Closing Weekend At The Renaissance Faire In Ansonia

Photo by Bill Bittar

Members of the Knights of Gore greet visitors to the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park in Ansonia. They are, from left, Larry Senner, David Durfee, Tim Hock, Ron Crawford, Marco Weiss and Kristina Beach.

ANSONIA — Attention free folk of the Valley: this is your last weekend to witness the ongoing fantasy war between the Allied Legions and the Dominion at Warsaw Park.

Fairies, orcs, dragons and other weird creatures have been roaming the park grounds, which were transformed to a Medieval world for the annual Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire.

We’re a fantasy theme. We’re not chained on being historically accurate, because we’re a fantasy world,” said Daniel GreenWolf, co-owner of the fair with Patrick Colleton. We’ll have fairies, orcs, dwarves and elves. The world is a completely original creation.”

GreenWolf said storylines play out during the day of the fair, culminating in a huge metal-on-metal battle scene with 40 performers at the end of each day. This year’s fair includes an improv fire show on Saturday nights.

Photo by Bill Bittar

Donna Lococo, aka Elektra Pleides, dances at the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park in Ansonia.

We’re all trained fire performers and create this experience for people,” GreenWolf said of the show he does with characters Wyck, Krystal Younglove and Christopher Strange.

The fair’s last days are Saturday, July 6, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Photo by Bill Bittar

Keith ‘The Sasanach’ Engle plays the violin at the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park in Ansonia.

In addition to bloodlust and fire, a day at the Renaissance Faireincludes food tents, vendors, live music and demonstrations on Medieval weaponry and fighting techniques.

Last weekend, a group of colorful characters from the Knights of Gore greeted park visitors at the entrance. Among them was Ron Crawford, who stars as Sir Ronan The Hammer” Dubhberach.

Crawford has been performing in Renaissance fairs for 21 years.

It’s like Medieval MMA,” Crawford said of the fight scenes. I’ve had many scars, doctors’ bills, concussions, bruises and broken bones.”

Photo by Bill Bittar

Aurelie Briodagh, 8, of Orange, left, and Teaghan Irving, 8, of Torrington, enjoy the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park in Ansonia.

David Durfee, who plays Squire Federick of Flanders, said the best part of performing is seeing the excitement on children’s faces and making people laugh.

I think it’s a great environment,” Crawford said. People are accepting and fun.”

GreenWolf said those who want to become performers in the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire can participate in auditions and interviews in Ansonia at the end of January. For information, visit www.mfrenfaire.com.

For the performers, GreenWolf said the fairs are often what inspires them at a young age.

When I first walked into the Renaissance Faire in New York I was 12,” he said. It was just so overwhelming. I said, that’s what I want to do.’ It inspires the imagination. That’s our mission statement, if you will. If someone says wow, then we’ve done our job.”

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