Ladies, Lords, patrons, and performers! Travel to Dowagiac this Saturday, September 10th, for a gathering of entertainment, duels, and merriment, as the fifth annual Renaissance Faire at Southwestern Michigan College takes place.
Costumes are not required, but will absolutely be admired, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m amidst live steel combat, face painting, and fire breathing. Swords of Valor, West Michigan’s premiere sword fighting group, will present their ever-popular ‘live steel combat with a comedy twist’, combining theater, swordsmanship, and improvisational combat to the affair.
Attendees can shop vendors with various wares, catch a juggling show, and throw someone in jail on the grounds, all while noshing on chicken legs or veggie hash provided by on-campus food partners. Arrive early to secure your food token at the main gate! Supplies are limited.
“We’ve taken great care over the last five years to look at what has been successful, and what the students and other members of the public seem to really enjoy,” says Assistant Director of Campus Life Clubs & Activities, Branden Pompey. “We continue to look for new acts, vendors, and experiences. Last year we added a fire breather to our faire grounds, and this year we’ll also have axe throwing and archery.”
SMC tells us that the Fred L. Mathews Library will feature Dragon Origami, and in between sword clashing, you can watch the dangerous art of fruit cutting: watermelons will be sliced and diced, oranges will spray nectar into the skies as they are speared mid-air, and heads of cabbage will be “cole-slaughtered!”
The Ren Faire is open to everyone, and admission is free. “It’s hard to nail down how many people will attend each year,” says Branden. “We hope for one hundred, and any more than that is always well appreciated!”
Peruse the busy faire grounds this Saturday, September 10th from 11 a.m – 2p.m, and park in the Student Activity Center parking lot off of Dailey Road. Enjoy the sights and sounds of medieval times, and hale be thou!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
