Renaissance Faire 2022

In Holly Michigan they have a Renaissance Faire that runs from August to October every year. It only operates on the weekends, but that’s still quite a span of time. It’s crazy hot in August, and delightfully cool in October.

There are lots of acts, food, and stores. And the costumes! It’s very rare to see anyone in full costume, but equally rare to see someone without anything at all. So it ranges from people who obviously spent several hundred dollars on their costume to people in street clothes with a pirate hat on. One of the things I love about the Ren Faire is that everyone tries, and no-one looks down on anyone else for having a “lesser” costume.

We try to go every year, sometimes several times per year. This year we went twice, with the second being for Sophia’s birthday. Her present was that we paid the way for a bunch of her friends, and then we didn’t really hang out with them. She turned 21, and tried alcohol for the first time in a Ren Faire pub.

Here are a bunch of pictures, some with comment, some not. Most of the people posing are strangers than I asked if I could get a picture.

The entire place is about 5 acres, and it all looks like this, all the time.

Faith on the left, Sophia in the middle, and Ema on the right.

This guy stands out front playing all day every day, getting donations for college. I've never gone when he wasn't there, and we started going about 4 years ago.

This is actually a ride. People go up the ladder and are buckled in, and then the attendant sits on the front of the green platform and makes it rock.

This is an example of an average shop. The shop owners own the building, but pay rent on the land.

This gear is what they got married in.

Roses for sale.

These two didn't say a word when I asked if I could take their picture, they just turned and posed.

Some people go all out.

I'm not sure you can tell, but there are vampire teeth in there.

See the bunny? She said he was happy there all day. He wiggled his nose at me.

Cate got an elaborate hat.

Ema got a hat as well.

This is inside the outer gate,but outside the main gate. This is where you buy tickets.

This lady braided my beard.