Rhode Island Renaissance Faire- The First ONE!

I had a very great privilege to attend the very first Rhode Island Renaissance Faire.  This faire was held at Esek Hopkins Park, 12 Battey Meetinghouse Rd. Scituate, RI. 

The Rhode Island Renaissance Faire is dedicated to centering women and other underrepresented groups in performance, crafts and other modes of expression.  Portions of the profits will go to a cause within women’s issues. This year it was a weekend to support the local Sojourner House, which is an advocacy and resource center dedicated to end domestic and sexual violence. These are very important causes and I urge you to donate to them.

Being the very first faire (although not the first in Rhode Island) you would expect many delays and hiccups along the way, but overall this faire was very organized and professional.  I hope this faire was a success and it has continued success over the years. I must also state not only was this the first Rhode Island Renaissance Faire, it was also the first time I had been in Rhode Island.

Let’s get right to the vendors and performers which were at this faire.

The Graces- Sultry, Sassy with splendid singing voices.  A truly great act you should not miss.

Cornerstone Creations- Always one of my favorite vendors to visit. He sells concrete decorations for both outside and inside the home.

A Few Random Things- Paperweights to geodes, chainmail, jewelry, this vendor sell its all.

The Longshanks- High above the crowd walking on stilts you will find these performers who will entertain everyone with their stories. Make sure to catch their show and also say hello if you see them walking around the faire.

Keith W. Willis- A friend of mine, and a wonderful author.  See his novels on his website and join his mailing list.

Tintagels Gate- Looking for medieval, renaissance or fantasy items? Your search must first start here. From wands to weapons this vendor has it all.

Moon Dragon Designs- Another regular at many faires I go to. They sell wonderful cloaks, capes, hand-knit items and chainmail jewelry,

Kay's Ice Cream- Trust me when I say that on a hot day when I was there, this vendor was a blessing. Nothing better than great tasting ice cream. 

Mysti Blue’s Treasures- Sells some wonderful items from bobbles to a mixture of jewelry items and crafts.

Fantasy Art Photography- Sold some very impressive and creative photos.

Granny Grue-The vegetarian zombie who will entertain everyone with her stories and tales.

The Practical Pixie-handmade products including soaps, after-shower powder, warm Compresses and Embroidered items.

River Poet Design- Beautifully created wearable art. The items are truly amazing.

Emazanti Creations- A staple at many faires I attend. They sell wonderful items, check them out for their entire product line.

Audrey Fry Illustrations- A wonderful illustrator. You really need to see her art to truly appreciate them.

I created a movie for this event. Please check this, and other movies on my YouTube Channel, make sure to “Like” and “Subscribe”.

There was a Star Danced- takes its name from my favorite line from Shakespeare’s,  Much Ado About Nothing; “There was a star danced, and under that was I born. ”  This vendor sells some beautiful lanterns and glass décor. You must see them to truly appreciate how great they are.

The Penniless Jacks- Another great group I see at many faires.  This band is truly amazing.

The Bonnie Weaver- I see her at many faires I attend.  A great weaver that puts on demonstrations throughout the day.

The Harper and the Minstrel- A wife/husband musical duo whose talent is unmatched. Some of the best medieval/renaissance music I have ever heard.

Mother Earth Gourds/The Creature’s Nest- handmade, one of a kind, gourd items. Also sells wonderful shoulder puppets and other items.

Mermaid Lagoon- A vendor I have begun seeing at the faires since I attended the Summer Solstice Renaissance Faire. She sells wonderful mermaid accessories and outfits for men, woman and children.

Drunk and Disorderly-Songs of songs of drinking, roving, fighting and not in that order. A great group of scallywags that you will see at many faires.

Critically Clean- A vendor I have seen recently at other faires.  They sell a great selection of soap products, so check them out.

Shank Painters- Give you some background from my Coast Guard days.  The Shank is the center shaft of an anchor. This group will sing nautical songs that will entertain both children and adults. First time I have seen this group and I must say they are really great performers.

Borgo Medioevale- A vineyard out of Borgo Medioevale, South Carolina. They sell Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia) products. The muscadine is a variation of grapes that is native to the United States and thrives in areas with hot weather.  This vendor also promoted Victory FelineRescue, a great group helping to give homeless cats a good home.

Myschyffe Managed - New Hampshire-based specializing in period music and the medieval and Renaissance madrigals, this music originated in the 1520’s. It is to express emotion in each line or individual words, or a poem. I have seen this wonderful group at numerous faires, this talented group always entertains the audience with their beautiful voices and harmonies. This is not an act to miss.

The Primrose Pirates- the group to see if you want to view a black power demonstration with classic weapons. They truly are amazing.  I am lucky that this year I have been able to see several of their performances.  Also, let your kids fight one of them at pummel a pirate.

Krystal Younglove, and her seemingly psychic Witch Doctor Christopher Strange- She claims she is indestructible, and I can see why. Both of their performances will leave you breathless and amazed.

Fairie Tailor- Another great vendor I see at many faires. Handmade garments and accessories for adults, children, and even pets.

3 Wicked Crafty Women-spell necklaces, crystals, wands and all your magical wares you could ask for.

Misfits of Avalon- This group impresses me every time I see them. There are few groups that include a hammered dulcimer, as this one does. Their skill and talent with their instruments is truly astonishing. 

Goblin Worx Leather- Seller of high-quality leather items for renaissance to steampunk themes.

Whimsy and Fluff-Sells fanciful bloomers and skirts made from vintage linens, and other items.

Knitting Metal-chainmail jewelry in aluminum, silver, gold, and stainless steel.

It was a hot day at the faire, but they had a cooling off unicorn area.

Daniel and Bella Greenwolf-Magic and death-defying tricks. Their performance with fire with truly is truly impressive.

Dawdling Dragon Designs-Chainmail jewelry with Swarovski crystals. Gorgeous pieces of artwork.

Phoenix Swords-They put on a great show with swords, daggers and other weapons. Do not miss an opportunity to see this group.

Hunny Bunny Basics- A husband and wife duo that produces some of the most unique and gorgeous items.

Mel’s Magickal Meals-their food is made with fresh and, when available, local products. I had my lunch there.

Queen Bee-Queen of all the seasonal fairies. She will delight the entire family.

As always, I am limited in providing the names and descriptions of all the wonderful artists, performers and vendors who made this faire memorable. Please check out the website’s Vendors and Performers pages to see a more complete list.

As I stated this is the very first Rhode Island RenaissanceFaire, and I wish it continuous success.  It is a wonderful faire, filled with vendors, entertainment, wonderful food, and merriment. Make plans to attend this faire next year. I congratulate the people who work at, performed, ran, and put together this inaugural version of this faire, they all should be commended on a wonderful job.

For a first faire, it was done right.  If this group's dedication to putting on a great faire persists, I predict you will see it become one of the major faires in the Northeast, if not the best. Trust me when I say they are already on their way.

Thank you for reading my blog post, leave a comment below, I would like to hear your opinions.  You can further support a blogger by clicking on an advertisement on their website!!!

W.A. Rusho is a professional wrestler, author and historian. You can reach him via his website, or by his email.

Next Time: Another Faire