Stunts & Whimsy at the RenFair

82: 37th Annual Arizona Renaissance Fair has me all giddy

“Lord, what has thou done?

Thou’t a pink pony maid,

Thou should’s be a nun.”

Welcome to Ye Ol’ Dusty Disney

Arizona’s closest thing to Disney is NOT Castles & Coasters, it’s AZ Ren Fair, which only takes place on weekends for 2 months. This year, it’s all of February and March. We chose the earliest February dates we could make this year to avoid high temperatures. With a nice breeze and some cloud coverage, our time at the festival wasn’t ruined by the Arizona sun’s unforgiving rays.

Though it’s pretty hard for anything to ruin my joy at the RenFair. The festival runs rain or shine and I’m at the RenFair even if I’m running to the parking lot to pump or I’m on nausea meds for pregnancy. Thank goodness the food and my medicine sustained me and I had a wonderful day! (That is until we made our way back, which was close to a 2 hour trek that definitely wasn’t fun for dizzy ol’ me. The way there is around 1.5 hours before we hit the big line in!)

My photos, left to right: a renfriend and I in front of the torture museum this year, me as a purple witch fairy from last year, and elfy renfriend practicing her aim

Zach and I made it a tradition to go every year for our dating anniversary way back when we first started dating, but the last 3 years we have expanded to a large friend group that enjoys dressing up. We had never put thought into dressing up before, but it definitely enhanced the experience for me these last couple of years. I am so excited to put together my RenFair costume every year, which is always different but traditionally a fairy. Surprise, surprise…

Some fun facts about fairies, you ask?

Well, did you know that Never fairies are born when a baby laughs for the first time? Fairies are only about as tall as your hand, but— together— the nature-talent fairies bring the seasons to the human world! When they speak, their voices sound like tiny bells to us “clumsies” but introduce themselves to each other by saying things like “I look forward to flying with you” instead of “nice to meet you.” Never Fairies can’t fly backwards, fear birds and other predators that think they’re bugs, and they cannot get their wings wet as they take a very long time to dry off. Swimming is deadly! Never Fairies need pixie dust to fly long distances, but can flutter a few inches without. When someone stops believing in fairies, the nearest fairy dies. So, it’s important to keep your belief alive.

And, most importantly, clap to show you believe. Like Tinkerbell, I too need applause to live.

My photos, left to right: Gabx2 2 years ago, Twig the Fairy being so friggin cool, and Zach & I this year.

So, when I go to places of whimsy like RenFair and Disneyland, a childlike part of me gets to come out and play. I LOVE these places. I LOVE playing pretend and getting to immerse myself in a fantasy world with other people who enjoy suspending reality and diving into their theatre backgrounds. At RenFair, it is encouraged to dress up. And I have noticed more and more people dressing up every time we go. Full families dressed up, wagons decorated, old couples in full armor or like medieval royalty. It’s so wonderful to see so many adults of different backgrounds get into it.

The RenFair also includes many employees who are fully dressed up and interact with guests in character. Someone came up to me upon entering the RenFair to tell me the entire festival was a “no fly zone,” gesturing to my wings. I nodded, giggled, and said I would keep myself grounded. (Then I did a happy little frolic about being at the RenFair!!) There are plenty of magicians, jesters, and musicians scattered around the many shops and food stands, making every moment one for entertainment. With 16 performance stages, there is always a show happening or about to start, not including the 3 professional joust tournaments scattered throughout the day. We have started the tradition of attending the last joust of the day to end our trip as it is the only tournament that is a duel to the death, complete with sword-fighting, stunts, and fake blood (oh my).

RenFOOOOOOOOOD

My pictures: Zach with yummy lemon berry pop, chimney cakes cooling on their sticks, renfriends happy to have caught up with pretzel guy, renfriend following my lead on the chocolate strawberry bowl.

I enjoyed just about every one of my favorite treats this year to help keep the pregnancy nausea at bay. I am big on turkey legs, so ya know I got one of those. I tear into those in a way that makes me feel like I could never go vegetarian… They are unfortunately $16 but it did take me maybe 1.5 hours to eat it while walking around. It’s a big ol’ chunk of juicy meat on the bone, so it’s a staple for me no matter the price. Then, my absolute favorite: the loaded potato, baked in a fire-smoked oven to perfection, for the totally great price of $6! Can’t go without it. Many of my friends got the bread bowls with broccoli cheddar soup or some other yumminess. I love me some soup, but my potato was my lunch. Next, I would say the corn on the cob as it is only $4 and is juicy and yummy as heck. I also can’t not stop at a chocolate shop to get a free sample and either a frozen banana or a strawberry bowl. This year, we also enjoyed $5 popsicles that were the perfect texture to bite and so yummy! (We got the berry lemon one!) I was also very refreshed by my $4 frozen lemonade and my friends very much enjoyed their $8 frozen piña coladas. Lastly, my friends got pretzels from the pretzel stick guy as we walked about of the festival. They like em, but I am not a pretzel gal. I’ll stick to my turkey leg. Hehe

My photos: me from 2015 vs. me from 2023, still turkey-legging but now I’m dressed more like my true self: a fairy! ;)

“My sword is a nail

And my shield is a button

My hat is a thimble

My belt is a string

I’m Thumbelina

My size may be little

But my dreams are bigger

than anything.”

The New Dream

Something that’s always gonna keep me coming back is the complete and total acceptance of the weird, mystic, and unique at the RenFair. Like Disneyland, RenFair feels like you’re walking into another place in time and history with a culture I wish bled into my life outside of the castle walls. Like the Pride Festival, a colorful array of people and costumes are acceptable, encouraged, and celebrated. With everyone dressed so uniquely, there is no one way that people are expecting each other to look or to be or to act… other than accepting of the spectrum of ways that others show up in the world.

My photos: an old renfriend petting greyhounds as the Pope, Zach and I being silly, and a photo of my little dragon friend Linda

And even though I only get to experience this imaginary, weird world of fairies and turkey legs one day a year from 10am-6pm by paying $35 a ticket, I come away from my trip with a renewed since of self. It’s refreshing to be uplifted for my outfit, interacted with kindly by people of all genders and identities, and entertained thoroughly in the silliest of ways. Any opportunity I have to connect with and nurture my inner child, I will certainly be taking. Catch me frolicking in my sparkly wings and absolutely no shame!

---

Weekly Subscriptions & Cancellations💁🏽‍♀️

the ideas and soundtracks I want running in my head, or not.

• 🙋🏽‍♀️SUBSCRIBED to:

  • Holding boundaries. Even if I do like to share, I need to do more checking in with myself to see if I am uncomfortable with how much or what I’m sharing.

  • People who love you so much that they laugh with you AND cry with you. If you can’t hang with me when I’m writing emo poetry, you don’t deserve me when I’m telling sunshiney jokes.

  • Telling the truth, even when it’s hard.

  • TRANS RIGHTS. Never unsubscribing.

• 🤦🏽‍♀️UNSUBSCRIBED from:

  • Texting back people I don’t want to talk to or don’t feel comfortable talking to. They can wait.

  • Being broke…

  • Italian food. No simpatico atm.

  • Having lots of friends, I guess.

---

🌻Show & Tell:🌻

In the spirit of trying new things and following my interests, I got a tarot card reading from this lovely lady who ended up being a reverend. We had the most heartfelt interaction and she reminded me that everything I need is already inside me and I just need to trust myself. Y’all know I was crying!

---

Time for some TLCCC💕

Treating myself to: Donuts!

Listening to: Doechii! She is so relatable!

“Singing karaoke while my mom was at the store (you are)

Scared that she would walk in on me singing Paramore (the only exception)”

Crafting: little clay earrings and being proud and maybe possibly thinking of making more to sell at craft fairs! What should I make next?

Craving: Good China. Veggie fried rice is the best (I won, Sissy! Hehe)

Caring SO much about: Rewatching The Good Place, which is hitting so good this second time. It helps that I know what’s gonna happen and I’m not so stressed out. lol