Yesterday, I did a very brave thing, along with other gusty guardians, and boarded a bus loaded down with fourth graders, before the sun had risen, for a two-hour drive to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. And we survived!
The medieval amusement park was dusty, a little warm, and sold greasy turkey legs the size of my arm that stained the front of my son’s shirt. But overall, it was a great, time-traveling day.
As the mom of a boy, I was assigned a small group of little men to shepherd through the festivities. Our first stop? Weaponry, of course!
They each purchased a wooden sword capable of putting an egg-sized knot on their buddy’s head, but I was impressed. Not once did a sword make contact with a skull. Okay, maybe once but there were no tears so it didn’t count.
Next up, the dungeon where we saw numerous torture devices from the molten lead boot to the spiked chair. Perfect “boy material” for my scruffy crew as we waded through a group of squealing girls.
After watching jousting while shoving down food, we went to my personal favorite – the insulting booth! Brave festival goers pelted a very mouthy jester with tomatoes. We opted not to pay $3 to be belittled.
We ended with the falconry show and ducked our heads as birds soared above. Afterwards, the kids got in one last sword fight with their classmates in the nearby woods and played their own version of a middle ages siege.
They were filthy and exhausted for the bus ride home, but with swords tucked away in overhead bins, we made it back safely to present day!
First up…weaponry
Followed by the dungeon
And then food!
Finding coins at the maze
Insulting booth
Lexi, the peregrine falcon, not following directions during the falconry show
Sword battle before boarding the bus
And a somewhat quieter ride home
