We visited the Provins Medieval Fair in 2019. Rebecca, on her sabbatical, had rented a Paris apartment in the 11th, and we joined her and Penelope for the second month of the rental. I think we learned of the Fair through local advertising and, naturally, resolved to try it. It is said to be largest such fair in France, probably in Europe, and despite spending only one day, we were all sufficiently knocked-out that we resolved to do it again some time. And I did three blog posts extolling and explaining it all: here, here, and here.
This year it was just Vicki, Penelope, and me, but Vicki had rented a B&B in Provins (nearly two hours from Paris by RER), and we did two days. If anything, the fair seemed larger, with even more people, acts, and merchandise this time. In any case, the place is a total hoot, whether you're French or Medievalist or not. Part of the fun is that fair-goers in costume get in for a reduced price, and seeing all the costumes alone is worth the full price of admission for the rest of us. This year Penelope brought her own costume--more anon--and a fair amount of the time was spent accessorizing it Medievally. Another part of the fun is that Provins is itself a well-preserved Medieval fair town, a World Heritage Site, in the Middle Ages a center for international trade and for the birth of a new economic order. But I digress.
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| Part of the apartment in Provins |
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About Penelope's dress: some years ago, Vicki had
made matching mother and daughter Macbeth dresses,
for Rebecca and Penelope, both of which got used on a
number of occasions; Penelope has of course outgrown
hers, but as Provins approached they hit on the idea of
fitting her mother's dress to Penelope for her costume;
and after some hours of sewing and fitting in Cary, they
made it happen |
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Penelope in the daughter's dress at the Atherton Christmas party,
2018 |
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Fast-forward back to 2024, taking in tent after tent of jewelry at Provins
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| Saturday mid-day and the place already is getting crowded |
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| Evidently the Medievals were really into pulled pork sandwiches |
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| Medieval ferris wheel |
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| Swordplay in the street every here and there |
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| Stilts seemed to be big this year |
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| Street scene |
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| A black cape is added to the outfit |
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| Goth/Medieval also well represented |
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| Note kid with Viking helmet |
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| Music, parades, processions |
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| By afternoon we are approaching the wall and main gate |
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| More music, probably not "Moonlight Serenade" |
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| Atop the wall, noting a variety of tents without; more merch |
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| Modeling the dress and cape |
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| Ye olde watchtower |
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Dinner was pulled pork and fries; OK, fries are not
very Medieval, except in Peru, but this is France, and they
can't help themselves |
