By Austin Fay

CAMP RICHARDSON — Contrasting homogeneous suburban theme parks, Renaissance fairs bring back a time when life expectancy was stunted, disease was rampant, and reality TV was better known as King Henry VIII’s court.

The 18th Annual Valhalla Renaissance Faire at Camp Richardson is much more fun than that sounds, and you can bring the family. It’s a full immersion in jousting, archery tournaments, greasy smells, Elizabethan music, and surly artisans who have become caricature of the period.

Ottoman dancers will return June 12-13 to Camp Rich for another weekend of merriment. Photos/Austin Fay

Nearly 1,000 re-enactors participate in the Valhalla Renaissance Faire; their only reward is doing something they love. There is a Queen Elizabeth, a Romeo, a Juliet, a William Shakespeare as well as hundreds of rogues, wenches, lords and ladies roaming the grounds for two weekends.

“I love doing it for the look in the little girl’s eyes when she runs up to me when I’m wearing my big dress and asks, ‘Are you the queen?’” Faire Operations Manager Darelle Polleck said.

The event had about 6,500 visitors last year, even though it rained one of the weekends. Volunteers are expecting many more this year as the forecast of 70-degree Tahoe weather is expected next weekend, too.

The Knights of Mayhem, currently the reigning American jousting champions, clash forces with 12-foot lances and full armor at 12:45 and 3:45 daily.

The first weekend’s theme was Shakespearean, next weekend “Pirates and Barbarians” pillage the squire, so wear your best costumes for the scavenger hunt at noon and 3pm.

The learning, feasting, music, and shows will continue at Camp Richardson from 10am to 6pm June 12, and until 5pm June 13. Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for seniors, military and ages 13-17, $7 for children 6-12, 5 and under are free. Parking is available if it’s early in the day, otherwise, shuttles run from South Tahoe High School ($3, goes toward the school’s sports programs), Pope Beach ($5), and twice an hour a shuttle runs from the Y.

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