Bristol Renaissance Faire
From Renaissance Faire Wiki
The Bristol Renaissance Faire (or BRF) of Kenosha, Wisconsin has been around for nearly thirty years, offering fine arts & crafts with food and entertainment of 16th century England. Bristol Academy of Performing Arts (or BAPA) auditions are held late spring. It runs for 9 weekends during the summer.
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[edit] History
It started in 1973 as King Richard's Faire. It moved to its current site in 1976. In 1988, it was purchased by the Renaissance Entertainment Corporation and renamed the "Bristol Renaissance Faire," connecting it to the unincorporated Wisconsin town of Bristol it resided next to and the factual English port city of Bristol.
[edit] Concept
The Faire seeks to historically recreate the world of Bristol, England on the day that Queen Elizabeth visited the town on her summer progress in 1574. To add an element of fantasy, Robin Hood has returned to combat the Evil Sheriff from his taxing reign over the town of Bristol.
[edit] Guilds and Troupes
- The Guilde of St. George seeks to recreate the splendor of the English court during the reign of Queen Elizabeth Tudor while on her annual summer Progress.
- The Guilde of St. Lawrence cooks an affordable meal for the cast and crew of the Bristol Renaissance Faire and emulates the middle class merchants and townsfolk.
- The Guilde of St. Michael presents the impression of a militia of England prior to the onset of the first Spanish Armada.
- Kids Kingdom performs puppet shows, stage shows, organizes treasure hunts and is the home of the Knighting Ceremony where any child can be knighted by Queen Elizabeth herself.
- Bristol Buskin Frolic are the high-energy citizens of Bristol that perform dancing, mummers plays, and music for the patrons.
- Street Performers are larger-than-life characters that interact with the Faire patrons on the streets of Bristol.
- Fight Cast are the combatants who tend to encounter each other on the stages and streets.
- Towne Criers are the official Ambassadors to the Faire, usually announcing the latest historical news or sometimes introducing a stage act.
- Musicians are the musical performers providing (usually) period acts on the stages and streets of Bristol.
- The Fantastickals are the fantasy creatures that bring an element of wonder to the land of Bristol.
- Thistle Croft is the group of Celts (Irish, Welsh, and Scots) that demonstrate traditional crafts from the Renaissance. They will not be with the faire this year.
- Weno Gypsies Tribe is a Middle Eastern and Romani dance and music troupe that performs bellydancing, sword dancing, skirt dancing, and Romani dances and music on street and stage at Bristol.
[edit] External Links
Official Site of the Bristol Renaissance Faire
Bristol Discussion Board
Bristol Renaissance Faire forum on RenaissanceFestival.com
