Are You Going to Scarborough Faire?

After my last Ren Faire review, one of my readers suggested I check out the Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie, Texas. This is a much bigger and more popular festival than the Sherwood Forest Faire, but does that make it better? Though this faire offers some unique experiences that Sherwood didn't, the trip reminded me more of a stressful visit to a Disney Park than a relaxing jaunt back in time. It was a three-hour drive to arrive at an enormous parking lot on a hilly field with a long walk to the front gate. While the castle tower entrances and dividers between the grounds were impressive, there were long lines for everything. Renaissance Faires are always fun experiences, so I understand why this one was so popular, but I prefer a more intimate and relaxing setting.

For me, the biggest appeal of the Scarborough Renaissance Festival is the Mermaid Lagoon, a small walk-around area that costs an extra dollar per person to speak to two live mermaids and one merman. This was particularly relevant because I visited during the Legends of the Seas-themed weekend. I wore my seashell crown and necklace in honor of the occasion. The entrance to the lagoon contained a mermaid statue and a giant ship. Walking through the line reveals a huge clam with pearls inside, followed by the main attraction, two mermaids sitting on a ledge with their tails dipped in a pool of water. They asked each passerby if they had any questions they wanted to ask a live mermaid. I asked them if their tails turn into legs when they're dried up, and they responded that their tails get smelly when they're dry. Then I said I like to be a mermaid in the water sometimes, so they asked me what the secret is to getting legs on land. I thought about it for a while and told them it's just luck.

The only thing I love as much as mermaids are faeries, and unfortunately, I did not see any during this visit. However, there was a very cool photo spot that allowed people to look like they had huge iridescent fairy wings. This led to a vale with a small fairy house and some giant mushrooms. There was also a Midsummer Faery Tea Party for the kids at 11:30, but we arrived slightly late for it due to the long lines and parking situation. There was an 11:00 performance of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which partially inspired the book I am releasing this summer. However, there was no way we could have gotten there in time without getting up at the crack of dawn. I wish they had repeat performances or an ongoing story like Sherwood Forest Faire. We managed to catch the Grande Parade, which consisted mostly of people walking around in costumes to promote other events at the faire.

Unfortunately, the weather was not in our favor. The high heat and humidity caused us to experience mild symptoms of heat stroke, and we needed to leave early (Stay hydrated, folks!). Because of this, it's hard to comment on too many of the other experiences that the faire had to offer. The shows were more spread out than Sherwood Forest, making it difficult to accidentally walk in on an unexpected performance. There were lots of vendors for food, and historical costumes and accessories. I didn't see as much fantasy artwork as Sherwood, but one vendor sold tapestries. The most interesting thing I saw while walking the grounds was a real-life carousel where children could ride horses around in a circle under a tent like a regular carousel. The faire also offered camel rides for an additional fee, so there were plenty of interesting activities for animal lovers to partake in.

While the Scarborough Renaissance Festival offered some unique experiences, such as the enchanting Mermaid Lagoon and a whimsical fairy photo spot, the overwhelming crowds and long lines detracted from my overall enjoyment. Despite its popularity, I found that the festival's large size and hectic atmosphere made it more akin to a theme park than a relaxing Renaissance Faire experience. Perhaps a repeat visit on a cooler day or with more time to explore would yield a different experience. For now, I'll hold onto the memories of the mermaids and look forward to future Renaissance Faire adventures.