ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- The last time you took a peaceful stroll through the park, what did you see? Some trees, the odd squirrel and some old people feeding the birds?
As I approached the gate of Felicita Park, I was welcomed by several scantily clad maidens hailing my arrival. Ten feet later, I was ‘robbed’ when I was ambushed of rough barbarians covered in black body paint and wielding heavy steel axes.
Thanks to the 7th Annual Escondido Renaissance Faire and “Shakespeare in the Park,” the serenity of tranquil and scenic Felicita Park was disturbed by the sounds of hawking vendors, clanging steel and mystical gypsy music as the 1,000 ‘subjects’ inhabiting the “Village of Falconbridge” brought the medieval world to life.
Approximately forty role-playing clubs, known to this sub culture as guilds, made up the village.
My first stop to interact with guild members was a no-brainer, the tavern. At the tavern, one had their choice of several unique stouts and wines similar to those served in the middle ages.
“Guilds show people what life was actually like in the middle ages,” said Lady McFionn of House McFionn, an Irish-themed guild based in San Diego. “Every guild supports itself, it’s members serve as fighters, entertainers and craftsmen.”
Although plenty of unpaid blood, sweat and tears go into creating a meticulously historically accurate village, the hobby isn’t all about work.
“We dress up as barbarians and party with battle axes!” exclaimed Dango, the unofficial ‘spokesman’ of Las Vegas-based Dogs of War after downing a drinking horn of beer. “Some guilds are large and organized with their trades and meetings, but some of us are just groups of friends who like to participate in the theme and just have fun.”
The guilds are the lifeblood of the festival. Guild themes range anywhere from the highly decorated and lavishly dressed Queen’s Entourage to the street-entertaining Gypsies and slightly out of place pirates. A guild consisting of common thieves and scoundrels represented the seedy underbelly of the medieval world known, albeit in a family-friendly manner.
After enjoying a goblet of sangria, I decided to check out the shopping.
The vendors were all peddling historically accurate and hand-made goods from the time period. Colorful glass carafes, plain peasant clothes and noble goblets adorned with gems were all available. Against my better judgement, I even had a fortune teller turn over several tarot cards that explained that I am unhealthy and that I need a career change. Go figure.
For those looking for more than home decorating or amusing fortunes, one could even purchase dulled steel weapons and armor to do battle.
A brutish mercenary guild, The Black Company, put these weapons to use as steel-clad weekend medieval warriors hacked and smashed at each other to the cheers of ale-fueled fans.
Brutal battles, hilarious satire stage performances and various other abstract displays of medieval oddity, such as wandering hybrid mime/acrobats, are nothing more than daily occurances in the Village of Falconbridge.
However, today is no ordinary day for the Village of Falconbridge.
“Today, the queen will be visiting her loyal subjects,” said Dick Wixon, the event coordinator. “Not everyone is happy, as her arrival will no doubt be the announcement of new taxes.”
The queen and her entourage of more than 100 noble warriors and revelers paraded through the vendor-lined streets of Falconbridge on her flamboyant voyage to the throne room. The busy bee merchants immediately put a hold on their businesses to greet the queen, ignoring the puzzled looks of their non-roleplaying customers. Even the rogue gypsies ceased their exotic belly dancing to pay their respects.
All was well up until the final stretch of the parade, when the same barbarians who robbed me upon my arrival ambushed the parade from their concealed fortress, while shrieking animal-like battle cries. At first, only taunts were exchanged, but they soon escalated into individual melees, which then molded into one full-scale mock battle.
Although the queen’s bodyguards emerged victorious, several were captured by barbarians and brought back to their fortress in a hasty retreat, never to be seen again.
“The Renaissance Faire is what holds the community’s magic,” said non-roleplayer Gloria Garrett of San Diego. “When that magic is brought to life, we remember just how important that is.” For those who missed the magic, the festival will continue on April 21, 22.
Admission is free to active duty military and 12 dollars for adult dependents. For more information, visit http://www.goldcoastfestivals.com