Renaissance Festival to celebrate medieval era

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By LAURA TUCKER

VIEW STAFF WRITER

Each year, attendees at the Age of Chivarly Renaissance Festival line up to buy an authentic meal from Sir Rodney's Legs.

Patrons can choose from a turkey leg or a steak sandwich, for "an authentic piece, done on a modern scale," said "Sir Rodney," known as Rodney Balinski in the 21st century.

Balinski will be at his booth preparing authentic meals for the 13th annual Renaissance Festival, located at Sunset Park, 2601 E. Sunset Road.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. On Friday, the festival is open for children and senior citizens until 2 p.m., when it opens for the general public.

For adults, admission to the event is $10 per day, or $25 for a three-day pass. For senior citizens and students, admission is $5 per day, or $10 for a three-day pass.

The event will feature live music, historical re-enactments, jousting tournaments, stage and strolling performers, medieval pageantry, handmade craft demonstrations and sales, and food and beverage vendors.

"It's all period. They (Clark County) really do a terrific job for the community on this," said Balinski, a southeast Las Vegas resident. That's part of the reason why I do this."

Last year's event attracted about 40,000 people.

Balinski said he does not use processed meats for his steak sandwiches and turkey legs. Also, in keeping with an authentic style, patrons eat the turkey legs with their hands.

Balinski said he starts collecting turkey legs from a distributor six months in advance, making sure to choose legs that are similar in size. Approximately a month before, he has them smoked and roasted.

"I try to get a consistency," he said.

Balinski used to travel around doing other renaissance festivals and meat shows, but now sticks to the Las Vegas event. He said he got started because he previously worked in the meat business. Balinski has prepared food for Wild West festivals and cook-offs in different parts of the country.

He prepared food for the first renaissance festival in 1978 in San Diego and has been present at all of the Renaissance Festivals in Las Vegas.

Balinski said he at first tried serving Cornish game hens and meat and vegetable pies, but the public did not seem interested in purchasing them.

"Steak sandwich and a turkey leg is a good staple that everybody enjoys," he said.

Henderson resident Raymond Girard is a member of the Medieval Re-creationists of Nevada.

His group will portray the Compaignye du Chalis, the men at arms for Sir John Strother, an actual British knight who lived during the 14th century.

Girard said his group has participated at the Renaissance Festival for the last 10 years. He said the Compaignye du Chalis will launch pumpkins into the lake.

Girard's interest in the renaissance period stretches back a long way.

"As a kid, I just absolutely fell in love with the whole idea of the middle ages," he said.

Girard said the Medieval Re-creationists are highly informed of the renaissance period. "If we were to pursue a degree in history, each one of us could probably get one," he said.

Compaignye du Chalis members purchase clothing made only of historically accurate materials for the Renaissance Festival. Some of the material goods, they replicate on their own.

"You've got to go to special places. You've got to avoid modern manufactured material," Girard said.

Girard said events like the Renaissance Festival are important to increase knowledge.

"It provides the public with the opportunity to enjoy an age that was exceedingly important to western European history," he said.

For more information on the Renaissance Festival, visit www.lvrenfair.com.