Ren Faire was enjoyable, however I would like to return | News, Sports activities, Jobs

Digital content material coordinator Dan Isenberg

Faithful readers of “Penn State Gameday” of their Friday Altoona Mirror could have seen in my remark from Week 1 I discussed that I might not be watching what turned the Nittany Lions’ win over Nevada final weekend.

Nay, I elected as an alternative to spend the primary full weekend of faculty soccer season — the game I’ve claimed to like greater than the rest in addition to my household — on the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at Mount Hope Estate and Winery in Manheim.

I discussed in “Gameday” that the climate appeared to be excellent to spend the day consuming turkey legs and consuming mead, and it turned out to be simply that. We — my brother, Ryan, and his spouse, Hayleigh, our mates, Josh and Caleb and their wives, together with one other visiting good friend from New York — loved picture-perfect climate.

I arrived shortly earlier than midday within the parking area forward of the primary group and spent a couple of minutes switching into strolling sneakers and watching Lee Corso’s ultimate picks on ESPN’s “College Gameday” on my cellphone.

Whilst doing that, the household the parked subsequent to me, not paying consideration, swung their automobile door into mine personal. Luckily, it was the identical facet that was sideswiped outdoors my residence earlier this summer time, so it’s hardly noticeable.

I met up with the group close to the primary entrance earlier than entering into and seen loads of folks entering into the spirit and sporting numerous costumes. The weekend’s theme was “Heroes of the realm,” and there have been many who took the chance to decorate up as their favourite caped (and un-caped) crusaders in opposition to villainy.

Our good friend, Emily, nailed her costume with nice model of Lord Farquaad from the “Shrek” film collection. A few different folks additionally tried the Farquad costume, however I don’t suppose any of them actually held a candle to her.

We additionally bumped into a pair dressed as Shrek and Fiona … a number of occasions … and Fiona was not completely happy to see us.

I wasn’t certain if she was making an attempt to keep up a personality or genuinely didn’t like seeing our good friend dressed like that, however I prefer to suppose she was simply having enjoyable.

There was so many distributors to take a look at that I didn’t even actually get to see half of them. There was a lot of completely different artwork and different gadgets to buy, and once more,

I really feel like I didn’t get sufficient time to have the ability to take a look at

every thing there was to supply.

I actually loved all the reside music there was to take pleasure in. Besides the scheduled performances at completely different phases throughout the property, there was additionally a wide range of particular person musicians enjoying at most of the main thoroughfares.

This brings me to my solely actual gripes from the entire journey. The first one is one thing I can’t actually assist until I simply go down sooner — the journey got here proper after one other lengthy Friday evening within the Mirror places of work serving to out with highschool soccer.

Even with leaving at 10:30 p.m. to move residence, I nonetheless had some issues to do earlier than going to mattress, together with packing an in a single day bag that I ended up not utilizing, so I ended up beginning my Saturday on quick relaxation.

No biggy, we have now caffeine for that.

The second criticism is directed extra on the Ren Faire, and once more, perhaps not one thing I can keep away from in our fashionable economic system, but it surely value me $15 to purchase a turkey leg.

My brother and mates who had been earlier than mentioned that was up considerably from current years, however with the all of the speak of fowl flu we’ve seen, I suppose I can’t say I used to be too stunned.

$8 for a bratwurst although appeared a bit absurd to me. And don’t get me began on being one of many previous couple of locations I’ve ever heard of that’s money solely.

But, all in all, I actually loved by first journey down the Renaissance Faire. My brother, sister-in-law and I wish to take my nephews and return down for the Halloween occasions scheduled in October.

But perhaps we’ll be a weekend not throughout Penn State’s upcoming mid-season gauntlet.

Digital content material coordinator and duplicate editor Dan Isenberg could be reached at disenberg@altoonamirror.com or on X @TheseDanTweets.