The Shire Spectator

Continuing on with our weekly excursions to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (PRF), we continue our adventure following the Queen's Court and reach noontime upon the Shire. 12 p.m. 'Tis the hour of twelve when the Queen’s Court concludes. It is now Pyrate Invasion weekend and we have an open sea of choices of where we shall go next. But first, we need to refill our mugs of that devil’s brew known as the Blackwater Stout. Now dear readers, before we get to our next destination, it is Lotti and Ax’s mission to not only be your guide for the PRF, but to be your first mate! And the main purpose of the first mate is to ensure the well-being of the crew (our readers). One of the ways we do that is by letting you in on a little secret... Many will tell you and possibly even persuade you to attend some of the more well-known or extravagant events that start at 12 p.m.: Sir Arthur Greenleaf Holmes, Celtic Legacy, Hob the Troll or the Celtic Revels. But dear reader, the real treasure i...

The Pennsylvania Renaissance faire is a world full of wonder, awe and constant stimulation. The storytelling of our journey will occur through one hour chapters. Through our weekly attendance to this season’s fair, each entry in this blog will be an hour of the day at the Ren Fair. This will not only give insight to our fellow travels about what a day at the Renaissance faire entails, but also an entire summary of this year’s 45th season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. 11 a.m. The first entry and already you are getting a little bit of a bonus, as the start of the day at Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (PRF) occurs much before the entry time of 11 a.m.  If you are traveling to the PRF, chances are you are taking the PA Turnpike. Much like the price you pay to a troll to cross the bridge, the price to cross the Susquehanna (if going eastbound) is more expensive each year; however, it is the most direct route. We suggest you plan an extra 10-15 minutes to your travel time as th...

Hark! Today marks the opening of the festival season of Mount Hopeshire, a land of magic, mystery, and mayhem. It's one of our favorite places. We are Ax and Lotti, two venturers of the Shire. We go every possible weekend to celebrate and revel at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Festival. Here we shall share our journey and tips for visitors and fellow travelers. Whether you seek food, theatre, or crafts, we hope to be a trusty and amusing guide for your travels.