2002:  With high expectations of a nice faire and good weather, we decided to set forth on the long day’s journey west and south to celebrate the end of summer (as well as Frodo’s birthday) at the 26th annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival. While the weather was great both days, ‘twas the faire itself that well exceeded any and all expectations that I did hath of it. The thought "perfect" crept into my mind more than once throughout the weekend - beginning shortly after the first steps through the front gates and continuing throughout the last round about the faire grounds.

The site is just simply absolutely beautiful - pictures and words doth not do it justice. The faire is situated upon gently rolling and hilly grounds amidst a densely wooded area of well established oak and other trees, accompanied by a couple of small creeks flowing through it. Carved into this is a snake like maze of twisting and winding paths covered with wood chips, which are largely surrounded by permanent period structures for food vendors and merchants. In one of the northern niches of the faire is the Enchanted Forest - a hilly wooded area that is home to a large and significant faerie presence (more on that later). The faire also offers both a good sized Children’s Kingdom and Petting Zoo, as well as numerous rides (animal and other) and period games of skill. In some of the larger clearings are the Renaissance Downs jousting field, new botanical Enchanted Gardens, and the new two-story Canterbury Public House pub.

Ahh, which leads me to the Circumstances! This faire doth offer a large array of both food and drynke of uncommonly and amazingly (for faire feasting) high quality. First, let me say that there is no need for hunting of a good brew here. Upon entering and after passing no more than ten booths we encountered a small beer stand with an uncommonly good mix of offerings, but as we later found out, there was really no need for a hasty purchase (but then again...). There are numerous walkups throughout the grounds that offer a high quality variety of Warsteiner, Newcastle Brown Ale, Woodchuck Hard Cider, Pete’s Wicked Ale, Pete’s Strawberry Blonde, Chaucer’s Mead, Beamish Stout (sorry, no Guinness); as well as other ales, beers, wines, and wine coolers. In the lower Yorkshire Wharf area is a small (except by Bristol standards) pub with tables and benches, and as previously mentioned there is the grand new Canterbury Public House pub at the other end up in Cotswold Commons complete with serving wenches. And there is no need to bring your timepiece on Sundays, as the entire faire opens at 10:00 AM just as it doth on Saturdays. And might I add that it doth take less coinage of the realm here to fill up that large tankard or drynking horn than at many other shires.

Amongst the varied food offerings are Slovakia, Meatball Grinder, some amazingly good Crepes, Baklava, Spanakopita, Greek Salad, Mozzarella Sticks, Shrimp or Fish & Chips, Polish Sausage or Sausage on a Stick, Bratwurst, Steak Sandwiches, Jalapeno Poppers, Apple Dumplings, and BBQ Rib Platter; as well as tea, espresso, coffee, and a variety of soft drynkes. They have flavored Shaved Ice. The standard Turkey Leg offerings are all but common. The KC Turkey Legs reminded me of those that Michigan use to have - large, well roasted, and very tasty - with appropriately crispy, blackened roasted skin; and tender, juicy, tasty meat that almost falls of the bone. The only negative that I heard about any food tried was that the Scotch Eggs were not up to par compared to some from elsewhere.

There art a good variety of merchants present at KC, though I still doth have issues with reconciling how faires that maintain merchants of steel weapons can in turn deny these very same items to be brought back into their own faire, even if appropriately peace-tied and sheathed. Amongst the merchants present that caught our eye (many new to us, though not all) were ASL Foundry, T’ger Toggs, Trobere’s Leather, Crimson Chain (leather), Rhiannon Perfumer, Osborne Leather, K. Dopita Studios, Jiva Originals, Dwarf Mountain Knives, Mask Parade (very nice leather masks), and Bows of the Risen Son (nice recurved style starter bows for children). There were also many other leather, weapons, armor, clothing, and other shops too numerous to individually name.

Now all of the preceding would be for nought, if the faire did not provide the proper atmosphere and feel. Well, the Pomp is alive and thriving at the Kansas City Festival and one has no need for trying to be ‘period correct’. KC’s theme itself is a mix of Renaissance and Medieval and more - set in the village of Canterbury in the year 1535. Though King Henry VIII and Queen Ann Boleyn doth reign, Robin Hood and Little John, the French Musketeers, Cardinal Rochefort, the Countess de Winter, and the Spaniard Don Juan are all present as well. There is also a thriving faerie realm complete with Mother Nature, Titania and Oberon, and a mermaid; and these faeries (like those at TRF) really get into acting their parts. In-between the obligatory medieval horse jousting there are Greco-Roman Gladiator contests. Also still flourishing in Kansas City is the art of the street performer/character - some of whom are Malvito the Malevolent, the Barbarian, Helga - the Singing Viking, and The Notorious Madam Red. Amongst the myriad of entertainers present are Vince Conaway, Traveling Talons (Birds of Prey), 3 Pints Gone, and gypsy dancers. There is a late afternoon Pub Sing at the Seafarer’s Wharf Stage, a Drum Jam scheduled to start 15 minutes before closing by the Front Gate, and a myriad of garbed playtrons (some of whom we met and made friends with). There doth also be a Human Combat Chess Match, and an SCA presence as well.

In summary, I rate the Kansas City Renaissance Festival as one of best faires that we’ve yet visited. If it’s weapons policy was changed to allow for the carrying of sheathed, peace-tied weapons by (at least) playtrons, I would rate it 5 Turkey Legs for Pomp. Taking into consideration the size difference, I rate KC very, very close to TRF (except for it’s weapons’ policy). While the grounds of TRF offer more grandeur and extensive variety that it’s larger size can support, KC has the benefit (for us) of only being about one half of the distance away from our abode near Bristol as compared to that of TRF. In addition, I actually like the hilly, more densely wooded KC site than the cobblestoned paths of TRF (or Michigan), though each have their own charm. The drynke and the food (as doth the Turkey Legs themselves) also rate high marks. The simple fact that I’m even comparing Kansas City with TRF should indicate how highly I think of KCRF. Parking of carriage (4 wheels or more) or horse (2 wheels) is free, and pets are allowed.  And if all this were not already enough, there are two conveniently located Royal Privies (besides the typical faire privies) that offer flushables, hot & cold running water, and soap. Huzzah!