Des Moines Renaissance Faire Entertainment
Last Updated: Thursday, September 17, 2009 8:40 PM
See some of the best local and regional acts, as well as some of the best entertainment from events such as the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Minnesota Renaissance Festival and Bristol Renaissance Faire. (Wanting to join us?)
Entertainment Schedule
Here is a sneak preview of some of the entertainment/demonstrations planned for this year's expanded Des Moines Renaissance Faire. (Acts: Submit your description and weblink to the webmaster and he will update these pages.)
- Schedules for 2009 will usually be posted within a week or so before the event. You can watch the work-in-progress schedules be built over the coming weeks:(Sept 5-6-7) (Sep 12-13) (Sep 19-20) (Links to PDF versions of the handouts with map and schedule are now available, too!)
- See also: Cast of Characters
| Act / Character / Demo | Shows per day. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-6-7 | 12-13 | 19-20 | |
| A KLASSE AKTE (AKA) ROGUES TO ROYALES - AKA will be presenting “Cooking with the Captain,” a swashbuckling take on period cooking. Come along and fill yourself with recipes, stories, and songs. | 4 | ||
| BARNACLE & SCUTTLEBUTT - Silly story-telling sailors who will have the audience in their hands...and on stage. Naughtical nonsense at the expense of themselves. Too much fun. | 4 | ||
| BARONY OF COEUR D'ENNUI - The Des Moines chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism takes over the Living History Encampment with skilled demonstrations and exhibits on Middle Ages folkways and European life. (on-going) | on-going | ||
| BASKET MASTER - Mistress Kratoska draws you into her creative world of forming the ideal basket for your cottage needs. (on-going) | demo | ||
| BROTHERHOOD OF STEEL - Dueling swords and daring dukes. These knights from afar are in good standing. | 3 | ||
| CHALLENGE OF THE ARCHERY MASTERS - Brother and Sister archery champions compete and show off their skills for bragging rights twice daily at the shooting range. | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| CHARLES OF CHARLATAN - Street theater and inter-active play. (on-the-stroll) | stroll | stroll | |
| CHARMING & DASHING - The funniest version of the classic romantic tales in the land. Headliners at the Colorado Renaissance Faire, now on tour with a stop in Des Moines. | 4 | ||
| CHASING SWINE - Real water and real pigs make for madcap mayhem twice daily at the racing pen. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| COMEDY HAMLET - Nationally touring Chicago comedian and celebrated Shakespearian actor Jeff McLane brings us his way too funny rapid-fire version of classic theater. (3 shows per day, 45 minutes) | 3 | ||
| CONSTABLE OF THE STOCKS - Nathan the Scottish Knight takes over the village pillory to have put away any of your friends or a foe. (on-going street theater) | on-going | on-going | |
| DANZA MYSTIQUE - Des Moines' popular exotic dance troupe with live percussion. Join in the variety of dance styles from belly to tribal. | 4 | ||
| DRAGON STORIES - William & BlackJack & Captain Julie tell tall tales and lead fun sing-alongs in the children's realm. | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| FIREMOON - Our classic faerie mime who delights every child in the kingdom. (on-going street theater) | X | X | |
| THE FORKING QUEEN - Street theater and ceremonial comedy for all ages. (on-going) | X | X | X |
| GUARDIANS OF THE BLACK FOREST - Medieval weapons fight team and history camp. These are knights in good standing. | 3 | ||
| GLASTONBURY REVELERS - Classic presentation of Madrigal choral singing with skit. | 3 | 3 | |
| GREER SISTERS VIOLIN DUET - Minstrel troubadours with jigs, reels and classics. (on-the-stroll) | stroll | ||
| GREYWOLF BLACKSMITH - Master metal worker and Village Smithy offering inter-active demonstrations. (on-going each day) On the third weekend, our metal working artisan goes buccaneer for this weekend of nautical skills. | demo | demo | demo |
| HAVE COURT, WILL TRAVEL - Queen Catherine's entourage with pomp and pageantry various shows per day. | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| HIGHLAND GAMES - Clan MacSwade offers demonstrations of the heavy lifting games of Scotland. (4 presentations per day) | 4 | ||
| THE HORSEMEN - Commedia dell-arte and street theater as these comics take charge of the pillory stocks. | on-going | ||
| ISABELLA JAMES - Gate greeter and guide. (at-the-keep) | stroll | stroll | stroll |
| JOUSTEVOLUTION - Tournament Jousting and comedy stunt show. This year, JoustEvolution will feature three full jousts. (3 shows per day: 12:30, 2:30, 4:30) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| KIDDIE JOUSTING - The Wizard face-painters offer children's hobbie-horse jousting in the children's realm right after each one of the real arena jousts. (1:00, 3:00, 5:00) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| KIDS WITH FIRE - Comedy juggling & fire tricks and many a belly laugh. Back by popular demand! KWF returns for Pirate Weekend! | 4 | ADDED: 4 | |
| KING OBERON'S FAERIE COURT - Meet the Faeries and Dance at the children's stage. | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| KRATOSKA BASKETS - Master basket weaver with on-going demonstrations. | demo | ||
| MAD SCOTSMAN'S GOLF CHALLENGE - The hilarious McCrakken Brothers taunt the unsuspecting golfers on the village green. (on-going participation) | on-going | ||
| MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE SOCIETY - This highly-rated group of historical presenters takes over the Living History Encampment will a full day of numerou authentic skills and exhibits. A visit to their camp is a must at this event. (on-going) | on-going | ||
| ORCKES & TROLLES - A high-energy music group specializing in Renaissance, Celtic, and piratey songs. | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| PAUL THE GOOSEMAN and his highly amusing parade of costumed geese. (on-the-stroll) | stroll | ||
| PIPER DOUGLAS - Ceremonial Highlands Bagpiper. (on-the-stroll) | stroll | ||
| RIVER JESTERS - Shakespeare done light. | 4 | ||
ROYALE PIRATES OF TORTUGA - Sir Stephen Douglas and Sir William McAuthor of the Royale Pirates of Tortuga will be manning the stocks. Fun and mayhem, with a bit of pirate magic, along with their mascot the fabulous "Zazu" the blue and gold Macaw! (on-going daily) |
on-going | ||
| SEARCHING FOR SHAKESPEARE - The Bard's best friends when it comes to an enjoyable and entertaining immersion into the theatrics and humor of England's most famous playwright. (3 shows daily) | 3 | ||
| SHARPE WIT - Sir Ian Richard Sharpe's one-man stand up comedy act. (2 shows for adults, 1 for children) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| SHATTOCK SCHOOL OF DEFENSE - Uproarious stage antics and theatrical combat with comedy swordplay and a cast of endearing characters. | 3 | ||
| ADDED 9/8: SIRS FISH & CHIPPS - Local "Bedlum" comedy. | 1 | ||
| SIR ROBERT THE DECEPTOR - The region's only pirate magician helps us celebrate this weekend's International Talk Like a PIrate Day. | 4 | ||
| SIREN STEFANIE D'FLUTE & LADY KIM D'ENGLAND - Flute minstrel duo. (on-the-stroll) | stroll | stroll | stroll |
| SONGSTRESS SUSAN - Songstress Susan Teller stirs up the stage with music, stories, and a bit of mayhem. She lets audiences add "storyteller effects" with noises, hand actions, and human puppets! Stories and songs range from Aesop fables and medieval fantasy to fractured fairy tales and spontaneous improv! Listen up when she bellows "True Love" for either a sweet or cynical take on romance...be warned: it may be about YOU! | 4 | ||
| UPDATED 9/10:SONS OF THE MIST - Scottish Knights in sword duels and Highland bravery. | 3 | 2 Sat | |
| STEVEN OF SHERWOOD - Gate greeter and guide. (at-the-keep) | X | X | |
| THE THREE HORSESHOES - Dori Hein as Mary Read; Crystal Mayer as Anne Bonney — Presenting spirited interpretations throughout the day of these two real-life female pirates who held their own in a man’s world. Learn how, disguised as men, these women fought in battles upon the high seas, were forced into piracy, then captured and imprisoned—and how only one escaped. | ongoing | ||
| VEXING VIXENS - These randy pirate lasses have a song and jokes for all who listen. (4 shows daily) | 4 | ||
| WARWICK - Medieval Living History encampment. (on-going demonstrations) | on-going | ||
| WILLIE'S WENCHES - Beauty, Blades, and Butt-kicking! This flaky five-some brings you the Shakespeare your high school teacher never told you about! ( "Hamlet vs. Macbeth" "A Midsummer Nightmare's Dream on Elm Street 13") (45 minutes) | 4 | ||
| WRAPSODY - This world-class aerial artistry is straight from the Cirque circuit. Back by popular demand with stunts and choreography high off the ground. They even throw in lots of comedy. (3 shows daily) | 3 | 3 | |
| Number of "staged" acts and hours of entertainment per day. | 58 (29+ hours) | 68 (34+ hours) | 66 (33+ hours) |
Demonstrating Merchants
- Boars Head Leather, leather working (Canterbury Plaza)
- Dire Atrium, painting (Canterbury Plaza)
- Dorlemagne's
- Saturday — Demo/Workshop Schedule
10:30 Painting heraldic tiles (Free)
11:00 Felting & spinning wool (Free)
11:30 Growing culinary herbs (Free)
12:00 Making glass beads (Free)
1:00, The Three Horseshoes: (Free)
2:00, The Lives of Mary Read & Anne Bonney,
3:00 Real-Life Female Pirates
4:00 Make Your Own Earrings! ($10)
5:00 Make Your Own Woven Ring! ($10)- Sunday — Demo/Workshop Schedule
10:30 Make Your Own Woven Ring! ($10)
11:30 Make Your Own Earrings! ($10)
1:00, The Three Horseshoes: (Free)
2:00, The Lives of Mary Read & Anne Bonney,
3:00 Real-Life Female Pirates
4:00 Felting & spinning wool (Free)
4:30 Painting heraldic tiles (Free)
5:00 Making glass beads (Free)
5:30 Growing culinary herbs (Free)- * A demo is a free demonstration showing one of the many arts and crafts created during the Renaissance. A workshop is a hands-on opportunity for a fairegoer to make and take an item; the fee covers cost of materials and use of tools.
- Fyne Hats by Felicity, millinery (near theFeasting Hall)
- Kratoska Weavings, master basket making (Village Marketplace)
- Lords of Leather, leather working (by Royal Court pavilion)
- The Potter House, pottery & ceramics (near the Tavern)
- The Scot's Dragon, kilt-wrapping 1pm & 3pm (Main Intersection)
- Sheldon Pewter, medallion molding (Canterbury Plaza near Feasting Hall)
- Summerset Winery, grape-stomping (at Wine Villa) 3:00
- World's Best Meats, jerky making (Village Marketplace)
Living History (check schedule for weekends)
- Greywolf Blacksmith, metal working (Living History realm)
- Medieval & Renaissance Society, living history folkways (Sherwood Forest)
- SCA BARONY OF COEUR D'ENNUI, living history folkways (Sherwood Forest)
- Warwick, living history folkways (Sherwood Forest)
Other (check schedule for weekends)
- Ace of Blades, knife-tossing (by The Privies)
- Archery Field & Sports, Arrow shooting (Sherwood Forest)
- Highland Games Competition, lifting skills (Combat Arena)
- The Horsemen, commedia del'arte (The Pillory Stocks)
