This weekend, Grand Valley State University’s Cook Carillon Tower and the surrounding area was filled with tents inhabited with everything from wenches and rogues, to mercenaries and even pirates. Instead of the usual bells being rung, sounds of bagpipes and marchers chanting and singing tunes could be heard.

GVSU’s 19^th annual Renaissance Festival was put on by the Renaissance Club. The members also found numerous hosts to join them such as the Grand Rapids and Region Pipe Band which played bagpipes throughout the faire; Robyn the Bard, a musical and story-telling comedy act; the Olde World Music Club, a GVSU student organization that translates Medieval and Renaissance Music; Tribal Fusion, a GVSU student organization that practices the art of American tribal belly dance; as well as Greenshow, which performed acts of comedy from William Shakespear.

There was never a dull moment at the festival with events from sword-fighting demonstrations to face painting and arts and crafts.

Jenna Vargo, a junior at GVSU and a member of the Renaissance Club, said she was glad to be back for another Renaissance faire this year.

“All of the people in this club are so great,” Vargo said. “We’re really all like family.”

The members of the Renaissance Club weren’t the only ones pleased with the outcome of the event. SCA, a group of dedicated historians that specialize in crafting and swordfighting, were also at the event and enjoying themselves.

“We haven’t been to Grand Valley for a Renaissance faire since around 1994,” said Lisa Phillips, a 22-year member of the SCA. “We’re usually busy on the weekends this event is hosted, but we made it this year and we’re so happy to be back. If we’re invited back we’d love to keep coming.”

The Renaissance Club brought in other outside historical reenactors and fighters for the first time this year. Her Majesty’s Royal Guard, a fully-armored group of knights and soldiers, demonstrated armor and practiced fighting between the Mary Idema Pew Library and the Student Service building.

Vikings of the Great Lakes was also brought in to reenact the life of a Viking warrior camp, which included weapons, crafting demonstrations and other parts of medieval Scandinavian culture. The Order of St. Lawrence was also in attendance cooking foods that folks in the 16^th century would have been eating.

GVSU held its first Renaissance Festival in the summer of 1995. The founders had two specific objectives. First, they wanted the audience to have the opportunity to enjoy a period atmosphere with historical actors, entertainers, and artisans. Second, they wanted their faire to focus on education and informing the audience about the period, which was appropriate for a university setting. Nineteen years later, the festival has grown and continues to be interactive, entertaining and informative.