ice
$6 Two Cheesecakes on a stick.
$17 ceramic wine goblet filled with Mead.

Total Spent: $104

My baby.

1st show we watched.

Brie Brie

We watched the fairies blow bubbles.

Brie Brie juggled. Better than a bunch of people.

Tristan did not like the big slide. Nope nope nope.

Played in the big free kids area.

We watched this guy do puzzles.

Brie drenching a wench.

Brie eating a turkey leg.

Tristan loved riding the free ponies.

Tristan eating a Turkey Leg.

Chicken on a stick.

In trouble.

Sling Shot Game

Riding an elephant.

He fell asleep at normal naptime in the middle of all the chaos.

Some yummy Orange Italian ice.

Brie Brie learning the rules of "lawn bowling."

Apparently my yelling go Brie Brie was to distracting I got "the look" from both of them. Tristan was clapping and yelling too.

Sabrina's balls. She won. Notice you can't even see the other girls balls.

Explaining the game to the losing team, as a joke.

Razzing the other player. She was throwing hard and far.

Not happy his team lost.

Only picture of T and I. I am sitting in the queens chair. Brie was going for artistic and I had to straighten it.

Tristan loved these two, we saw them a few times.

Paying the king respect as he passed.

Leaving (2 pictures I did a crappy job merging) As I said Brie and I are making plans to go back to retake some pictures and see what we missed. The place is HUGE!

Also get cash ahead of time. Some people take credit most do not. They have 4 atms and all of them had a mile long line and $5 fee.