Historical Tourist: Second Year's A Renaissance Charm
The excitement of the first year of entertainers and stalls behind us, the newly-formed Ren Faire connoisseurs of the Flathead Valley and surrounding regions eagerly awaited this year's encore performance of the Montana Renaissance Faire. This year learned from last year's technical issues (particularly the dust and the sun), and vendors came more amply-prepared for two weeks of high foot-traffic. The mainstays of last year's event made a repeat showing, and the popularity of the two weekends stayed strong from year t0 year.
Better-prepared for a more immersive experience, attendees showed up in anything from shorts and t-shirt to full-on era garb. If someone did not have their own outfit, bits and pieces were much more likely to be in stock at the vendors this year. One of the primary weaponry and leather goods stalls--which last year was practically sold out after the first day of the Faire--came back this year far better prepared to handle the enthusiastic Montana crowds, managing to leave with some inventory still in stock! Several vendors that were particularly focused on the handcrafting of their own goods brought with them the tools of their craft for demonstration and education. The availability of these kinds of gifts to the visitors to the Faire brought their own unique charm and generosity, helping the crowds to learn about the crafting techniques of ages past that lasted centuries and that these craftsmen still hone today. The excitement and passion these vendors have for their craft and teaching it to others is inspiring.
Performers, as with last year, did an excellent job playing to the crowd. A new pair of performers (called the High Flying Fools) made the large tent setup in the middle of the grounds their base of operations, providing some laughs and chuckles to the amply-provided shade. A viking storyteller found a good place in the adjoining, smaller tent to tell the tales of Thor and other heroes--when he was away from the front gate where he was busily throwing visitors in the stocks. The camaraderie with the crowd was more ample this year as the players knew the crowd they were playing to better. The Salt Lake City Crusaders again made their appearance with armored combat matches periodically throughout the day, and a new group of jousting performers made their debut. Guests could also entertain themselves by trying their hand at combat (with RP, high-quality Styrofoam weapons) or archery on opposite sides of the grounds.
As for the facilities, a water truck could be seen on regular rounds, wetting down the dust of the parking lot area. This was a relief to pull in the parking lot to see, as one of last year's more dreadful problems was the sheer quantity of dust blown into people's faces with the afternoon gusts of wind. While it was still an occasional problem, the watering down of the dirt lot absolutely helped. Additionally, a very large tent and a separate, smaller shade tent were set up to keep up with the hot sun and number of guests seeking shelter from the heat (particularly the first weekend). One of the bigger problems during the first year was the lack of shade or reprieve from the heat. Water and refreshment huts were set up generously around the grounds, countering last year's sparse offerings. Most every food stall was able to provide chilled water as well.
With the few tweaks made to the facilities layout and tent availability--and perhaps even more preparedness from its attendees--the 2nd Annual Montana Renaissance Faire managed to maintain expectations set by last year and better-anticipate the needs of its patrons. Both vendors and performers alike were better-acclimatized to the grounds and crowds they were working with and gave a memorable pair of weekends to the Flathead Valley. To the extent of my knowledge, those I have spoken to were greatly satisfied with the improvements and enjoyed their time there greatly once again. As the Faire continues to become a mainstay in Kalispell, I expect we can look forward to further improvements and growth to the event in years to come.
Bibliography (for further reading):
"Entertainment." Montana Renaissance Faire. 2022. https://montanarenaissancefaire.com/entertainment/.
Montana Renaissance Faire. 2022. https://montanarenaissancefaire.com/.
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