Another awesome year at the Vermont Winter Renaissance Fair at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center. We love this fair because it’s in the middle of the winter when we haven’t been to a fair in months and are eager to get back into the revelry. the cooler temperatures allow for extensive layering of costumes in ways that the summer months do not. In addition, having the fair indoors negates other outdoor concerns such as sunscreen, rain, sunglasses, hats, bug spray: it’s very liberating not concerning ourselves with these things.
We always attend with friends local to the faire and who drive for hours and hours like we do for the one-weekend event. Previously the fair was only held for one day, but it’s become so popular that a second day was added. The vendors had a great variety of products; there was the staple costume booths, weapons, and food. Plus spices, games, jewelry, handmade soaps and perfumes. There were several performance areas with solid dance exhibitions and weapons demonstrations. Another benefit to being inside is the performers can give the audience their best because they are also not having to work through rain, or excessive heat, or the sun in their eyes. I know I sound like I’m complaining about being outside–that’s not it, I love the outdoor faires so much. But in February, with highs in the 20’s, I can find the bright side to a climate-controlled space.
Arguably the best part of this fair is the food and drink. You can’t say that about many renaissance faires. The Winter Faire has some awesome foods to choose from like Indian, Thai, barbecue, and a dessert cart. The food was delicious and also reasonably priced for a faire. Then there was the mead. Mead, vodka, brandy, gin, rum, and some weird hybrid spirits too. The free samples flow freely at this indoor venue and we tried them all!
