servants. Photo by alrenfaire.org.
Once a year, people from all over the state of Alabama come to Florence for the Alabama Renaissance Faire, a wonderful and colorful experience. This year’s attendees included a group of students from the history and English departments of Judson College.
According to the website, “The Alabama Renaissance Faire is a not-for-profit, non-commercial faire, organized by a Roundtable of volunteers who plan all year to transform Wilson Park in Florence, Alabama, into Fountain-on-the-Green. Fair-goers celebrate their favorite time periods, from 12th through the mid-17th centuries, as Vikings hobnob with Buccaneers and fairies frolic with pirates.”
Two classes got invited to go: World History and British Literature. Two teachers were asked to chaperone the group of students: Dr. Joe Frazer, head of the history department, and Dr. Kem King, head of the business department.
The students, who mainly went for the extra credit, actually had a wonderful time. Toria Mendow, a third year senior, went as part of Dr. Frazer’s history class. She had a wonderful time, it was a new experience, and she had so much fun.
“It was a fun experience, until the after-lunch crowd came. The cheese fries and buying my new ring was my favorite part of the whole trip” she said. “I would definitely go again, seeing all the different people dressed up was so fun.”
For members of the English Club, this event is one of their absolute favorites, especially for President Arienne Borowski. When all her friends (who have now graduated) would go, she would just tag along, and she had so much fun that she always goes now. “This was my second time going to this particular faire, and it was wonderful both times! I was in a group with a junior and a freshman, and getting to watch the marvel that I will be leaving behind when I graduate was priceless.”
Freshman Emma Veitch, a member of the English Club, said, “I love that I got to spend time with my friends; I really enjoyed it. I loved the food and all the different crafts the vendors were selling. I would love to go back because of how colorful and upbeat the environment was the entire day.”
Freshman English Club member Kaitlyn Smith said the Faire was a whole new experience that she greatly appreciated. “My favorite part was when a theater group came up to my friends and me and recited poetry. They did a whole scene in under a minute; it blew my mind,” Smith said. She said she would definitely go back to the faire and would love to participate in other events like it. “I loved the whole atmosphere and the people I enjoyed it with.”
Karen Hernandez went as a member of the English group and volunteered to drive a group of students. Hernandez had a lovely time hanging with her friends and would love to go back again. “I really enjoyed the Faire a lot. Seeing everyone all dressed up was pretty cool, but my absolute favorite part was when I got to see a man walking around with a bald eagle on his arm. I would love to go back, but not for educational purposes though, just to have fun.”
Lastly, Becca Carver, a Jr.-Soph, went for British Literature. It gave her a good reason to get out and experience something she had never seen before. She was a little upset about how cold it was, but she did not let the weather stop her from enjoying herself. “I enjoyed seeing all the people dressed up and all the interesting vendors. I would love to go again, maybe if it was warmer, but other than that it was still a lot of fun.”
Yes, the weather might have been cold, and yes, it might have been a long drive up to Florence, but we all had fun. It was a cultural experience that we will never forget— and who knows, maybe when we all have a family of our own, we might take our children up to the Renaissance Faire to have the same experiences we did.