On the last weekend in June we spontaneously headed off to the Robinhood Medieval Festival in east-central Connecticut. When the weather forecast called for a break in the heat and humidity and promised a cool, dry, cloudy, blustery day, we were all in! I love a cloudy fair day, even welcome a slight drizzle because it means I can wear what I want without fear of overheating or burning horribly in the sun.
We’ve been to this fair before, on a blisteringly hot day where we spent the entire time shade-hoping and avoiding the baking vendor ovens, otherwise known as tents. On this day the weather was amazing! Lucky contrast to the previous weekend where there was actually a tornado that touched down at the fair! We wouldn’t have known it if our regular vendors didn’t alert us to the hidden damage and missing structures.
The best part of these smaller fairs is the price of admission, and that there are no food tickets! Because it was closing weekend and cloudy, the fair was full but not crowded. We didn’t have to wait long for drinks, and the food lines were long but tolerable. The vendors and inventory was plentiful for a closing weekend. Sometimes vendors pack it in a week early, but it seemed like everyone was still present.
We did notice a slight lack of entertainment. No jousting and only one live-combat event at the end of the day. The comedy show that we did see was great, and genuinely funny. There were some strong-man games going on in the tourney field all day which were easy to come and go from, but hard to follow what was happening.
What we wore: I threw together something of a court sorceress, maybe a mistress of whispers. Comprised of three layered skirts, a brand new top, and full Moresca Khadijah set: bodice, belt, cuffs. Throw in a bag, bracers, a headwrap, tankard, and a scarf for the sun and I was comfy and cool all day.
Jake wore his Crimson Chains jerkin with the peacock teal shirt and harem pants. The comfortable Armstreet shoes and floppy hat kept him comfortable, at least until he got his hair done and retired the hat to the car. The beard he braided himself.
