
This past Saturday (the 14th), LANCE took a break from rehearsing for the Tournament of Funding event at Cloak & Blaster this Wednesday, November 18th to visit the annual Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire in Taveres, Florida. We came out to support The Renegades, The Rogue's Theater, and many more performers and vendors at the faire, which has been an area tradition for over a decade.
Lady of the Lakes is a hidden gem, a faire set in the woods out in the middle of rural Florida. They've moved locations since the faire began back in 2002, but they remain a staple of the Renaissance Faire circuit and offer a unique place for over 150 performers and artisans to delight and educate patrons in South Central Florida. According to their website, "[a]ll proceeds from the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire benefit the Education Foundation of Lake County, Florida, a 501(3)(c) organization." Now that's a cause that LANCE can truly support!
Lady of the Lakes is a hidden gem, a faire set in the woods out in the middle of rural Florida. They've moved locations since the faire began back in 2002, but they remain a staple of the Renaissance Faire circuit and offer a unique place for over 150 performers and artisans to delight and educate patrons in South Central Florida. According to their website, "[a]ll proceeds from the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire benefit the Education Foundation of Lake County, Florida, a 501(3)(c) organization." Now that's a cause that LANCE can truly support!

We bought our tickets, a mere $15 at the gate, then walked under battlements to enter the faire where were greeted by bearded French "nuns" and a court of lords and ladies in their finest garb. As we strolled through the Renaissance village -- complete with church and all manner of period-appropriate shops -- we were met with the heady smell of roasted meat and vegetables mingled with the scent of pine and hay and grass. The sounds of people laughing and entertainers busking and musicians strumming and metal clanging against metal echoed through the trees, and our footsteps crunched a bit as we continued down a dirt path littered with golden autumn leaves.
It was a warm day, but there was plenty of shade under the trees, and a soft breeze carried enough of the cool November morning with it through the afternoon to keep us from feeling too hot. Perfect faire weather.
It was a warm day, but there was plenty of shade under the trees, and a soft breeze carried enough of the cool November morning with it through the afternoon to keep us from feeling too hot. Perfect faire weather.

We had the privilege to see a few famous acts from the Renaissance Faire circuit. At the Emrys Fleet's Rat Catcher show, Marissa was chosen to assist with a high-flying rat trick and was given a rat, Pumpkin, in return. Several LANCE members swayed and sung along to Empty Hats songs they'd heard since childhood.
Rowan & the Rose, a geeky minstrel duo from the New England area, had us rolling in the aisles with their Sound of Music parody, "My Faire-vorite Things," and The Bawdy Boys lived up to their name with some of the filthiest, most depraved songs we've ever heard. Giacomo the Jester even kissed me (Casey) square on the lips during his show -- for moral support, of course!
LANCE members caught a few of the living chessboards, which featured a battle of wits (?) and blades between the Musketeers and co. and the evil Cardinal Richelieu and his conniving compatriots. There were sword fights and tumbling, red lettuce and pistol shots fired, and it turns out those bearded French "nuns" from earlier were Musketeers in disguise! Who knew?! To be sure, The Rogue's Theater puts on a memorable show!
Rowan & the Rose, a geeky minstrel duo from the New England area, had us rolling in the aisles with their Sound of Music parody, "My Faire-vorite Things," and The Bawdy Boys lived up to their name with some of the filthiest, most depraved songs we've ever heard. Giacomo the Jester even kissed me (Casey) square on the lips during his show -- for moral support, of course!
LANCE members caught a few of the living chessboards, which featured a battle of wits (?) and blades between the Musketeers and co. and the evil Cardinal Richelieu and his conniving compatriots. There were sword fights and tumbling, red lettuce and pistol shots fired, and it turns out those bearded French "nuns" from earlier were Musketeers in disguise! Who knew?! To be sure, The Rogue's Theater puts on a memorable show!

We had plenty of visits to the bar tents at the faire, which was convenient because The Renegades show was situated right next to the bar tent in the food court. The Renegades are a pirate troupe that sing sea shanties and exhibit generally bawdy behavior, and their troupe shares several members in common with LANCE. Their sole female vocalist, Fay, is one of LANCE's best brawlers, believe it or not. Two other pirates, Chris and Jonathan, are both LANCE members as well! It was a great show, full of songs both well-known and obscure. We had no idea that those rascal pirates were so musically inclined!
With great food, exciting live entertainment, and dozens of vendors selling all manner of beautiful things, you can be sure LANCE will be caravaning back to the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire again for many years to come!
Thanks for reading!
-- Casey, Webmaster
With great food, exciting live entertainment, and dozens of vendors selling all manner of beautiful things, you can be sure LANCE will be caravaning back to the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire again for many years to come!
Thanks for reading!
-- Casey, Webmaster