CUMMINGTON — Knights, maidens, nobles and servants alike came from across the realm Saturday to participate in the first weekend of this year’s “Market of the Moons,” a time capsule of transitional medieval society with a mythical twist.
There is trouble in the fairyland. Queen Titania of the Summer Court has lost her husband, King Oberon, after Queen Mab of the Winter Court, with help from the great wizard Merlin, encased him in a stone cage after a fight. Will Mab get away clean with usurping Oberon’s claim? What other powers lurk behind the scenes?
The market serves as a backdrop for this year’s Massachusetts Renaissance Faire, a two-weekend-long annual event at the Cummington Fairgrounds where patrons and cast members reenact a medieval village on the eve of modernity.
A fictional storyline runs throughout the two weekends, and each year, the plot builds upon its newest developments, said Angela Dabkowski, general manager of the fair. Attendees come dressed in homemade costumes and equipped with their own characters, where they buy from vendors and participate in medieval games.
“We started doing this as part of a LARP (live action role-playing) and we decided we wanted to invite the public,” Dabkowski said, noting the event is in its fifth year. “Then we decided we wanted to get serious about it and it went from there.”
Sword fighting, jousting and archery are only a few of the many attractions the estimated 6,000 total patrons can expect at the faire.Throughout the day are magic performances, juggling acts and live music that sounds straight from the Middle Ages.
After 7 p.m., the event turns into “Market After Dark,” a more ribald environment of music, sideshows and comedy acts that only patrons 18 years and older can attend.
“We take on a slightly more risqué nature,” Dabkowski said. “The acts are slightly bawdier — we have a kilt and cleavage contest.”
Since history’s influence permeates all things at the fair, it’s no surprise that an encampment of self-proclaimed knights sleep and eat on the grounds for the entire weekend.
The Knights of Lord Talbot perform armored combat at the fair, demonstrating to patrons what living as a professional swordsman in the time period was like, according to Frank Walker, 62, of Lowell. He takes on the persona of Sir John Fastolf, named after the real life knight who was an inspiration to Shakespeare.
“We do three shows a day, showing how knights would fight in full armor,” he said.
In true feudal fashion, the Knights of Lord Talbot do not cook for themselves. Instead, members of the medieval reenactment group Serenity prep and cook for the group, roasting chickens and frying sausages over a wood fire.
One of the cooks, Lady Loaghaire, actually Tracy Panos, 57, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, said she has a passion for food. She learned how to live without power and cook on a wood stove when she was a kid growing up in the country, she said.
“I don’t believe in waste; I believe in recycling, upcycling,” Panos said. “So the way that we cook, the ways that we do things — these are skills we don’t want to lose.”
To Panos, nothing beats coming to Renaissance faires to be around other enthusiasts. She said she goes to events almost every weekend she can.
“We call this home. This is the known world, and then there’s the real world,” Panos said. “This is our tribe.”
Of course, 14th-century food preparers simply cannot receive the proper licensing to serve visitors at such an event. Up a nearby hill, a variety of cuisines, from quesadillas to turkey legs, are on offer, along with alcohol for those looking for a hefty glass of ale.
From far away, loud chants of “Joust!” emanate from a clamoring crowd — sounds that could only mark the presence of Sir Richard and Sir Duncan, who are fighting it out on horseback for glory and honor. As it turns out, for Richard, the prestige of victory will have to wait another day.
Watching the jousting was C.C. Nelson, 32, her husband, Mike Nelson, 36, and their son Orion, 3. The two Nelsons were dressed as Westley and Buttercup from “The Princess Bride,” and C.C. made hand-made both of the outfits.
C.C. has been going to Renaissance faires since she was 15 years old, Mike tagged along when they got together in 2009.
Both Nelsons said the fairs were a unique way to express a passion for cosplaying that doesn’ t have a place in more mainstream conventions like Comic-Con.
“I love the escapism. I feel like real life is already crazy enough, so being able to escape into a fantasy world where anything is possible is kinda fun,” C.C. said.
The Massachusetts Renaissance Fair takes place over two weekends, July 27 and 28 and Aug. 3 and 4. Tickets are $20 for an adult day pass, $17 for veterans, $10 for children 6-15 and free for kids under 5 years old.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.