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For the past 35 years, Moscow’s East City Park has played host to the Moscow Renaissance Fair. Now audiences can experience the event on the silver screen.
The annual event has provided a showcase for artisans and performers from throughout the Pacific Northwest, and now “Renaissance Fair the Movie” explores the history, mystery and joy of the community’s annual celebration of spring.
The film includes footage of fair-goers, food vendors, entertainers, artists and past Renaissance Fair committee members.
“The film is truly about our city’s celebration of spring,” said Jennifer Whitney, public relations director for the Renaissance Fair. “It’s about community, sharing and kicking back and enjoying the good days with the bad, since Ren Fair is historically known to have both rain and shine, and sometimes volcanic ash.”
The origin of the first Moscow Renaissance Fair was the mellow alternative to Blue Mountain music festival held in the old University of Idaho arboretum.
"‘Don’t trust anyone over thirty’ was a rallying cry and survival attitude of many of us who helped to create the Moscow Renaissance Fair back in the early 1970s,” said Jim Prall Renaissance Fair organizer.
Filled with chaos, the first Renaissance Fair committee decided on a May date, rain or shine.
And on Sunday, May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helen’s volcanic ash fall covered everything.
As the fair grows, the number of people increases and insurance costs are based on the number of people the fair serves.
“Renaissance Fair the Movie” is also a fundraising effort to help offset the rising costs of putting on the fair.
“You’d think 10,000 people at a fair would be awesome,” Whitney said. “It attracts more food and artisan vendors, better musicians and Kid Village entertainers, but it also attracts a much higher insurance price. The film will provide the Renaissance Fair an opportunity to give back to the community by upgrading features in East City Park that our fair uses.”
Dave Remington, fair treasurer, said the movie was filmed on the weekends using hand-held technology and microphones, “...along with editing in old clips with narrative by famous personages such as Bill London and Jim Prall.”
The movie also coincides with the fair’s 34 year history.
“I really love the Fair and through it have increasingly come to love being in the greater Moscow community,” Remington said.
"Renaissance Fair the Movie" is available for a $20 donation.
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