Return to Adventures at the Ren Fest

It was pretty unexpected (at least for me!), but Marci returned to the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in its guest artist booth for all of September! She’s sharing the booth with Marcia of Alpacas at Orchard Hill Farm (Reba’s owner!), so there’s a ton of fibery goodness out there this year. Since my September was pretty booked, the only weekend I was able to go out and join the fun was this last Labor Day weekend.

Truthfully, nothing has changed. If anything, it feels even wilder now.

This weekend, I experienced:

• A woman who sat down while Marcia and I were spinning to tell us you had to learn spinning from a family member. When both Marcia and I said that wasn’t the case for us, she went on to tell us that she was adopted, but her biological mother sews costumes and that’s where her crafty tendencies come from. She also told us her biological mother wants no contact with her, but it’s okay. She takes comfort in her pet raccoon (this one was a lot…).
• It’s pretty normal for people to ask if I’ve made everything in the booth and have people be disappointed when I say no. Marci was with with me in the booth when one guy asked if I made everything. I said “She did!” since Marci’s normally never there when people ask. “Ah, I was wondering what grandma made these.” I could not hide my shock.
• On my way in on Sunday, I was catcalled by a literal teenager…
• Shortly after that at a spinning demo, a woman came up to play with my hair. No warning or asking permission. That was also pretty uncomfy.
• One grown adult was disappointed to learn I was “only making yarn.”
• Marci and I got “robbed!” A kid came up with a toy sword demanding we hand over any coins or sparkly gems. Since it was slow, we were happy to play along and give him a couple of plastic pirate coins (that we originally had to chuck at Witcher cosplayers, of which there have been shockingly few). The mom apologized, but I told her I had fun with it.
• In the last moments of my spinning demo yesterday, the King came by to praise my work! That’s always exciting.

And speaking of my work, Marci dyed up a beautiful, fall-colored sheep’s wool for me to spin during demos (we’re 95% sure it’s Targhee). I prepped it for a fractal spin, and I cannot wait to finish this yarn! I think I’m finally going to make some handspun socks!

Happy for this little chance to enjoy this very specific type-2 fun again.