Like a bat out of hell(es), we find ourselves in the middle of Oktoberfest weekend as we approach the hour of five of the clock. Similar to the celebration of Celtic history during the Shamrock and Shenanigan weekend, the Oktoberfest-themed weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (PRF) celebrates this tradition of German culture, specifically, the beer- and pretzel-loving lands of Bavaria. Gone are the kilts and green attire as travelers adorn themselves with lederhosen and fedoras, while fraus and fräuleins are spotted in an array of ever-flattering dirndls. Yet perhaps the most important accessory of all during this festival day is the classic bier stein. From pints of stout to steins of dunkel, we instantly immerse ourselves in this Bavarian Ballyhoo. This is always a fun and popular weekend as beer confidently takes center stage: the clarity of a helles lager, the dark maltiness of a dunkel, the "a-peeling" banana flavor of the hefeweizen, and of course, the star of the show: the Oktoberfest. This hoppy but smooth traditional Munich lager does not stay in one’s mug for long!
In this hour’s installment, Ax and Lotti will provide an update on Oktoberfest in the Shire, including a summary of the new Drunk Music History performance with Dora Viellette and her hurdy-gurdy, as well as a feature of the Edged Feather Birds of Prey demo. This installment also includes a stop at the wonderful Absinthe Garden, so read on, dear spectators!
5 p.m.
Despite it being Oktoberfest weekend, the sounds of the Scots continue to thunder throughout the Shire as the band Celtic Legacy performs their third and final act of the day on the Globe Stage. Verily, the sole performance highlighting German-themed entertainment on the big stage are the two scheduled performances of Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy. Though we did not catch this year's show, we do recommend it to you, dear readers! But be warned: be vigilant of thy timepieces around Hilby. Though his name suggests innocence, not only is he a pharaoh of the parabolas, he is a serpent of stealth and a savant of the sleight-of-hand!
So with our belongings safely in tow this year, we fill our mugs with the Munich malts of the Bavarian brews and head over to the quaint but serviceable O’Malley’s Stage for Drunk Music History. Armed with the unique instrumentation of a hurdy-gurdy and several shots of perceived tequila, Dora Viellette leads curious travelers down the alcoholic alleyways of musical history. It is not often that one can experience a hurdy-gurdy being played live, resulting in a show that is certainly worth attending. Almost as recognizable as her infamous instrument, the flame-haired Dora can often be spotted throughout the streets of the Shire for spontaneous musical performances.
Dora's dedication throughout years of touring the New World's Ren Faire circuits has created a large enough following to grant her a solo stage show that provides historical context to the songs and music that she plays. As a self-described “music nerd,” Dora shares both well-known and secret histories of some of our favorite festival classics. The hurdy-gurdy, an ancient instrument combining percussion with strings, dates back as early as the 11th century. In addition to its beautifully haunting sound, the playing of the instrument is nearly as captivating. While the musician uses a hand-crank with one hand and presses keys with the other, a hurdy-gurdy demonstration is a unique experience that is both visually and audibly entrancing.
Next, we make our way toward Bosworth Field for the Edged Feathers: Birds of Prey demonstration, and along the way we pass by two important locations: the King Lou privy and the Absinthe Garden. Conveniently located at the end of Guildman's Way before approaching the open dale of Bosworth Field, privies at this intersection accommodate the greatest number of visitors, and there are usually short or no lines at all for the lords or ladies. Also important to note: there are two large individual restrooms on either side of the building that are inclusive of genders, accommodating of size or ability, costume or family needs, and/or those who mayhap just want a little extra space or privacy.
Between the King Lou privies and Bosworth Field is the visually pleasing Absinthe Garden. Down a short stone path and through an iron-gated tunnel, the Garden is an open-air bar with plenty of seats and tables, a large bar area, and small stage. Adjacent to the covered seating area is limited outdoor seating in a gravelly grove surrounded by greenery, though it may be hard to hear some of the musical performances from this spot. Second to the Pyrate Ship, this is quite possibly Ax and Lotti’s favorite place to hunker down. Reserved for the talented yet humble musical artists who are often spotted rushing through the Shire with instruments in tow, the stage at the Absinthe Garden usually hosts Lady Grace Note, Demetrius the Minstrel, Erika the Harpist, Luke the Cellist, and Fiddlefest throughout the day. A quiet and reserved setting, at the right time of the day this area exudes the peaceful solace one might find in a library.
Keeping in theme, the bar at the Absinthe Garden serves herb- and flower-flavored drinks, including Anise Stout, Elderflower IPA (the only two beers served here), and absinthe-flavored cocktails. The Elderflower IPA is Ax’s favorite beer in all of the Shire. A fruit-forward, west coast-style IPA, this beer retains its hoppy malt flavor while still presenting floral flavors and a hint of pine. If thou art of Ax's mind and one of the afflicted souls who eat all the black jellybeans in an Easter basket, then the Anise Stout is for thee. Licorice-flavored, this stout differs greatly from the oatmeal stout usually served elsewhere in the Shire. It is quite tasty, but not crushable, and Ax usually enjoys a few per season. Though be warned, dear readers, that unlike the lines at the King Lou privies, the bar line at the Absinthe Garden is verily one of the longest and most crowded in all the land. Ax and Lotti recommend that one must simply avoid the line here between the hours of 1-5 p.m., and to time thy visit either before or after these exhausting hours.
Refreshed, we have finally made our way to Bosworth Field for the Edged Feathers: Birds of Prey demonstration. With the Shire falconry now boasting a large, brand-new housing structure, it is hard not to stop and admire these birds of prey throughout the day at their roost located behind Endgame Stage on Privy Lane. Including falcons and owls of varying sizes and species, these incredible birds are mesmerizing while simply sitting perched in their caged area. Freeing these talented talons for the Edged Feathers demonstration allows viewers to see them in their glory as they soar above (and at times right next to!) the audience while they perform their tricks. This demonstration is led by Royal Falconer Crystal Stacey as she shares facts about the bird she is handling. For our show, we were lucky to see her perform with Sir Dante, one of several of the Shire's fine owls. From the beginning seconds of the show when Sir Dante the Eurasian eagle owl surprised us by swooping in from behind the audience to the filed, to the various tricks and factual tidbits that the human and avian performers share, this demonstration is truly a wonder of nature.
Bonus: Getting into Character
Ax and Lotti love Germany, and that surprisingly made it even more difficult for them to recommend appropriate inspiration to help Shire Spectators get into character for the Oktoberfest weekend at the PRF. Aside from a trip to the actual country (highly recommended), or enjoying some special though hard-to-find beer recommendation, perhaps a simple cultural mindset is all that one needs to truly appreciate and enjoy the Oktoberfest season. Allow Lotti to introduce to thee the concept of Gemütlichkeit, a German word that is meant to convey the sense of good cheer, friendliness, and community evoked during a social gathering celebrating the season, the day, or simply a good time. Warmth, welcoming, and friendliness are all part of Gemütlichkeit, and those are concepts that ring true for Renaissance festivals in general. There is community and inclusivity at the Ren Faire, as visitors gather together with other like-minded festival goers in a shared sense of enjoyment and community that is outside of the norm and mores of everyday life. Whether one finds oneself at a Renaissance festival or at Oktoberfest, Gemütlichkeit means that you belong and are welcomed, so have a good time. Próst!
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