Sheriff of Oregon Renaissance Festival in Hillsboro, Oregon[/caption]Carol Forsloff----Ever want to travel back in time to the time of the Renaissance, when poetry and history fused, and people lived simpler lives in Merry Old England and other places in Europe, ushering in the era of thought and customs that eventually traveled to the New World? Well, then visit the Oregon Renaissance Festival of Hillsboro, Oregon.
That travel back in time occurs annually in a wide open area between the suburbs of Portland and the small town of Hillsboro that offers much to do, especially in summer, with festivals and fairs. The Oregon Renaissance Festival has been enchanting visitors for over 50 years.
The entire Festival is based upon the concepts of the Renaissance, and every vendor and performer throughout the schedule speak in the old English of yore. The sheriff and the Queen are the key figures around which much of the activity develops. There are jousting events, knife throws, cannon demonstrations, belly dancing and various other acts for children and adults that are period-related to the Renaissance.
The story is best told in pictures, this month old narrative in festival form with all the colors and wonders of long ago, spread out for the visitor who wanders into the area in Oregon, or right here for a virtual experience of what life was like in all its various forms hundreds of years ago, made new by the program folk who make magic every year on the Hillsboro Fairgrounds.
