Sioux Lookout Renaissance Fair a day of fun and fantasy

Tim Brody - Editor

Sparks leapt from a blacksmith’s anvil as enchanting music filled the air and people strolled around in costume visiting a variety of booths at Sioux Lookout’s first Renaissance Fair.
Held on Aug. 10 at Farlinger Park (town beach) during Sioux Lookout’s 42nd annual Blueberry Festival, event coordinators Michelle Diston and Gabrielle Wesley said they were thrilled at how well the event went.
“We just see all the love for it. The people, all the love that they put into their costumes, homemade items, the love that they put into it is just so cool, so we know that there’s interest and it’s just going to grow,” Diston commented.
“It’s gone pretty good. We’re pretty excited about it. We’re happy that everyone is having such a good time,” Wesley agreed.
The full-day event featured facepainting, a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, a throne that people could have their photo taken while seated upon, and vendors selling a variety of wares such as capes and cloaks, sourdough, handcrafted items, and natural health products as well as the opportunity to see blacksmithing in action.
Commenting on the inspiration for the event, Diston shared, “My daughter Madison loved the look of it… she wanted to do something renaissance fair. We started looking around the area and there was nothing, so we were just like, let’s do one, and so we decided to do it for Blueberry Festival.”
“We both have kids who are super into this right now and we wanted to create an event for them. Michelle recruited me and then it just started snowballing,” Wesley said.
Diston added, “Since December we were recruiting people, getting vendors, scouting out what a renaissance fair is all about and just building interest. In the last month, all of the pieces fell into place. There were some things that didn’t come through this year that will definitely be part of it next year.”
Billed as an, “immersive event (that) will transport attendees back in time to the splendor of the Renaissance era, where they can experience the magic of knights, jesters, artisans, and more,” Wesley added, “It’s a little bit of fun and fantasy.” Some visitors came to the event dressed in medieval attire, while others dressed up in costumes from science fiction, fantasy, and anime and manga.
“There’s people that come specifically just to dress up and do this. We’ve had (visitors) from Thunder Bay, Dryden, Fort Frances. We’ve got two vendors from Thunder Bay. I know there’s a whole team of people that plan on coming next year that do full costume combat displays,” Diston said.
“I think it’s the only one between maybe Winnipeg and maybe North Bay. Most of them are down south in Southern Ontario… I think we’re filling a niche here,” Wesley commented.
Cassie Price and Derrick Henderson travelled from Dryden to attend Sioux Lookout’s first Renaissance Fair. 
“I thought it was a great idea to be able to come out and do this. I wish it was a little bit bigger, but it was a really good first try at doing this. It was worth coming from Dryden,” Price said.
“A very new experience. This is our first renaissance fair,” Henderson said, adding of the event, “Great. Amazing. Honestly the turnout was amazing… well worth it… all in all, 10 out of 10.”
Sioux Lookout’s Evelyn Ward, assisted by her sister Sarah Ward, sold hair scrunchies and flower crowns along with homemade earrings and other items at her booth during the event through her business Dreamy Meadows.
“It’s a lot of fun. Seen a lot of costumes, very interesting overall,” she said.
Jason McGowan of Thunder Bay travelled to Sioux Lookout with family and friends specifically for the Renaissance Fair. 
“It’s good,” he said of Sioux Lookout’s first attempt at a renaissance fair. “There’s a little bit more than I expected. It’s fun.”
“Hopefully if enough people come and show support it might grow bigger and better as the years progress,” he added.
“It’s nice to see a lot of people in costume,” shared Callen Retter, also of Thunder Bay.
Jessica Crawford and Jory King of Sioux lookout had a wonderful time at the event.
“Something we’ve been interested in, the whole theme, nerdy vibes,” King said. 
“I think it overlaps with our interests of getting into D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) and to kind of go off his nerdy vibes comment, it’s a good thing to have a space for people who have these types of interests to be able to express themselves. It’s a safe space where you are networking with other people who have the same interests as you. We really wanted to come out and do this. I love that Sioux (Lookout) is doing this,” Crawford said.
“It will be cool to see how much bigger it gets in the next couple of years,” King said.
Hudson’s David Ramirez demonstrated his blacksmithing talent at the Renaissance Fair, making several pendants throughout the day.
“It was such a great turnout… lots of people dressed up, more than I’d imagined. It turned out great,” he said, adding, “I’m just enjoying my time out here and introducing blacksmithing to the locals.”
Diston and Wesley said they are hoping more volunteers will join them in putting on the event next year.

They can be reached through the Sioux Lookout Renaissance Fair Facebook page, at the Sioux Lookout Renaissance Fair website - slrenfair.com, or by email at siouxlookoutrenaissancefair@gmail.com.