BOALSBURG — The Shire of Nithgaard came alive once again during the second annual Boalsburg Renaissance Faire on Sept. 17.
Director Anna Rupprecht said the organization made the decision to rebrand the fall festival, formerly known as the Old Europe or Old World Festival, as a Renaissance fair last year because attendees would know what to expect — from food and music to crafts and activities.
This year’s fair featured local vendors, sword fighting, horse carriage rides, a petting zoo, live medieval music, face painting and more.
“The festival is an entree to learn more about history,” Rupprecht said.
As State College Area High School students Julia Varner, Anastasia Huncik and Madison Bordenstein walked around the festival for the first time, Varner said their love for fantasy inspired them to attend.
“I was excited to see everyone’s outfits and look at all the vendors,” Huncik said, “and the vendors always offer a lot.”
Varner said in their free time, the three play Dungeons & Dragons, a role-playing game set in medieval times. They also decided to join the school’s Renaissance Faire Club earlier in the year.
“It’s a lot of people-watching going on with me right now,” Bordenstein said as she glanced at an individual draped in a velvet cape alongside a woman in a long gown and corset ensemble.
Some of the “diehard Renaissance faire-goers,” as Rupprecht said, come from the Society of Creative Anachronism. The Shire of Nithgaard, the State College chapter, works to research and recreate “the arts and skills of pre-17th century Europe,” according to its website.
Seneschal, or “group president,” Elena de la Palma said the organization has attended the festival for several years.
Members of SCA jousted in period attire, playing by the rules that the organization has discovered. A safety marshal stood outside the jousting ring to ensure that the fighters abided by the rules.
“We basically recreate all of the best parts of the world during the Renaissance, during the Middle Ages — even as far back as Rome,” de la Palma said.
According to Rupprecht, the Boalsburg Renaissance Faire is a “rising star” partly because of the SCA members’ dedication.
“We’ve really learned to tap into all of the extremely talented, art-loving, history-loving organizations in the area and welcome them so the public can come see all of these amazing talents and spectacles on display one day a year,” Rupprecht said.
Despite the rainy weather for the 2023 festival, hundreds of guests attended the Boalsburg Renaissance Faire.
“It’s wonderful to see how enthusiastic everyone is about history,” de la Palma said.
