Growing up in the Agoura area in the early 70’s, I was right in the middle of the heyday for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire which ran from 1968 to 1988 at the Paramount Ranch. Since the Faire moved to larger facilities, there has been a gaping hole in our local culture. Many of us also mourn the lack of bare chested men performing feats of strength and dexterity and period-clad actors bantering with passers-by. We miss the pomp as the royal court weaving its way between stalls hawking everything from turkey legs to wine bags.
In 2013 the Simi Valley Cultural Association and the Actor’s Repertory Theater of Simi joined forces with a group of community volunteers and decided to fill the void. Thus, the Nottingham Festival was born. In 2014, the Festival received the prestigious award for best new Renaissance Faire newer than 3 years, presented by Renaissance Magazine. Now a staff of about 2 dozen dedicated people oversees over 250 actors and re-enactors.
Originally staged at Lemon Park, the 2015 Festival moved to the area between City Hall and the Department of Building and Safety where it could not only expand but make use of the natural amphitheater opposite the library, with the main gate now facing Alamo. Faire organizers have their sights set on the future when they can purchase a piece of property in Simi to be used as a permanent venue.
Visitors fortunate enough to arrive before the official opening at 10 AM are treated to a formal greeting from the Mayor of Nottingham and his lovely wife. They invite visitors to partake of the many aspects of the faire as the gates are thrown wide amidst much pomp and fanfare.
Once inside, you can visit with guilds like Clan Mac Colin where a woman spins thread on a replica of a spinning wheel which came to Scotland from the Netherlands around 1547. If asked, she’ll share the wheel’s history and tell you how the Scots took the original design and added a break band, adding tension to keep the wheel from spinning slack. The improvement over the original design kept the strands from separating which made for a bulkier thread; excellent for the freezing Scottish winters.
What Constitutes a Guild?
Guilds are groups of people who come together to recreate a part of history. Some, like William Close, a Barber/Surgeon, recreate a trade while others like Clan Mac Colin recreate life in a specific country or region. In either case, members put extensive effort into creating historically accurate clothing, implements and even conversation. Mr. Close in particular has studied his character so intensely that even his patter is historically accurate.
Guilds are a perfect place for history buffs who want to completely immerse themselves in the history of the Renaissance period. Many have more than a little Thespian in them as well. Unique to the Nottingham Festival is the Living History Re-enactment, written and directed by Dennis Michaels. The story is progressive from year to year with this year’s story chronicling the adventures of young Francis Drake who was notable for denuding the forests of Spain to build the 5 ships in his armada. Michaels uses many familiar historical personalities in his stories including Leonardo Da Vinci, Amerigo Vespucci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Anne Boleyn. Notably absent from the town of Nottingham is the original advocate for the poor, Robin Hood, who’s life actually predates the Festival timeline by about 600 years. The historical town of Nottingham did host a Robin Hood Festival in 1653, the same year the Thames froze as a result of a mini ice age.
Dining and Imbibing
Whether your tastes run towards sampling the local fare or you prefer something common to your own era, the Nottingham Festival aims to please. Some may start the day with a Scotch Egg and a cup of coffee while others will head straight for the meat pies or turkey legs. Festival fare runs the gamut from typical British food like bangers and fish and chips to more Continental offerings like pizza and bratwurst. Later, you can feed your inner child with a Dole Whip and a bag of Kettle Corn.
A trip to the Faire would not be complete without a visit to one of the three ale stands where a comely wench will serve you ale, mead, beer or soft drinks. If you fancy a mixed drink, you might enjoy a Notti Knight, Strumpet Wench or a host of other choices featuring Guinness Stout or Harp Ale.
Shopping, Music and More
One of the best things about a Faire is the artisans. You’ll see everything from woodworking to sculptures to fashion, lovingly created by the hands of individuals who put their heart and soul into their work.
Steve Fanning of Wild Vines Woodworking creates beautiful inlaid boxes, cutting boards, pepper mills, and rolling pins. With over 40 years of woodworking experience, he is a relative newcomer to the Faire circuit, but he’s jumped in with both feet. After only 3 years, he now works over 30 weekends a year up and down the coast of California and into Arizona. He is looking at expanding to New York in the near future. All of his products are made from hard woods and are oiled and sealed. You can see his work at Wild Vines Woodworking.
Donna Larson of Blythe Spirits has been making soaps, candles, bath salts and lotions for more than 20 years, but before that, served as Entertainment Director for the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Agoura. Chatting with Donna is like taking a walk through history with a wise sage. She shared the “Rule of Faires” with me, saying: “…either it’s growing or it’s dying.” If a faire doesn’t draw at least 10,000 new people a year it won’t survive. Let’s hope the Nottingham Festival can meet the challenge.
Hannah French has been teaching art for the last 18 years, selling her whimsical dragons at crafts fairs. 2015 marks her first year participating in the Nottingham Festival following her decision to turn a hobby into a business. Each of her dragons has its own personality and facial expression, never failing to bring a smile to the faces of passers-by.
While you stroll the grounds munching that turkey leg, sipping ale or shopping, your senses will be tantalized by the sweet music and talented performers making use of the Festival’s 5 stages. Musicians serenade the crowd with traditional songs and instruments while performers engage onlookers with their unique talents and colorful patter.
Experience it for Yourself
Though this year’s Nottingham Festival is only a memory, bookmark their website and check back often. This year, they convened the first two weekends in November. Mayhap they’ll add a weekend in the future. We hope the Nottingham Festival will do well by the Rule of Faires and be with us for many a year to come.
This article was written in conjunction with Jesse Watrous of Dine.Savor.Repeat.
