Ruby Annas
My family and I recently went back in time, where people feast on turkey legs; try to find a seat for the jousting tournament; and speak in an English accent.
My sister, Bethany Goodman is the instigator for any fun family trip or activity. She’s very extroverted and likes to go out and explore. I am grateful for that because my family follows wherever she leads.
This time, she wanted to go to the Renaissance Festival. My sister was so dedicated that she drove the six hours from where she lives in Norfolk, Va., down to Granite Falls. I was really dedicated too, but luckily only drove two hours.
Oct. 21, we loaded up Bethany’s new Subaru with a wooden axe and sword. We have went to the Renaissance Festival in Huntersville about three times before this. On one of those trips, my granny joined and my dad worried about the amount of walking for her. His solution was getting her a walking stick. The best option was a giant wooden axe the same height as my 5’5’’ granny.
My favorite picture from that trip is of my granny holding the axe, but it’s in front of her face. Behind the blade, you could still see a peek of her battle glare. In reality, that’s just how my tough-as-nails granny looks in photos.
On this trip, it would just be my sister, mom, dad and me. Bethany took the driver’s seat and took shotgun. My dad was excited about riding instead of driving for once. My parents were snuggled up in the backseat, literally: dad would lean over and bury his face in mom’s curly hair.
My dad also had a clear view of my hair and poked the hair charms in it. I did a half-up, half-down look with two dutch braids on the top of my head and put little gold rings in it. I connected the braids in the back with a golden hair clasp that went around the hair. I topped the look with a blue and purple flower crown I got the last time we went to the festival.
I had never dressed up for the festival before, but decided to give it a try since my sister was so excited about her outfit. The main part of my outfit were two little baggies, one filled with sunflower seeds and the other with coins and rocks hanging on my black belt. I was going for a scavenger/fairy look. My sister also supplied a black corset to complete the outfit.
My parents didn’t dress up. Dad walked with the axe and mom held the sword, still looking sweet with her flower crown.
After an hour drive, we arrived at the festival. The first thing I saw was a man in a kilt. Every time we have gone to the festival, it’s Celtic weekend.
We saw many people dressed up and it was cool to see the employees so dedicated to staying in character. At one point, we saw a guy laying on the ground in front of a tree acting drunk.
My dad wondered if he did work there and if so, did he get paid? We all laughed and he added that we wouldn’t mind having that job.
Besides interesting people, there were also interesting things for sell. We stopped by the wooden armory shop, a crystal shop and then a candle shop. My sister goes forward a bit farther and I followed her. I bobbed and weaved through the crowd of people, since it is always so crowded.
We stop at some performers who look like pirates. They are singing about a bar catching on fire. Their solution is to go to the cellar and drink all the rum, since it’s flammable (again, it’s Celtic weekend).
My sister and I stop by a crown shop and try some on. Later in the day, my dad bought one for my mom with a red dangling crystal.
I keep following my sister until we see racks holding pet dragons. They were posable and made of rubber so they can wrap around your wrist or neck. There were a rainbow of colors, but my sister and I decided that she should get a black one with green eyes. She named it Toothless from the movie How to Train your Dragon.
Bethany, Toothless and I went then got in line for a root-beer float. After waiting for 20 minutes we finally were able to order, but alas, we needed cash. My sister stepped over to the ATM and tried again.
With a root-beer float in one of Bethany’s hands in corn in the other, we went over to the jousting tournament. We couldn’t get a seat, so we stood in a crowd trying to peer over people’s heads. The sun was also very bright, so I could barely look up. I didn’t want to watch jousting, so we went to get what I wanted to eat.
The biggest thing I was looking forward to that day was getting a soup in a bread bowl. I imagined myself devouring a hearty chicken noodle soup or potato soup. Sadly, they didn’t have those soups. I settled with chili and it was still amazing, especially for $9.
I ate my chili on the go as we went looking for our parents. We found them sitting on a bench watching some performers where the bird show usually is. The band had four members, all wearing black pirate-like costumes. The music was catchy combining rock-and-roll and Celtic sounds. The guitars played an intense beat while the drummer was going hard, looking like Animal from The Muppets. The bird show was going to start in a few minutes.
I really wanted to see the bird show. It was always my favorite part from the past times I went to the festival. The falconer always brings in an owl, hawk and vulture. The hawk flies where the handler tells it to go and swoops inches above people’s heads. Birds are just so mesmerizing to watch.
Anyway, mom and dad wanted to try watching the last jousting tournament that day, so we headed that way while Bethany watched the bird show a little longer.
Again, we couldn’t find seats, so we were standing and being baked by the afternoon sun. My sister met up with us, returning with a purple poppy. She said a viking gave it to her and said, “you’re a dangerous beauty.”
I didn’t want to be blinded by the sun again, trying to watch guys hit each other with sticks. Instead I searched for something to drink. I found a stand selling frozen Italian soda. I asked the server what flavors they have. She gestured behind her to a row of flavor syrups. I took a minute to decide and got coconut.
My dad met up with me and we went to the entrance to wait on my mom and sister. We left about 30 minutes before the festival closed at 5 p.m.
I had a great time with my family. I hadn’t seen them in five months and when we get together, we’re always cutting up laughing or being goofy. I’m glad I got to create more memories with them at the whimsical Renaissance Festival.
Ruby Annas is the staff writer for The Graham Star. She can be reached via phone, 828-479-3383; or email, news@grahamstar.com.