Performers For all who long for childhood days of make-believe and mythic heroes, ladies in waiting and bawdy tavern wenches, steel clad warriors jousting atop mighty steeds and knights in shining armor, royalty and the like...these and more come to life at the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire! Don't just watch this piece of history - relive it with us!

Cavallo Equestrian Arts These riders were truly born to perform. With six generations of circus bareback acrobatic skills under his belt, director Olissio Zamperla Zoppe has created two breathtaking shows for this year's Faire. The full contact Joust features battle weight lances and shields, and pulse-pounding, no holds barred battle that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The knights compete as well in the games of the Tournament, displaying their skills at the Quintain, Rings, Capture the Flag and the Gauntlet. Their second show, Ma'Ceo, is a gypsy themed equestrian performance that includes daredevil cossack riding, horseback juggling and truly unbelievable acrobatics.

Brotherhood of Oceanic Mercenaries Cannons will Roar! Cutlasses will Clash! Jigs will be Danced and Shanties will be Sung! Enjoy lively performances and theatrical re-enactments by the notorious crew of the "Emerald Rose". This fun- loving band of scallywags will raise your spirits in song and thrill your senses with suspense and intrigue; charmin' their way into your good graces all the while. "So batten down yer hatches, stow yer wenches and ...Prepare to be Boarded!!!"

Matthew Van Zee The Traveling Mage Bringing forth the Magic Realms of Fantasy. Opening windows into other worlds with his storytelling and magic. It is rumored he has been to the sacred places of Avalon and Shangri-La. Visiting Professor to many of the top wizarding schools; specializing in Talismans and Charms. With the aid of the fey and borrowing the help of Harley's brownie Hannah, Matthew Van Zee will be gracing the children's stage with magic to enchant all. With over 20 years of experience he has entertained hundreds of thousands of people across the United States as well as people from around the world. He has elated audiences at many fairs and festivals.

Consort Conspiratio The 16th Century's finest composers and ribaldest ballads performed by a consortium of historical scholars and entertainers. Consort Conspiratio combines the bawdry and beauty of the Renaissance to bring the music to life. Now in their 9th year together, this ensemble prides itself on the authenticity of its music, dress, instruments and approach. Come discover why the Renaissance never ceases to delight and surprise.

Academia della Spada Academia della Spada of Seattle teaches 16th Century sword fighting techniques as they have been recreated from extant fighting manuals and treatises of the era. We are not a stage-fighting school nor a reenactment group. Our study is an active process, requiring research the fruits of which are then tested on the field. The Academy focuses on the duel between armed civilian opponents.

BOWI Kickin Celtic Music - For years, Seattle based BOWI has been entertaining audiences with a blend of traditional Celtic music and unique energy. The BOWI sound encompasses a wide range of music including driving Jigs and Reels, exciting vocals, and beautiful ballads. An incredibly flexible and adaptive group, BOWI has performed at everything from Pubs and local faires, to private parties and weddings. Acoustic or "Plugged in", BOWI has never failed to get the hands clapping and feet stomping.

Broon Broon is a variety comedian who has toured all over the country for more than twenty years presenting a show of side splitting laughter and amazing stunts. With a strong background in improvisational theater and street performing he has developed a spontaneous and edgy style that guarantees no two shows will be exactly alike. One part stand up comic and one part side show performer Broon amazes with magic, fire eating, juggling and bullwhips all wrapped up with a sardonic wit that will leave you breathless.

Cirque du Sewer Melissa Arleth, the acrobat with acro-rats, started off as an actor but quickly realized her life mission was to leave the world a little odder than she found it. To that end, she created Cirque du Sewer , showcasing the amazing abilities of her trained vermin, as well as her own feats of balance. Melissa and the rats have performed all over the country, from burlesques in Key West to Shakespeare festivals in California to renaissance faires in Texas, and have even been seen on national television.

The Dread Crew of Oddwood A "Heavy Mahogany" pirate band blending of acoustic folk rock, heavy metal, Celtic punk and traditional Irish music with their high-energy live show, epic seafaring sound and extensive vocal harmonization. This adventurous & outrageously energetic group of brigands have a slew of valiant, terrifying, & amusing songs spewing tales of destruction, debauchery, and camaraderie. They feature Captain Wolfbeard O'Brady on accordion and whistles, Riven Rahl on toy piano, Rouba Juba on steel string guitar, Smithy Crow on upright bass, Gunmaster Castle on the mini-drum kit (dubbed the "Oddkit") and steel pans, and Scandinavian twins Stark and Deckard Cordwain on Irish bouzouki / tin whistle and ukulele / mandolin respectively.

Goode's Company of Foote From the shadowy, sodden recesses of Northumbria march a hale and hearty band of heroes. Goode's Company of Foote is a living history group dedicated to reenacting the life and times of a 16th century English trained band. We gather to embrace the camaraderie, discipline and chaos of a company of pike and musket as they variously served the will of their prince and purses during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Guild of Saint Brigid Your face is new and your manner strange to us. Do you come from a far off land? No great matter, we welcome all in our village. Come ye and sit by the warmth of our hearth, share a tale if you have one, or listen to one of mine if you do not. This is our village, this is our hearth, Saint Brigid is our patron saint and in her name we bid you welcome.

Guild of Saint Julian Are you weary from your travels? Have you been dodging bandits on dark country roads? Feel free to stop by the local inn, The Leaky Tankard. See what a tight ship the inn mistress runs or watch the inn keeper press apples into his prized apple cider. Visit with the odd characters that frequent the inn and hear their tales of travels far and wide. It matters not the day or time, we'll keep a fire burning for you. (photo by JoNell Franz)

Gypsy Realm Productions Proudly presents Marionette puppet shows for all. Whether ye be a Noble Knight, a Gutter Snipe or a Fairy Queen, our stories and tales handed down from one generation to another, narrated by the Infamous Puss ‘N Boots and the well rounded Lady Tabitha, Daughter of the Marque de Carabas, will make you laugh, cry, sigh, boo and maybe even sing as our stringed hero’s and villains take the stage for you entertainment.

Harley LaQuinn A brightly colored harlequin jester of renaissance Europe, easily recognized as the tallest man of the land topping out at over 9 feet tall from the bottom of his feet to the tip of his hat. Watch him as he nimbly cavorts around the faire getting himself into and out of the smallest spaces greeting fairgoers with his uplifting laughter accompanied by his pocket sized brownie Hannah, who is always mischievously rearranging his bag of tricks, you never know what will happen with the two of them around. When you see him don't forget to say Hi to Hannah!

Hawke the Bedlam Bard They play aggressively loud, sweaty, foot-stomping music on guitar, fiddle, mandola, bones, bodhran, strumstick, and kazoo. Catch their bawdy song show if you'd like to laugh your bottom off, and hear their sit-down set for sweet, moving ballads.

Heavy Hammer Not your everyday pipe band! The boys of Heavy Hammer bring the thunderous BOOM of five huge drums and the raucous wail of the highland pipes to both traditional Scots/Irish music as well as original works! Originally out of the little town of Buckley WA, Heavy Hammer quickly branched out and has played all over the Pacific Northwest!

Jeffery the Jongular "Japes, Tricks, and Diverse Amusements For Your Entertainment and Pleasure!” Step back in time and behold magic way it was performed in the Renaissance – in the street. Verily, may you find Jeffery wandering about the faire ready to entertain at but a moment’s notice. Yea, thou shalt see wonderment and mystery cloaked in playful repartee. See the consuming of matter into nothing. Behold the transubstantiation of one object to another. Experience alarm during the performance of the Most Dangerous Feat Known in Conjuring. Set thy eyes upon wonders beyond description. And for the asking, Jeffery will discourse on the rarefied status of the jongular in Medieval and Renaissance culture. All this for your entertainment and pleasure!

Kumpania Paramitsha Founded in 2000, the Kumpania Paramitsha is a group of talented performers portraying the Romany (or Gypsy) peoples during the 16th century. The Kumpania is made up of musicians, dancers, singers, fortune tellers, fire performers, acrobats and story tellers. The Kumpania are dedicated to recreating the gypsies of the Renaissance through culture, customs, language and of course music and dance.

Les Bouffons des Battes Les Bouffons des Battes, inspired by the masked comedies of old France and Italy, bring their ridiculously ribald slapstick to the stage. Come and enjoy the crazed intrigues cooked up by a colorful cast of comic characters in an all new and irresistibly zany play!

MarCher Music from the Heart, especially for the Soul, Marty and Cheryl Johnson have been performing together for over 15 years, entertaining at Renissance Faire's and S.C.A. events since 1995. The music is soft and easy, sometimes romantic, even if the the story is sad. At other times it reflects the actions of the times. Feel free to join in, enjoy the feeling of pleasure the sharing of a song can bring. Marty is an accomplished portraiture artist who upon your request would be most pleased to render your image on the pages of antiquity.

No Parchment Needed This merry troupe of actors have traveled far and wide to entertain you, but forgotten their scripts! Help them out by offering suggestions to drive or even start the scenes. Every short-form show will bring a smile to your face and be very unique. They have a general audience show as well as one for an NC-17 stage. Come one, come all!
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Robin Hood & Maid Marian Present: Join Robin Hood and Maid Marian for magical storytelling! Six members of the audience star in these high-energy, interactive retellings of "St. George & the Dragon" and "The Tales of Robin Hood"! Heroes, villains, cheering, screaming, and hilarity ensues!

Schole of Pleasant Pastymes Pleasant Pastymes for Faire Friends will be found in the family games' pavilion, provided by our village Dame Schole Mistres, Lady Cameron. Inside the pavilion you will find board games such as nine-mens-morris, draughts, or chess. Bubbles, nine-pins, pall mall and other amusements may be found in the yard. All are welcome to enjoy a respite from the busy hub-bub of the village green at Pleasant Pastymes.

Scott Perkins as the Lord Mayor "Our Lord Mayor, the Right Honorable, Sir James Winterbottom likes to style himself as the consummate Elizabethan gentleman adventurer. Never mind that the Elizabethan adventurer is generally brave, stalwart, and daring, whilst Sir James is generally agreed to be devious, scheming, and greedy. Being an educated man,he knows that being rich allows him to pay people to say he's those other things rather than go to the bother of doing them. The passage of Her Majesty's court through his town is the perfect opportunity for Sir James to advance his fortunes and possibly buy his way into a proper title.
Do you solemnly swear you are up to no good? The Lord Mayor is always looking for minions! Visit him and as long as they promise to say nice things about him to the queen, he will induct thy children as members of the city watch, instructing them in the ancient arts of villainy and mischief."

The Seadogs The Seadogs are a group of performers who perform Nautical music and songs, with a healthy injection of comedy and sailor-y theatrics. Several instrumentalists, along with an entire crew of talented singers who perform a wide range of seafaring music...from old world shanties & work songs done in the traditional style, to more upbeat interpretations of classic sea-songs, to modern & original seafaring music. The Seadogs have been entertaining west coast audiences for over 2r years, and have a strong background in entertaining audiences both young and old in nearly every conceivable venue. If you're looking for Nautical Entertainment, have we got a show for you...
And NEW for 2012: Come check out our all-new, all-adult "Naughty and Nautical" show! Come on out, grab a drink and try "Swearin' With The Seadogs!"

Sherwood Renaissance Singers Good my Lords, fair Laydies, pray attend, be ye visitors to this village or nay. Come hither and harken unto the joyous noyse of our small band, we Singers of Sherwood village. We bring thee stories of love, contentment and sorrow, tunefully brought in the Madrigal Style. Come sit, take thy rest, and share with us our musical offering.

SilverStrings A classy Celtic fiddler and her rogue husband began to play beautiful music together one summer evening several years ago. So they started performing music with The Society for Renaissance Performers as SilverStrings. Mike and Diane will fill the valley and hills with their renditions of lovely Celtic music, jigs, reels, waltzes, hornpipes and airs for your pleasure and enjoyment. Dancing is always welcome!

Wyldewood Fae From behind the veil between this land and beyond, word of the mortal Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Meriwick has spread to even the highest of otherworldly creatures, *Tanaquill Gloriana* The Faerie Queene.
With an entourage of her own in tow, she has crossed over to this realm from the Wyldewood, in order to observe the mortal ways with her own eyes.
Come see what delights The Faerie Queene this Midsummer Faire.

Zinger’s Royal Magick The award winning Zinger, the Magick has been presenting magical thought with the west’s premiere stage magic Renaissance Faire troupe, Royal Magick, for fifteen years. Zinger will also be in the lanes presenting his art & artifice up close, plus answering questions the Tudor Era, illuminating details of Midsummer Faire, and perhaps leading you to become involved with WRAES as a distinguished “Friend of Faire”.