Texas Renaissance Festival 2011

Last week we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival. This is our third year to go to their school days. School days are great because there is no alcohol served and the ladies wear more modest clothing. I’m not sure why our culture thinks of the renaissance time period as a lewd time period but that is how it is often portrayed at these kind of festivals. But on school days it is really toned down. They also have one act plays, essay and costume contests. Last year Phoebe placed 3rd in the elementary division for the costume she made she was also pictured on this years brochure.

There is really too much to see in one day, this year we focused on the demonstrations.

This is the glass blowing demo. She started with a golf ball size piece of glass and ended up with this vase. Very, very cool.

This a foot operated lathe. He was so very sweet to answer all the kids questions while making a Christmas tree ornament.

We saw the weaver’s loom.

This is similar to carding cotton. Someone turns the handle and then they put wool onto the poky circle and it cleans the wool.

We saw the spinning wheel in action

and the spindle.

Benjamin taking a break from being a knight.

We made Esther a peasant’s costume out of leftovers from Phoebe’s.

All in all, we had a great time. We met some friends that had moved away last summer and got to spend the day with them.

So, if you live in Texas, I would encourage you to go to the school days at least once. They even offer scholarships for classrooms. Our homeschool co-op received a scholarship of 30 tickets. We are so thankful for them without them we would not have been able to go this year.

Thanks for sharing with your friends!