When the Bayonne Theater Company thought to organize a Shakespeare in the Park event like the one in Central Park, ideas floated around on ways to compliment such a production and make it as entertaining as possible. The more people pitched ideas—a juggler here, a jester there, a few quirky artisan booths, and medieval string music—suddenly what they were describing was a lot bigger than Shakespeare in the Park. Thus, a full-on Renaissance fair was realized, and four months later, after the planning committee quadrupled in size, and countless hours were spent organizing, the Bayonne Renaissance Fair is a reality, set for 1 p.m. on July 30 at 16th Street-DiDomenico Park.
Even though Shakespeare will not be the central theme, “A Midsummer Stage Reading” is planned for two 30-minute shows, as well as a Sonnet Slam, an interactive sonnet reading by the Bayonne Shakes during which a hundred Shakespearean sonnets will be recited onstage.
Only at a Renaissance fair
“The musical and theatrical talent is out of this world,” said Adam Semanchick, president of the Bayonne Theater Company and head organizer for the fair. “It required a lot of outreach on our part to find vendors.” Many of those vendors are coming from out of state. They include a kilt-making company, a woman who makes wooden horns, vendors selling leather products, a corset and cape vendor, a ring engraver for your “precious,” a hair braider, a crochet station, and a magician who was featured on the History Channel.
Other entertainment includes live action role playing by LAIRE (Live Action Interactive Roleplaying Explorers) and a venture Boy Scout troop that brings “boppers,” padded weapons,to showcase how to use period weapons. The fair will have a sword fight sponsored by the Knights of Avalon, who usually put on jousting matches.But there will be no jousting because the city is concerned about the horses tearing up the field. The Valhallas Pirates will be there to demonstrate flint- pistol shooting using black powder. Guests, however, will not be permitted to carry weapons at any time.
Three members from Bayonne’s Art Circle volunteered to paint murals on both stages. Music will be going in four places at once—both stages, the pavilion, and an exhibition area. The Crimson Pirates, a vocal group with 19 years at the New York Renaissance Festival under their belt and featuring Bayonne native Dan O’Driscoll, and Three Pints Shy (13 years), will play contemporary renditions of Irish drinking songs, shanties, ballads, folk, and traditional Renaissance music. Other entertainment includes three inflatable rides, two in the shape of pirate ships and one bounce house.
Unlike most Renaissance fairs in the tri-state region, and probably every Renaissance fair to come in the future, admission is free.
Parking will be available at Veterans Stadium; free shuttle service will be available to and from the lot.
“We’re a flourishing arts community, and the Renaissance Fair is just an extension of that.”—Adam Semanchick
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An extension of the art community
“We’re a flourishing arts community, and this is just an extension of that,” Semanchick said. He’s following the lead of other local efforts to host successful events in the city. “Bayonne is becoming an initiative-driven town,” he said. “Individual people are taking initiative, such as with the Hometown Fair and this festival, and the administration has been very supportive.” Semanchick says he hopes around 4,000 people will attend, a bit under the 6,000 for both the Hometown Fair and Bergen Point Festival.
“We’re going to get a lot of people Bayonne typically doesn’t see,” Semanchick said. “We’re definitely going to get rennies.” Rennies are renaissance regulars. They come from all over to experience the kinds of entertainment and fun that only a Renaissance fair can produce.
Mary Dunlap-Beales has been going to “ren fests” since college. A local chiropractor and vice-president of the Bayonne Theater Company, she lends her office to the organizing team and says the fair is part of a much larger effort to make Bayonne a better destination. She is especially excited for people from Bayonne to engagewith the fun and artistic culture that Renaissance fairs generate. “Most people in Bayonne haven’t been exposed to ren fests, and I think kids are really going to love it,” she said. “I’m all for culture. I had a very rich and beautiful artistic background, so this is wonderful for me.”
She and Semanchick are working diligently to pull this fair off successfully, but they’re already looking to the future. “This year we’ll see what worked and what didn’t work,”Dunlap-Beales said. Semanchick added, “Next year, we’ll be bigger, since we only had four months to plan this time.”
Rory Pasquariello may be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com or on Twitter: @rory_louis.