I am proud to announce that Have Court, Will Travel goes "international" with an August booking to Nassau, the Bahamas. 

Six members of the court will be performing at a private school for a few hours and then have two days left for sightseeing.  Flights, lodging & meals are paid for, plus we receive a salary.  Our lodging will be either the British Colonial Hilton or the Atlantis Resort.  We are thrilled!

Look for photos in the future!

The 2009 Dubuque Renaissance Faire is now history.  I thought I'd jot down a few experiences to share.  Set-up was a bit of a challenge.  The blocks and planks loaned to us to create benches didn't arrive until afternoon.  Our college boys who were to help us with all the grunt work had to be kept busy with other projects and by then, the pick-up & trailer that would have proved so useful, was no longer available.  However, the park attendant loaned us a tractor and small trailer and saved the day!  Banners, castle tower, benches and signs were all in place by 5:00 PM and many of us enjoyed a lovely dinner and all were in bed by 11:00, allowing us to get ready for the big weekend.

Opening day, I started early, making notes at the kitchen table at 6:00 AM. There were a number of small challenges to deal with upon my arrival at the park but we got everything done in record time.  One of our "official faire photographers" took a full cast photo at the morning meeting and actors and merchants waited for the crowds to come.  Our weather was great and we couldn't have had a nicer day.  There were 4 high school graduations that weekend (should have been over Memorial Day wknd, but were moved due to last winter's many snow days) and that kept our crowds about the same as last year.  We welcomed a pair of newlyweds, Matt & Renee' and Saturday afternoon saw a marriage proposal from Buddy to Amanda during their Bawdy Buccaneers show.

Sunday's Telegraph Herald ran a front page story with photo and that picked up our audience numbers.  (as it also did last year)  All told, we did about the same as last year and for a second year faire, up against a boatload of graduations and parties, the management team felt that we did excellent business.  Our patrons leaving the faire all made positive comments and said they'd be back in 2010.

On the negative side, we had a couple performers get slightly bruised during some long-staff skirmishes, but no stitches were needed.   I caught a merchant smoking in her booth (against the rules in her application) and I don't plan to have her back next year.  Another merchant dumped charcoal residue into the park lawn and left a mess that was also against the rules, unlike what he did last year.  But thos were the only things I considered bad experiences.

On the positive side of things; the King knighted a young man suffering from cerebral palsy or some sort of degenerative disease and the brightness of his boyish smile brought tears to his Majesty's eyes and my own. 

A patron in her late 70's and using a walker, came in shortly after opening gate on Saturday and stayed ALL DAY.  I passed her numerous times throughout the day and her smile never dimmed.  

The wind whipped up something fierce, close to closing gate on Saturday and not one merchant lost merchandise or a tent.  A very good thing.

And now, the thank you's - forgive me if I forget someone!  The performers all worked very hard.  They were nearly all on time, ready to go and eager to please the crowds.  At our morning meeting I requested performers to pick up any trash they came across during the day, to save me pick-up time when 5:00 PM rolled around.  Of course, they all did it and made my load a lighter one.

Have Court, Will Travel looked great, delivered their lines and ad-libbed like pro's  and took time with all who approached them.  They played well with performers, merchants and patrons and people remarked that they are the most approachable court they had ever seen.  

The Trooping Faeries are wonderful as always, (Firemoon made the newspaper) and the Three Musketeers (our headliners) not ONLY did their stage shows BUT also played croquet and noble bowling in the lanes with children and adults alike.  They were extremely giving!  Consistently a hard worker, William & Blackjack delivered as always.

Our musicians were excellent - Orkes  Trolles, the Glastonbury Revelers, Siren Stephanie, the Band of Infidels and the Ott Family Minstrels, kept our village full of magical music.

Our street performers, Sir IRS, Charles of Charlatan and the Forking Queen were terrific.  The newly formed Bawdy Buccaneers were wonderful, as were Kids with Fire.  (who are also good looking) 

The best "new act of the festival" award would have to go to Lord Marrock's Oriental Oddities.  Dan Coglan looked great in his costume, dressed up our main stage to look fabulous and was just a joy to be around.  

My continued thanks to Ed Ritts, Diane Sass, Stacy Gage and the rest of the staff of the Dubuque Museum of Art.  Museum staff emptied garbage cans, picked up dog doo and even plunged a stopped up toilet to help our faire be a success.  You can't ask for more than that!  

Thanks to Dubuque Bank and Trust for being our sponsor in 2009 and to our costume committee of Deb, Tracy, Wendy and Butch for working so hard this year.   Even though you guys were paid, thanks to Bill and his crew for setting up and tearing down the festival.  My back can't take that anymore and you ARE appreciated.

Thanks to Marty and my close "girlfriends" for listening to me puzzle out various challenges this year and for offering useful advice and helping out wherever they could.  (you ladies know who you are)

Thanks to our staff photographers - I've seen some of the pictures and am waiting for the rest and will post some when time permits.

That's about it for now.  It was a successful event and plans are already underway for next year - ways to promote the faire better, ways to get more folks through the gate to make our merchants happier and ways to make the experience even more positive for all involved.  If you attended, thank you and if you participated in any way, I couldn't have done it without you.  

A hug to you ALL!!!

Princess Margaret, Queen Catherine, King Edward and Lady Audrey are just a few of the fabulous performers who will appear at the Dubuque Renaissance Faire on May 30 & 31, 2009.  Check out our website:  www.dbqart.com

Please check your calendars and plan to attend the Dubuque Renaissance Faire!  Saturday and Sunday, May 30 & 31, 2009 from 10 - 5, rain or shine.  (we prefer shine, please!)

We are located at Storybook Hill Children's Zoo and Park, 12345 N. Cascade Road, Dubuque Iowa.

This event is a fundraiser for the Dubuque Museum of Art.

If you are local to the Dubuque, Iowa area:

The Dubuque Renaissance Faire has the Community Booth at Kennedy Mall in Dubuque for the Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. We're looking for volunteers to "man the booth" in costume and pass out fliers, and possibly sell advanced tickets. Please contact me via this Renspace,  Facebook (or my direct email if you have it) if you will work a shift or more.

We're trying to staff the booth on May 23rd & 24th from 9:45 AM - 8:00 PM (approx) on Saturday and Sunday from 10:45 AM - 5:00 PM.

Since I live in Ames and will have been in Dubuque the entire weekend before Memorial Day weekend, I won't be able to make it.

Who wants to help? It would be great to have some musicians, actors or local college kids wanting to get into the renaissance game.  If you've always wanted to help a new faire get on its feet, this is one of the ways!

If you don't have a costume, we MAY be able to loan you something. Please contact me ASAP!