Maryland Renaissance Festival: Jousting Tournament

Various scenes from the MD RenFest's Jousting Tournament weekend taken by Walt Stoneburner on 3-Sep-2005.

It may be surprising to note that there's a lot that goes on at these festivals that you don't see. Security is ever present, fair staff blend into the crowd performing logistics, booth vendors are supplied breaks by 'runners' who generically tag team, there's a mini city behind the scenes, and while vendors have to go through a rigorous process to sell their wares on site in booths they actually own, performance artists make no money other than a potential bonus from fair profits at the end of the run. Work is done continuously all year long to bring you this event.

Behind the scenes, actors prepare, socialize, and gossip. But, when the cannon fires signaling the gate has opened, everyone instantly and professionally goes into character and stays in it until the last of the public leaves, or they can sneak behind the scenes though a secret passage.

[med] \| [big] \| [info] Behinds the scenes: Did you know there was a secret camp site?	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Behind the scenes: Performers and workers actually live on site.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Behind the scenes: Smoke rises through the trees catching the light as food vendors prepare the days meals.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Behind the scenes: There are secret passages hidden all over so workers and security can quickly cross the fairgrounds.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] The Royal Court prepares for a grand entrance.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] The King's Body Guard.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] The Turkey Leg booth girls!	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tamara watching a show.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Sometimes the guests get mistaken for staff.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] O Fool and O La La	[med] \| [big] \| [info] King Henry	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tree nymphs climbing silks in trees.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] One nymph takes a tumble.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Knights compete by spearing rings.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Notice the ring is floating around the pike!
[med] \| [big] \| [info] The Knight is proud, just realizing he did it! The crowd goes wild.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] An audience member is pulled on stage to act out the part of the Big Bad Wolf.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Exhausted, a patron takes a nap on the forest floor.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] We caught this little girl kissing her own reflection.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tamara tries out the magic mirror at the Half Moon.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tamara is taunted by the Magic Mirror in from of the Half Moon.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] The Lady Tamara, majestic as ever.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] A knight, majestic as ever.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Knights wave their flag in victory.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] It's hot, itchy, heavy and you can't hear or see. Let's not forget shiney!	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Check out the details of this knight's feathers.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] A full head on charge.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Victory cry!	[med] \| [big] \| [info] You know someone's glad it's over.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] O Fool shows how to make a hand puppet, using just your hands.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] A fairy makes bubbles for the little children.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] A young maiden awaits her prince.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Perhaps she sees him.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tamara. Ah, sigh.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] More Tamara. Ah, more sigh.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tracey and Alex working at the Half Moon.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Skulls at the Wall'O'Death.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Stinky horses go poo while jousting."	[med] \| [big] \| [info] A head-on charge.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] After impact, a portion of the lance snaps off and hits the ground.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] The lance snaps again, and a piece goes airborn.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Maybe killing the horse is more effective.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] We're all winners here. NOT.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Someone did well.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] At least he got to ride a horse.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Hey! I didn't see her out there jousting.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] A small princess horses around for a knight.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] Why watch armored men clash with dangerous weapons on horseback when you got ice-cream?
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tracey at the Jousts.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] This place is great, you can get anything at the fair!	[med] \| [big] \| [info] King Henry works the crowd.
[med] \| [big] \| [info] Tamara at a pub listening to bag pipe music.	[med] \| [big] \| [info] I get it now, this is why people like pubs.

Copyright © 2005 Walt Stoneburner
All Rights Reserved.

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