Story by Sydney Kelso
Graphics by Chloe Hardman
Design by Connor Anderson
With spring upon us, we’re fully in the season of renewal, and one excellent way to celebrate that is by attending the Moscow Renaissance Fair. The first Moscow Renaissance Fair was hosted in 1974 in East City Park, where it continues to be held to this day. This year, the fair will be held on May 3 from 10 AM to 7 PM and on May 4 from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free.
Attractions include a dragon parade, a variety of live musical performances, a petting zoo, costume contests, a Maypole dance and, of course, booths featuring local businesses selling food, crafts and art.
While the event is simply a celebration of spring, it is not unusual to see people in typical Renaissance Faire attire; pirates, fairies, lords and ladies roam the aisles, browsing shops for treats and trinkets.
“I love the shops,” said Alli Sturdivant, a student at the University of Idaho who attended the 2024 Renaissance Fair. Sturdivant was invited to go to the Renaissance Fair by a friend. “It’s so cool to see some of the things people were making and selling.”
Anna Pawlak was another UI student who was invited to go to the Renaissance Fair by a friend last year and enjoyed her time there.
“I thought it would be fun to not only hang out with her but also see a part of Moscow that only happens once a year,” Pawlak said.
With the Renaissance Fair taking over all of East City Park, walking is necessary.
“Be ready to walk around and maybe get a little wet since it was rainy when we went,” Pawlak said. “I would wear comfortable shoes, and bring water and a tote bag or backpack to carry anything you might want to buy.”
Sturdivant encourages people to check the weather, too, but to also not let that hinder them.
“Create an itinerary and pick out an outfit that fits with the Renaissance Fair theme,” Sturdivant said. “Also, be open minded and go with the flow, because sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming.”
Of course, this extremely popular two-day event could never come together without proper behind-the-scenes work. One facilitator of this is Daria Winterer, a craft booth coordinator.
“As craft booth coordinator there is work sprinkled through the year,” Winterer said. “In October, the park map, craft booth guidelines and applications are looked over, edited and sent to our webmaster. In January, we reach out to past vendors and our PR people put out announcements. January through April, applications are processed as they come in, vendors are juried, booth fees are collected and booths are assigned.”
Another part of the preparation process is the poster contest. In February, the Renaissance Fair hosts a poster contest, and the public votes on which poster they want to use to advertise the Renaissance Fair. The voting takes place in early March at the Winter Market.
Then comes the actual Fair.
“The weekend of the Fair, we paint the booth lines in East City Park, welcome the vendors and help them set up, then make sure they have what they need,” Winterer said. “We provide Booth Sitters for those who are alone and need a break and a Hospitality Tent where they can get coffee and snacks. We take good care of our vendors, as they are the lifeblood of the Renaissance Fair and many of them return year after year despite the iffy weather. Their booth fees provide the funds for park rental, hiring entertainment, buying insurance and security, and a variety of other things. Without the vendors, there would be no Renaissance Fair, so please check out the craft booths. It’s a perfect time to get those graduation and Mother’s Day gifts and treat yourself.”
Winterer first got involved with the Moscow Renaissance Fair in 2023, when she just so happened to strike up a conversation with the right person at the right time! While spending time with friends at the 2023 Renaissance Fair, her and her friends approached an interesting looking man in the beer garden, who ended up being the MC.
“[He] invited me to the post-Fair party,” Winterer said. “Since I had just graduated from WSU and had no plans of moving away, I decided that I wanted to get involved with my community, and David Vollmer, the man I cherry picked, had the perfect opportunity for me: the Renaissance Fair, which is always looking for volunteers. I went to the party and introduced myself to everyone and agreed to do anything they needed. That year, I mentored under the president and the previous craft booth coordinator. This year, I am happy to again be working closely with our fearless leader LuAnn Scott, as well as a new volunteer, Ana Blaisdell, who is my craft booth co-coordinator, among the other vital volunteers that help put on the show.”
Winterer has found the role of volunteering at the Renaissance Fair to be very fulfilling.
“By far the most rewarding experience is seeing the vendors at the actual Fair,” Winterer said. “Placing a human face to an application is just marvelous. The weekend of the Fair is a working experience; however, it is delightful to be among the first to arrive and last to leave, and helping this event go on with as few hitches as possible has proved to be an entertaining and challenging endeavor.”
Because the event is so large, it requires as many volunteers as possible. Winterer encourages those interested to go and volunteer.
“The Fair is always open and interested in onboarding more volunteers,” Winterer said.
The Moscow Renaissance Fair is special to a lot of people, and part of what makes it special are the people themselves.
“I think the Fair brings people together in a unique way because no matter if you go to Renaissance Fairs often or it’s your first time going, you can have a fun time in a safe community space,” Pawlak said. “You don’t have to dress up or be involved in the Renaissance Fair community to have a good time.”
“It brings people together due to its unique atmosphere, as well as its beloved culture,” Sturdivant added. “People love the more whimsical aspect of the Renaissance Fair, and this helps people from all walks of life come together with a common interest and love for the Renaissance vibe and accepting nature.”
So, when May 3 and 4 come around, we all hope to see you at East City Park in your best medieval and mythical outfits, ready to celebrate the season of spring.