A fighter takes a swipe at his opponent on the Field of Honor. Photos by Matthew Schmitz.
This summer, the annual Three Barons Renaissance Fair once again transformed the Tozier dog-sled track on Tudor Road into the fictional medieval village of Hillshire for the first two weekends of June.
There, guests could wander through the village and see ornately dressed actors playing the parts of nobility vying for power, singing pirates, warriors battling and craftsmen hard at work.
In addition to the impressive costumes, there were nearly 20 food vendors frying up halibut, doughnuts, and turkey legs and almost 40 merchants selling an assortment of handmade crafts.
There were activities for guests to participate in too: dancing, spear throwing and face painting just to name a few. Fairgoers could show off their own historical costumes as well.
In an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, Shane Mitchell, who has played the Blue Baron since the fair’s inception in 1993, spoke about the fair’s background. In what started as a spinoff from another renaissance fair in Anchorage, Three Barons has become the only one in town and has developed traditions spanning the decades he said.
The first weekend’s theme was pirates. On Sunday, the parking lot was packed though you could get free parking and a shuttle to the fair at the Wendy Williams Auditorium.
Kevin Hall, the fair's public relations director, said to the Anchorage Press that they expected around 10,000 guests at this year’s fair.
There was a slight breeze that carried the smell of BBQ to outside the fairgrounds. To get in, there was about a 15-minute wait though people who purchased tickets online were able to jump ahead.
With warm weather and clear skies, a merchant selling parasols was doing good business helping fairgoers stay cool and shaded.
At The Crooked Toad, adults could enjoy a beer and cool off under some tents while a cast of pirates took the center stage in song and dance.
Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism were set up in a tent showcasing some of their handiwork. At one point, they took up arms and donned armor to demonstrate their more physical pursuits in violent clashes.
The three eponymous barons – Red, Green and Blue – were present with their baronesses and entourages too. In a contest for the favor of fairgoers, the barons compete for popularity to win the fabled “Spear of Hillthelstan.” The Blue Baron took evident delight in tossing out “gold” coins to the people amassed.
In the “Historical Village” section of Hillshire, reenactors demonstrated various trades and crafts of the Middle Ages.
Several dozen guests joined in on the Peasant’s Dance where they were instructed in the basic steps of a medieval dance. Gathered in a large circle, participants spun around and cycled through dancing partners to the music of troubadours.
The fair is put on by the nonprofit Three Barons Renaissance fair Inc. According to their website, the goal of the fair is to provide Alaskans with interactive, educational, and family oriented entertainment. They also seek to help develop the creative talents of Alaskans by giving them an opportunity to exercise their abilities.
The second weekend’s theme was fantasy and the last day for this year’s fair was on June 12. Three Barons normally runs for the first two weekends of June each year.
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