The Faire has changed overmuch since I worked there in 1994. It used to be that everyone of the employees of the subcontractors put on a fake Elizabethan accent, dressed the part, and stayed, more-or-less, in character. Now there are subcontractor anachronisms (references to Twinkies and video games) and, most distressingly, no accents. Attendees wear cosplay outfits and carry (gasp!) cellular phones. A few of the food stands were closed and shuttered. I saw no pub wenches. I saw no bosoms filled with cash. There was no catty banter between vendors and customers. The “artisans” had no hand-bound books, no hand-made shoes, no turned wood cups, no stained glass, not even cut flowers. There were no traditional arts. It was factory goods, mostly, and some hand-made play swords. Sad, for me. I wanted something that was no longer.

Nonetheless, the children had a blast. Mom rented them costumes. There was music and juggling. The shows by the Wyldewood Players were, by far, the best. Akiva found a new favorite musical group: Wolgemut. We went home with two anachronistic CDs.

The stage at the House of Physic made a fine backdrop for portraiture.

I could have taken more, in varied places, but I did not.

A roguish boy in hunter’s garb—

A pretty young wench—

Some dual portraiture—