Renaissance Faire

According to renaissance-faire.com, a school teacher named Phyllis Patterson began holding costume pageants in her backyard in 1960. The participants enjoyed the pageants and plays so much, it led Phyllis and her husband Ron to stage the first Renaissance Faire in North Hollywood, California in 1963. Lasting only one weekend, the Faire drew 8,000 visitors. The Southern Faire continued to grow each year, moving to Agoura in 1965 and San Bernardino in 1989.

The Pattersons established a Northern Faire in 1966 at China Lake in San Rafael, California. Lori attended her first Faire in 1967, at age 8. China Lake became too small for the Faire and it moved to wonderful Black Point (Sarton Ranch, Marin) in 1971. Lori went to her first Black Point Faire in 1974 with Tami Jones. Eric moved to San Jose in 1975 to attend college and within a few years, went to his first Faire at Black Point, taking his mother Gail, brother Dave, and sisters Lara and Jenny - probably around the time of the Genesis concert at the Greek Theater at UC Berkeley.

Lori and Eric began dating in July of 1983 and went to the Black Point Faire in Fall. Eric volunteered Lori to grace a condemned man with a last kiss, then won her a mug in a spear-throwing contest. We had a great time, but didn't get back to the Faire for several more years.

In 1992 (or 1993), Phyllis merged her company (Living History Center) with Renaissance Entertainment Corp (REC) of Boulder, Colorado.

We finally returned to Black Point in 1995 (Sunday Sep-24, I think) after Cameron and Lindsey were born. In this first year of what was to become a family tradition, our Rennies were Cameron, Cyndi, David, Eric, Clark (Lara's friend), Jenny, Lara, Lindsey, Lori, Mikey, Pepsi (Jenny's friend), and Tommy.

We made the Faire again on Sunday, 1996-Oct-06 (bought Castle Blocks), after returning from vacation in England. We bought Castle Blocks at the Faire next year on Sunday, 1997-Sep-21. We bought more Castle Blocks on Sunday, 1997-Oct-05 - probably at the Faire. My next record is (maybe) Sunday, 1998-Jul-12 and Sunday, 1998-Jul-26. Bought more Castle Blocks on Sunday, 1998-Aug-30. We attended sometime around 1999-Sep-28. We bought Castle blocks (probably at the Faire) on Sunday, 2000-Oct-08. This may have been the second year we bought Castle Blocks for Toys For Tots. For 2001, I found Sunday, 2001-Sep-30. For 2003, I found Sunday, 2003-Sep-28 and Saturday, 2003-Oct-11.

I remember Lori riding in the back seat with Lindsey on the way home from one Black Point faire after the rear passenger-side window was broken in the parking lot. In 1997, there were rumors that the Faire would leave Black Point. During bad times, the Living History Center had sold the Black Point land to a developer. He had been letting the Faire use the land since 1991, for little or no rent but, in 1998, the voters would decide whether or not to let his project proceed. There was a reprieve however, and I believe the Faire stayed at least one more year at Black Point.

A vendor told me that Kelley Park in San Jose was being considered, along with another property, but the Northern Faire moved to the former Nut Tree property in Vacaville after Black Point was razed in 1999. We attended all three years at Vacaville. I think I got a back massage at the first Vacaville Faire. For 2001, the Faire ran from Aug-25 to Oct-14. One year, we went twice (Once w/Cindy; once w/Dave). I remember seeing Broon for the first time: Mikey was being a bit of a heckler and proved no match for Broon.

The Faire then moved to Casa de Fruita, south of Gilroy, for the 2002 season. It ran from Sep-14 to Oct-20 - a short, 6-week season! (By this time we were attending twice a year and spending freely on food, costumes and entertainment; we had become ardent supporters of the Faire.) This was a much better location than Vacaville - far less dust and it had plenty of trees! We attended the first two years. It looks like we went on Sunday, 2002-Oct-06 and maybe Sunday, 2002-Oct-13? The 2003 season was Sep-06 to Oct-19. In 2003, I tried to buy a Djembe for Lori's Christmas present at the Faire, but couldn't shake her. After the Faire, I was put in touch with Michelle Amsbury, who arranged for me to pick up the drum at the Dickens Faire (which became another family tradition). Michelle told me at the Dickens Faire that the Renaissance Faire was in trouble again; that it hadn't done well (despite our efforts) and may shut down. Fortunately, there was a still a long shot open, if the vendors could pull it off.

Due to pressure from the City of San Mateo in 2004 to accelerate construction of our house, we missed our first season as a family. We knew the Faire was held, but had no idea what would be its future. Later, we found out that the vendors, led by Michelle and Ray Amsbury I believe, were able to take ownership of the Faire, which had been abandoned by REC(?). The 2004 season was a moderate success.

We returned on Saturday, 2005-Jul-23, visiting the Patterson's new Northern Faire in San Rafael (with Kasenia and Nick), but found out it wouldn't see another season. We bought another djidgereedo there and Cameron got a shirt from the Shirtmaker. (She later ran up to me in the crowd and told me how to wear the shirt she sold me years earlier!) We had to cram our two visits to the Casa de Fruita Faire into consecutive weekends (Saturday, 2005-Oct-15 and Saturday, 2005-Oct-29). Cameron's friend Robert, plus Jenny and her boyfriend joined us on the first weekend. Lara and her girlfriend Holly joined us for the second weekend. Lori bought a new corset and Lindsey got a puppet. Tried to buy a sextant from Ray Amsbury, but had to wait for the Dickens Faire. The Faire seemed busy both weekends and Michelle told us at the Dickens Faire that it was a success. Now begins the long wait until next year!

Photos

2006