The Mobile Renaissance Faire takes place November 14 and 15 in Robertsdale, Ala. The festival features vendors selling period clothing and jewelry, swords, and historical crafts like handmade soaps and mead. Visitors can watch jousting, juggling, music, and Shakespearian actors.
Fire breathing entertainers walk the aisles on stilts. The mascot dragon dances through the festival offering hugs to the crowds. Kids can get their face painted or try to throw a hula hoop on an accordion playing man in a hotdog suit. Watch a scene from Shakespeare and see dancing poodles. This festival gives visitors a full day of entertainment.
It started with a billboard. Festival organizer Steve Melei saw an ad for the Texas Renaissance Faire while attending law school. He fell in love when he saw this 6 week-long faire held on a recreated 16 century English township on 55 acres. He realized the Gulf Coast area had nothing like it after he graduated and returned home.
Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Steve Melei, Organizer of the Mobile Renaissance Faire and Pirate Festival (Photo by PR by DeeDee owner, DeeDee Brustad)
Steve Melei held the first Mobile Renaissance Faire in 2001 amidst terrible sleet. He barely broke even but people loved it. The festival is now held at Melei’s own Medieval Village, 30569 Eagle Lane Road, Robertsdale, Ala. “I’ve always been a history buff. I want to impart history to kids in a fun way that gets them outside”, says Steve Melei.
15 years and 30 festivals later, The Mobile Renaissance Faire has become a place where old friends gather to entertain the locals. Musicians Drunk and Sailor are regulars here. Phillip McGuinness, known to fans as Drunk, says “We’ve been doing this so long that the entertainers and crowds become family we look forward to seeing each year.” The crowds sing along and sometimes end up onstage dancing along McGuinness and Sailor, Captain Amos Muirhead.
Cassandra Garner was among the more than 1000 festival attendees today. She has visited the Mobile Renaissance Faire since 2002. Cassandra adds flavor with her brightly colored costume. She entertains the children with her carved puppets that move with the push of hidden buttons. “I used to come all the time, but life got in the way. This is where I recharge.”
Robertsdale, Ala.(Nov.14,2015) Cassandra Garner at Mobile Renaissance Faire(Photo by owner of Pr by DeeDee, DeeDee Brustad)
Event: Mobile Renaissance Faire
Dates: Saturday Nov.14 and Sunday, Nov.15
Times: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Venue: 30569 Eagle Lane Road, Robertsdale, Ala
Information: http://www.gcrf.us/index.html
Tickets: $10 adults, $5 children, under 4 free