Sarasota Medieval Fair

Today marked the start of the tenth annual Sarasota Medieval Fair for the next three weekends.  It is well done with a theme this year of the Battle of Crecy, 1346.  This was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Year War.  Edward III of England travels to France with an army of knights, men-at-arms and archers to press his claim to the French crown over French king, Phillip VI.  The French suffered high casualties during the battle at the hands of the English.

Note the Merlin costumed fellow to the right who took our tickets.

This is the third "Medieval Faire" we have attended and it proved to be entertaining from start to finish.

Knights receiving orders from their superior.

The cast of this endeavor consisted of all ages and costumes ranged from historical to fanciful.  The attendees also came dressed for the occasion.  It made for a fun atmosphere and entertaining sights all day.

Lady of the forest.

Perhaps a jester?

The entire cast paraded through the venue at one point giving us a glimpse of just how large a production this is.  With the food and craft vendors offering an array of great food (think roasted corn on the cob and a Cornish Pastry for lunch) and beautiful artwork, jewelry, pottery and more to see, we were there for almost four hours!

The parade begins with a fanfare of bag pipes.

The King and Queen pass by with their court.

Fairies and the trolls who protect them delighted everyone with their beauty and antics respectively.

Trolls all seem to have horns.

I believe it is the children who make a Medieval Fair the most entertaining because of the wonderment and fantasy it creates in the minds of all who attend.  You can see their imagination expanding in all directions as the fair revolves around them in talented acts, unusual rides and offerings of fascinating toys.

Camel rides were available.

Shoulder puppets.

Acrobats perform.

It would not be a Medieval Fair without the horses with their knights who hit targets with their javelins or capture on their jousting lances rings that are held up by their esquires or even rings tossed into the air for an added challenge.

The knight from England.

The knight from Spain.

The knight from France.

Tossing a javelin at the target.

Look carefully to see the blue ring above the knight's jousting lance.

The "Cast in Bronze" act was astonishing using a musical instrument called a carillon.  It is comprised of 25 bronze bells cast in 1951 along with ten additional bells cast in the Netherlands.  It is a one of a kind instrument in the United States built in Coatesville, Pennsylvania in 2010 weighing over four tons.  Here is a link for more information on the history of the instrument you will find to be very interesting:  Cast in Bronze Carillon Bells 

Frank DellaPenna, Master-Carillonneur graduate of the French Carillon School.