A Renaissance af-Fair: Escondido park hosts ninth annual fall festival

By PAM KRAGEN - Staff Writer | Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:24 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- The ninth annual Fall Escondido Renaissance Faire returns to Felicita Park on Oct. 25 for a two-weekend run celebrating 16th-century England with arts and crafts, strolling minstrels, Queen Elizabeth's court, Shakespearean scenes, Renaissance-era food and drink, sword fights, jousting and lots of fall harvest-themed activities and decorations.

From 10 a.m. to dusk Oct. 25 and 26 (and Nov. 1 and 2), the wooded park will be turned into a fairgrounds with more than 50 vendors selling Renaissance-themed merchandise such as handmade toys and musical instruments, statuary, jewelry, wind chimes, pottery, clothing, incense and basketry.

There will be three stages of live entertainment, street performers, Shakespearean actors, period music and a re-created Elizabethan village. Queen Elizabeth and her court will make their grand entrance at noon each day and more than 1,000 costumed re-enactors will roam the grounds.

Some of the scheduled activities for Oct. 25 include a "jugging game" (a sort of medieval football) at 1:30 p.m.; a battle re-enactment at 2 p.m.; scenes from Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at 3 p.m.; the Bawdy Juggler at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; Jack Dagger & Whipboy at 1 and 4 p.m.; the Queen's Swordsmen will clash at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m.; and a drum jam will be set up at the closing gate at 5 p.m.

Musical, dance and comedy entertainment includes Kenny Klein, Wildwood Morris, Rusty Happenings, Alioth Lotus and A Fool & His Lady and the House McFionn Dancers.

Visitors may also enjoy touring the guild grounds, where costumed guilds (with members who dress as soldiers, peasants, fairies, nobility and fantasy characters) will be camping over the two-weekend period.

While greasy legs of spoiled mutton and pebbly stew may have been the bill of fare during Elizabethan times, the food choices will be a lot fresher and friendlier at the festival. Selections will include fish and chips, crepes, burgers and hot dogs, rice bowls with beef, chicken or shrimp, shaved ice, ice cream and (if you're looking for period-style fare) roast turkey legs. There will also be a beer garden with ales, stout, beer and wine served by cheery wenches.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors ages 62 and up, $7 for children ages 5 to 11, and free for children 5 and under. Parking is $5. Felicita Park is located at 742 Clarence Lane, one mile west of Interstate 15 on the Via Rancho Parkway exit. For information, call (805) 496-6036 or visit www.goldcoastfestivals.com.