Maryland Renaissance Festival - Annapolis - TravBuddy

We met with fellow TBers Mark (marksreynolds) and Lena (bwitch16) at the renaissance festival. The weather was beautiful at 85 degrees. Our drive out to Annapolis went by quickly. Although we were standing in traffic for 45 minutes to get to the parking lot of the festival.
Mark met us at the gate after we had bought our tickets ($18 per person). He then showed us around, to get something to drink and take in the atmosphere. The festival goes on once every year (August to October), but the renaissance town remains year around in a little piece of forest. It has an authentic feel to it. People are dressed up, not just the vendors, visitors too. Some of the costumes are more colorful then others. You'll see everything from wenches and knights to pirates and warlocks. Of course some people's outfits we're trashier then others. If I would have had a beer for every corset that was too small I wouldn't have walked out of there alive. hehe
We met up with Lena, Mark's wife, and watched a comedy show together. It consisted of two guys sword fighting and making foul jokes at each others expense. Then one of the guys was laying down on a nail bed and the other attempted to break a brick on the poor guys chest. After the show we got some food. Turkey legs seemed to be very popular since we stood in line for a while to get a taste of them. I had Steak on a Stake and curly fries.
After we ate, Mark and Lena showed us the rest of the festival. We walked around exploring all the different stands with handmade goods. Some sold art others sold costumes and swords. You can get henna tattoos made or get your hair braided. There are also more food stands with everything you could possible be hungry for. We walked through a maze and a museum with very eerie things in jars, like gremlins and fairies. We saw a hypnotist's show; He made people get really hot, almost to the point were they would have started to take their clothes off. They also had a jousting show, but we didn't stick around very long since it was in the sun and it was HOT.
Leaving took us a while since everyone seemed to be going home at the same time. The parking lot was a mess and to top it off there was an ambulance trying to get through, probably because someone had a bit too much mead and fell over one of the tree trunks.
We really enjoyed the renaissance fest as first time visitors. Mark and Lena are regulars and visit a couple of times each season, since they live close by. The only thing that I would pick on is the bathroom situation. Make sure you have a couple of hand wipes with you since there are no sinks.
I do however recommend going to this festival at least once in your life, it's great fun and something out of the ordinary.

For more information and directions go to www.rennfest.com