Festival toys with romance, fun

Joanne Norris smiles as she talks about her husband. Her eyes light up as she re-tells her story.
She said the Renaissance Festival is where she discovered that he was the one.
“He bought me a rose and I realized the attention that he paid me was different from a friend,” Norris said. “It kind of goes with the theme of romance at the Renaissance Festival.”
Norris and her husband worked together but had always just been friends.
At last year’s Renaissance Festival, she and one of her girlfriends met up with David in order for Norris to set them up.
“My friend kept saying, he loves you, don’t you see it?,” she said.
Norris said she realized that she did- they got married this past June.
At their wedding, the Charlotte couple even had wedding favors with a Renaissance theme. Crystal ornaments hung from the water glasses in order to bring, “good energy.”
This was their second Renaissance Festival together. Each were dressed up in their Renaissance attire on Sunday afternoon at the 11th annual festival.
The couple both love what the festival has to offer including seeing the shows and looking at the crafts.
“It’s kind of enchanting,” Norris said. “You can get away from yourself.”
Sharon Carter of Concord, was enjoying her first year at the festival. Dressed in her pink stripped skirt, hair wreath and gold glitter on her cheeks she was busy working at the soda shop. She referred to customers as “My lady and my lord.”
Her sister worked the festival last year and she thought it would be fun to try it.
“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s something different, something unique.”
Lorie and Rich Hinkelman of Charlotte were back at the festival for the fourth time.
“We like the stage shows and actors and stuff,” she said. “I also come for the turkey legs.”
Amongst the turkey legs were also bread bowls filled with everything from crab soup to beer cheese and the sweet smell of cinnamon roasted almonds was constantly wafting through the air.
Walking through the medieval park, one might also hear “Pickles, come get a pickle!”
Many of the acts had humorous themes, including the famous Mud Show and brand new act from “The Ded Bob Sho,” a skeleton puppet who loves to interact with the audience.
All the unique crafts, including everything from jewelry and leather merchandise were a hit to the crowds.
A petting zoo, elephant and camel rides were very popular for the children.
The Renaissance Festival will continue on Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information go to www.renfestinfo.com or call 704-896-5544 or 877-896-5544.
Advance tickets are $14 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12 and are available at Harris Teeter. Children under five are free. Tickets at the gate are $1 more. Senior discount tickets for 60 and over are $13 at the gate. Parking is free.
The event is located off N.C. 73, at Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville.
by Amy Wadsworth