It was May, supposedly springtime on the wide, open plains of Oklahoma, but you sure couldn't tell it from the weather on Opening Weekend at The Castle at Muskogee in 2004! Throughout that day, a raw, arctic wind chased scudding clouds across a cold, leaden sky overhead, while brisk rain squalls shocked patrons, playtrons and players alike with sudden, icy showers (Photo, Left). Between each frigid deluge, it drizzled relentlessly: despite wearing full garb with cloak over my regular street clothes, I was comfortable ...just barely! It was hardly an auspicious beginning for a new faire season, needless to say, and even less so as a "birthday present" for my cousin's son, Aaron (Photo, Top of Page, posing in front of the faire sign near the Main Gate). You see while Aaron had been to faire years before, his festival experience at this time was limited entirely to the now-defunct Withrow Renaissance Festival of Huntsville, Arkansas. Since The Oklahoma Renaissance Festival offers far more of everything rennish than Withrow ever did, I truly wanted his first visit to a "large" faire to be more memorable than just the foulness of the weather!
Aaron certainly had an eye for the ladies at Muskogee, I must admit. At "The Golden Harp" on Abbey Road, for example, he gifted the two tavern wenches there with some Mardi Gras beads he happened to be carrying at the time. While he surely earned an "A" both for effort and preparedness, both lasses were far more experienced, mature and, um, "worldy" than he! Aaron had considerably better luck at the Court Dance held on the lane next to the Maypole at Somers Field. Indeed, two of the young ladies he partnered with that afternoon (Photos Above and Right) found his Courtly skills quite impressive if not truly outstanding. Both complimented him on his ability to follow the intricate steps of each dance, especially when the "caller" really stepped up the pace (Photo, Below). At the very least, he did NOT step on their feet like some of the other patrons did -- AND he was able to keep up a line of small talk with both lasses throughout the dancing! Instrooth, methinks Aaron has the makings of a true Rogue who shall one day cut a broad swath with the ladies on the Renaissance Circuit!!!
Standard Disclaimer: This webpage is strictly an *Unofficial* look at the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival held in Muskogee, OK. The author of these pages is in no way, shape, manner or form connected with the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival (3400 Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee OK 74401 :: 918-687-3625 :: 800-439-0658), the Castle at Muskogee and/or any of the sponsors associated with this event. All opinions expressed are strictly this author's own. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are copyright ©2000-2005 by George Laking.