NEW GLARUS - Rogues and ruffians took to the hills of New Glarus this weekend, joined by raptors, fairies, juggling jesters and lords a leaping at a chance to practice medieval arms.
Shakespeare on the Edge Inc. held its fourth annual Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians Renaissance Faire Saturday at the Wilhelm Tell Grounds.
"The faire had grown too large (for the Piazza, north of Monroe), going from a private to a public annual fundraiser, and we wanted to be known as the organization with a Renn Faire instead of a community event," said Jennifer Bethel, the organization's director and founder.
This year, the Renn Faire featured a full day of educational and entertaining stage presentations, a larger kids' kingdom and more vendors.
"Kids' Kingdom was enlarged this year to draw in more families," Bethel said, pointing to the organization's mission of bringing youth, adolescents and adults together to work toward a common vision of great self-respect and self-awareness.
Wendy and Terry Scholl, Argyle, made all the simple games with a medieval theme: Knight bowling, Siege the Castles and the Dragon Slayer. The most popular, Pi-Rat vs. Cat-a-pult, was a bean bag catapulted at stuffed rats sitting on a pirate ship. At Feeding Freddy, the frog had gamers shooting plastic flies into his big mouth with a slingshot.
"Kids' Kingdom is geared toward ages 15 and below," Wendy Scholl said, "but adults have been getting involved in the games, too."
Scholl said the games open a way for children to learn about some medieval weaponry to which they wouldn't ordinarily have access.
Adults gathered more information about battle protection and a chance to handle armor at the tent of The Guild of St. Michael-Bristol, with a look also at the doctor/surgeon tools on display.
The Eclectic Rogues, Shakespeare on the Edge's youth core company, also performed iconic death scenes from the Shakespearean plays "Romeo and Juliet," "Julius Caesar" and "Hamlet."
They were followed by a demonstration of the medieval art of self-defense by St. Martin's Academy, the juggling antics of Jacob Mills, belly dancers from the University of Wisconsin, and many other performers.
Music and dancing dominated the Ye Olde Rogues and Ruffians stage, while birds of prey commanded attention at the Hoo's Woods Raptors stage.
Proceeds from the event go toward the year-round programming at Shakespeare on the Edge, which offers workshops and presentations addressing issues of bullying, loneliness, anger, self-identity and self-confidence, with its traveling youth company through the works of William Shakespeare.
With headquarters in Monroe, Shakespeare on the Edge serves Green County and beyond. The tax-deductible, non-profit organization is sponsored by several local and area businesses and private family donations. More information is available at (608) 558-6582 and Info@ ShakespeareontheEdge.org.
Shakespeare on the Edge Inc. held its fourth annual Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians Renaissance Faire Saturday at the Wilhelm Tell Grounds.
"The faire had grown too large (for the Piazza, north of Monroe), going from a private to a public annual fundraiser, and we wanted to be known as the organization with a Renn Faire instead of a community event," said Jennifer Bethel, the organization's director and founder.
This year, the Renn Faire featured a full day of educational and entertaining stage presentations, a larger kids' kingdom and more vendors.
"Kids' Kingdom was enlarged this year to draw in more families," Bethel said, pointing to the organization's mission of bringing youth, adolescents and adults together to work toward a common vision of great self-respect and self-awareness.
Wendy and Terry Scholl, Argyle, made all the simple games with a medieval theme: Knight bowling, Siege the Castles and the Dragon Slayer. The most popular, Pi-Rat vs. Cat-a-pult, was a bean bag catapulted at stuffed rats sitting on a pirate ship. At Feeding Freddy, the frog had gamers shooting plastic flies into his big mouth with a slingshot.
"Kids' Kingdom is geared toward ages 15 and below," Wendy Scholl said, "but adults have been getting involved in the games, too."
Scholl said the games open a way for children to learn about some medieval weaponry to which they wouldn't ordinarily have access.
Adults gathered more information about battle protection and a chance to handle armor at the tent of The Guild of St. Michael-Bristol, with a look also at the doctor/surgeon tools on display.
The Eclectic Rogues, Shakespeare on the Edge's youth core company, also performed iconic death scenes from the Shakespearean plays "Romeo and Juliet," "Julius Caesar" and "Hamlet."
They were followed by a demonstration of the medieval art of self-defense by St. Martin's Academy, the juggling antics of Jacob Mills, belly dancers from the University of Wisconsin, and many other performers.
Music and dancing dominated the Ye Olde Rogues and Ruffians stage, while birds of prey commanded attention at the Hoo's Woods Raptors stage.
Proceeds from the event go toward the year-round programming at Shakespeare on the Edge, which offers workshops and presentations addressing issues of bullying, loneliness, anger, self-identity and self-confidence, with its traveling youth company through the works of William Shakespeare.
With headquarters in Monroe, Shakespeare on the Edge serves Green County and beyond. The tax-deductible, non-profit organization is sponsored by several local and area businesses and private family donations. More information is available at (608) 558-6582 and Info@ ShakespeareontheEdge.org.