Renaissance festival brings cultural fanfare to Bloomington

IU's Dunn Meadow transformed into "Dunnston Meadow" Saturday, a mythical landmark that played host to the Bloomington Renaissance Faire. With the aid of volunteers, planners and coordinators, dukes and damsels welcomed students and families alike to a full day of merriment.\nThough in its first year on campus, the festival's inspiration came from nearby sources. Christine Task, fair coordinator, said she took her experiences from Ohio State and put a new spin on an old tradition.\n"I went to Ohio State University (as an undergraduate), and while I was there, I was part of the student group which organized the OSU Renaissance Faire," Task said in an e-mail. "The Faire there is over 30 years old now, and it has a long-standing tradition with the community. When I came to IU, I met a lot of people who were very interested in having a Renaissance Faire here in Bloomington."\nBorrowing from the basic structure of OSU's customs, Task rounded up eager IU students and began planning for Saturday's extravaganza in October.\n"It was definitely interesting to be a part of this," said Nate Skiba, a vendor coordinator. "It was a lot of work since it was the first year, and we didn't really have much to work off of."\nThe fair struggled early because of a lack of resources, but organizers said they considered the event a success. The fair was filled with turkey legs from the Runcible Spoon, henna tattoos and face painting by various artists, belly dancing accompanied by medieval music, jewelry and jousts. Some parts of the fair were not as hands-on. Comedy troupes performed, including a play titled "The Twin Captains," carrying a three-act comedy of love, mistaken identity and revenge. \n"I enjoy Renaissance fairs and have been taking part in them for 20 years," said Paula Frantz, owner of Amahli's Bazaar, a boutique featuring fortune-telling at the Bloomington fair. "It shows students that they can put together things on their own that can be successful."\nFrantz said people of all ages love stories and fantasies, and a big reason for the festival's success was that it offered a different kind of outdoors fun. Task said more than 2,000 people attended Saturday.\nMany of the performers featured at the festival have made names for themselves in their respective cultural arenas. Cosa Fine taught Irish step dance through traditional musical pieces, while Tales of Tolkien enchanted listeners with epics inspired by "Beowulf" and "Völsunga." Minstrel Woode performed Celtic contemporary ballads on the main stage, and Paul Swanson of the Bloomington Storyteller's Guild entertained listeners of all ages with his tale of "Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady."\nSarah Kornblith, a senior majoring in anthropology, said the fair's introduction has helped unite the community through the arts and history. It also provided a unique way for families to spend more time together, she said.\nFinishing a high note, Task said giving Bloomington a taste of Europe's Medieval past has meant a lot to her.\n"I personally have always thought a renaissance fair is a wonderful way to welcome in the spring," Task said. "It's a chance to step away from reality into a world that's far more dashing and romantic, and I'm very glad we're going to be able to begin that tradition here at IU"