This article recently appeared in THE CENTRAL VIRGINIAN. As it looks as if the page gets changed fairly regularly, I'll quote it verbatim here with the appropriate copyright notices.

This is a companion piece to "HMGS Outreach Project at the VA Ren Faire!"

A medieval day of fun at the Faire

By Irene Luck

Dressing in costumes and pretending to be someone different isn’t just for children or a Halloween activity.
The Virginia Renaissance Faire, which is being staged at the Lake Anna Winery, offers youth and adults the opportunity to dress in medieval Elizabethan garb and leave the stresses and hassles of modern day life behind.
The hobby is not an inexpensive one as costumes are custom designed or purchased from authentic shops and recreated for the period, including the jewelry and other accessories.
“This is great fun and an escape from everyday life,” said one reenactor, who asked not to be identified. “I work inside the beltway and this is just an hour away, but it’s like dropping into a different world.”
The reenactor was looking for something to do last year when he drove into Fredericksburg and saw signs for the Renaissance Faire, or RenFaire for those who follow the circuit. He came to the Lake Anna Winery and returned this year for more entertainment, bringing his period clothing with him.
“This is such a great faire. It’s small, but nice, and is catching on with others in the area,” he said. “To be able to come here with all this open space is intriguing for those of us who work within the beltway.”
The Virginia Renaissance Faire is one of the first of the season, with most being staged from late August to October in east coast states such as Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Many of the reenactors are volunteers and play the roles of members of the town of Staffordshire, England. Queen Elizabeth I has come to visit the town and a sick friend, and gets drawn into a town dispute over the disappearance of one of the town leaders.
Town members accuse a woman of being a witch and sentence her to be killed, but the queen intervenes and encourages the leaders to discover the truth.
“This is a great opportunity for Lake Anna and Spotsylvania County,” said Ann Heidig. “It’s a way to expose new people to the area and what we have to offer.”
Heidig, owner of Lake Anna Winery and chairman of the Spotsylvania County Tourism Commission, said the commission has endorsed the Virginia Renaissance Faire, which is making its third appearance at the winery.
This year, the set-up has been moved, expanded and now includes exhibits tucked away in the woods on the edge of the property.
“It’s grown in terms of vendors and participants,” Heidig said. “We’re looking for anything we can do to bring tourists to Spotsylvania County and the Lake Anna area, and let them see the beauty and what we have to offer here.”
Civil War reenactments are an important part of Spotsylvania’s history, said Heidig but the Renaissance Faire offers another aspect of history and draws a different crowd to the region. En route to the faire, they stop at stores and gas stations, eat at restaurants and stay a motels in the area.
Activities at the Renaissance Faire include demonstrations on jousting, live fire, Maypole dance, military drills and conscription, archery, human chess, greyhound coursing and knightly games and skills. Various other activities include juggling, storytelling, the queen’s parade, fortune telling, craftsmen’s skills and games.
One of the more unusual games for children and adults is Pirate Raiders. Presented by the Virginia Renaissance Faire and the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society, the contest involves pirates raiding a village for Captain Morgan.
Brian Whitaker of Stafford is the game master and principle privateer. The game involves drawing cards which determine moves, the collection of booty and safe passage back to the ship.
This is the second year the game has been set up at the faire. Whitaker and Walt O’Hara, whose wife works with Out of the Woodwork Productions, which stages the faire, will be at the event each weekend.
“We draw a lot of interest, and the scale models of the buildings makes learning about pirates interesting for everyone,” Whitaker said. “We started with 30 cards when we began the pirate scenario and are over 100 now as players come up with new tasks and roadblocks.”
Initially, the game began with a Viking theme, but the pirate theme has become Whitaker’s most popular.
“Stop by and see us when you visit,” he said. “This is a game anyone can play and parents can enjoy with their children.”
The Virginia Renaissance Faire is open on Saturday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, June 18. Admission is only $5 a person. Children five and under are admitted free. For more information, visit the website at www.VaRF.org or call (703) 508-5036.

Article Copyright CENTRAL VIRGINIAN newspaper, 2006, by Irene Luck.