The day started out mild with temperatures expected to hit the mid 80s with only a slight threat of rain later in the evening. I put on shorts and comfortable tennis shoes knowing I had a lot of walking to do and the past knowledge of this outing being almost unbearably hot regardless of the weather forecast. I grabbed my small point-and-shoot camera and headed off to meet one of my friends for a quick trip to Starbucks to start us on our journey to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN.
We got to the festival grounds and started on our first circuit through the maze of shops, food stalls and various entertainment stages. We came across many different types of characters and performers and many visitors who were in costume.
We didn't get a chance to see much of the entertainment on this visit but we will be making a second trip on the last day of the festival just so we can take time to stop for the different shows we like and because that's when all the best sales happen!
Before heading to Ren Fest my friend told me we were going to go through the Hobbit Hole at the festival. The what? I've been to Ren Fest several times over the past 15 years but had no clue what she was talking about. It didn't take long before we came across the Hobbit Hole.
Once through the Hobbit Hole you walk down a couple short flights of wooden stairs and enter into the Enchanted Forest.
The path through the forest was pretty nice, although it can get crowded with groups of fair-goers walking through. I didn't get a chance to really look around and experience as much as I wanted to, but that's mostly my own fault. The festival doesn't allow anyone to wander where they want to throughout the forest. The rocky dirt path had a rope barrier on either side of it as well as several signs letting you know you had to stay on the lone path.
Dispersed throughout the main path were several small cottages giving an illusion that the Enchanted forest is inhabited. Due to the crowded nature of the narrow path I was only able to take relatively quick snap shots before the next surge of people came up behind us.
Towards the end of the forest there was one last cottage nestled behind a small pond next to a waterfall. There was also a travelling bard playing period music which added to the overall ambiance of the medieval theme.
We passed under a rustic trellis-like arbor before the final turn ending in the exit back into the bustling fair grounds.
The photo gallery for this trip can be found here. I plan to take more time on my second trip of the season to the festival to take better pictures with my Nikon DSLR.
