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Sterling Renaissance Festival
I'm just back from my first visit to the Sterling (NY) Renaissance Festival. On Saturday and Sunday I strolled the grounds with my son Erik, his wife Sarah and his mother Gail. From 10am until 6pm we immersed ourselves in medieval culture, rubbing elbows with lords and ladies, enjoying presentations from jugglers to jousts, and eating some of the finest food I've had in a long time.
Located somewhere in the woods between Oswego and Syracuse, the long-running festival provides an entertaining weekend for young and old. I didn't necessary fit in wearing my "Dude" tee-shirt on Saturday, but I did wear my hair in a ponytail like some men of medieval times. It really takes two full days to see everything, and even at that we never had a chance to get to the Mad Dog Tavern for the bawdy wench auction. Not that I was that interested.
Throughout the grounds men and women, employees and guests, dressed in medieval garb and most women were more than happy to show a couple of their womanly qualities. Not that I was that interested. But my jaw did drop when I spotted the fair maiden selling pretzels. I could not resist her charming smile and salted treats. I was one of her best customers during our two-day visit.
The festival offers over 40 different acts, including my favorite, Johnny Fox (no relation). Johnny's thirty-minute solo performance involved slight-of-hand, comedy and swordswallowing. He was amazing!
Several of the acts involved audience participation and we enjoyed the DaVinci Brothers Comedy Opera and the mud-slinging Mudbeggars Show. Since I was educated at a Catholic high school I especially enjoyed the Hey Nunnie Nunnie Show, which presented inspirational songs in comedy format, with a few pokes at Catholics who take themselves too seriously.
In between acts there is plenty of time to enjoy the food, ah, the food. Erik opted for the pork pocket topped with cole slaw, a tasty messy treat, on our day one, while I started out conservatively with clam strips, fries and slaw. But 'ere long we turned up the taste treats, enjoying steak-on-a-stake, dill pickles right from the barrel, and those massive turkey legs, bigger than my own kid's leg.
And to wash down the vittles, how about a mug of fine ale, served up by a long-haired fair maiden with a friendly smile for an ale-lover? Especially if he's wearing a "Dude" tee shirt and has a ponytail.
For those with a sweet tooth, such as Gail and Sarah, the cream puffs are irresistable. Nearly the size of a Volkwagen tire, they are covered with chocolate and stuffed with vanilla pudding. Must be eaten with a pitchfork or held in two hands.
It took me 58 years to find the Sterling Renaissance Festival, but I'll be back next year. I'm craving a pretzel already. Did I tell you about the "pretzel girl"? Not that I'm that interested!
Comments
Wow,
Foxy,....I haven't seen this man in years since I was a student at PMS for a short while and now clicking onto the site I see his picture..What a happy flashback good to see he is alive and well.
God has truly blessed Plattsburgh with people who are special like this man.
(Foxy's note: Who? Me? Thanks for your contribution to my blog!)
Posted by: Danny Paynter | August 15, 2006 10:12 PM