The magnificent times of medieval life — dramatic jousting, royal weddings and larger-than-life characters parading in the rich plumage of Renaissance garb — will be celebrated at the 10th annual Connecticut Renaissance Faire, starting this Saturday and continuing every weekend until Oct. 19 at the Hebron Lions Fairground. The faire, the second largest in New England, will have plenty of entertainment for families who are fascinated with the time when kings, knights, blacksmiths and everyday folk mingled in a stew of exuberant victories, lavish celebrations and great tests of will and survival. The faire began in 1999 behind King’s Inn in Putnam, and also had stints at the campgrounds at the Woodstock Fair and the Brooklyn fairgrounds. It found its home in 2006 at the Hebron Lions Club. “We’ve grown exponentially since our humble beginnings,” said Brian Harvard, the general manager and one of the faire’s founders. The faire debuted with one and a half stages; this year, it will be on more than 20 acres with nine stages. There will be characters — from King Arthur to the bloodthirsty Vikings — to greet visitors amidst the fairgrounds, as well as blacksmith demonstrations, an encampment of knights going about their business and horseback jousting. Tying the theme together, and celebrating the faire’s 10th anniversary, is the wedding of King Arthur to Guinevere. Roderick Russell, however, just needs to be himself to attract crowds. A th ...
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