Labor Day weekend Jake and I attended military appreciation day at the King Richard’s Faire in Carver, MA. Every year the second day of the fair is free for active and retired military, so we try to go on that day to save on Jake’s admission. King Richard’s is one of the more expensive fairs that we attend.
In 2018, early September has been plagued by record heat. It’s been weeks of 90-degree temperatures here in Massachusetts. We got a slight break in the weather for the fair, but it was still in the 80’s in the shade. We needed to dress light, but I still wanted to look awesome. Another factor influencing out outfits was a Viking and Mermaid farewell party immediately following the fair for some of our good friends who are moving across the country. It made sense, therefore, to be vikings all day. Our usual viking garb however is designed for the late fall and deep winter fairs. Fortunately I had planned ahead and recently finished new garb appropriate for the soaring temperatures.
For myself, a feather-light base layer cotton jersey dress would keep me cool and be easy to wash. Paired with my usual hangerock apron dress and little else, the ensemble was feeling bland, so the day before the fair I whipped up another apron in yellow burlap using trim scraps that I had lying around. I backed the apron with a textured cotton and sewed charms to it for additional bling. My usual turtle brooches and boob-bling signified to everyone that I was a viking. I even received compliments from the queen!
To shade myself from the hot sun at the fair I wore a chiffon scarf and arm bracers which I ditched later for the evening festivities.
For Jake, I had been working on finishing a new battle jerkin for him which I completed in time for Labor Day weekend. This was a labor-intensive piece because I hand-textured the pleather breast and back. The trim I scored for $1 a yard at my new fabulous local fabric store. The buttons were hand-made in polymere clay and I even included pockets in the peplum.
Jake is wearing this jerkin over his short-sleeved cotton shirt of the same fabric but with larger flanges, and a fitness top for the heat. Those are also the new gray pants that I recently finished for him. Also with pockets!
For the viking party in the evening I packed our brand-new, totally-awesome-because-they-are-dishwasher-safe drinking horns that I got on clearance from TJ Maxx. They came with straps, matching stands, and hold a little more than one bottle of beer, cider, or mead.
Overall the fair was a good time. We made it a point this year to see the new acts and performances that we might have missed in the past. We have our favorites which we return to see year after year, so it was nice to mix it up this time. We spent most of the day at “The Mouth of Hell” stage watching a comedy acrobatics show (new this year and very funny), the torture show (which we’ve never seen before but we always watch the secret show which features some torture show content), and the Meraki Caravan (also new to the fair this year). I also got to see the areal acrobatics show which the boys always watch while the ladies are shopping at Moresca’s. Our next fair is either the CT Renaissance Faire or the New York Renaissance faire, depending on the weather! Horray for fall fair season!
