No Renaissance Fair in Southern Illinois This Year

I regret to pass along the news that there will be no renaissance fair in Southern Illinois this fall. 

The Southern Illinois Renaissance Fair in Murphsryboro was not held last year and word eventually got out that it was officially dead.  Unfortunate because the last one...third or fourth...was held on the grounds of the General John A. Logan Museum and was more impressive when confined inside the fencing surrounding the grounds than when previous events were held spread across the spacious Riverside Park nearby.  The sponsors never claimed it was other than a small renfair, as opposed to the large annual event in St Louis/Wentzville, for example, but it was comfortable and a lot of fun.  There was plenty to see... the SCA combats, the musicians and actors at the performance tent, an assortment of vendors including a palm reader and a costume seller, and Pat and I had hoped last year to set up a used book table offering books on Medieval history as well was medieval romance and the like.  It had been held in October.

The Centralia Medieval Fest, I've just been informed, has also been canceled this year following its impressive debut event at a small Centralia park due to health problems of the chief coordinator.  Last year's Medieval Fest featured a number of vendors,  musicians, combat demonstrations, and a gentleman who demonstrated how to don a knight's armor, gave a lecture on knightly combat and warhorses, and demonstrating the finer points of a mounted knights' skills on his horse.  Pat and I hoped this year, with the Murphrysboro event cancelled, to be able to set up a table in Centralia which is much closer to our Nashville, IL home but it was not to be.  Last year's event was held in November, I believe.

Maybe next year.

For upcoming activities in Southern Illinois, check the calendar at my Southern Illinois Road Trip website at  http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip.