Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire Promises to be Bigger and More Magical Than Anyone Dreamed

Excitement Growing in the Region as new Ren Fair Draws Spotlight to Toy Town

by Inanna Arthen
When Dawn Higgins and other members of the Winchendon Recreation Commission first hatched the idea of holding a Renaissance Fair in the brand new and still evolving Winchendon Community Park, no one anticipated just how large the event would grow and how many people from all over the region would join in to help plan, build, sew, perform and participate. "Wyndonshire"--a name that Winchendon Board of Selectmen Chair Audrey LaBrie helped to coin in an early brainstorming session--is already being talked about all over New England.

In case you've been off on a quest for the past year and not getting local news, the Wyndonshire Faire will be held at the Winchendon Community Park, 86 Ingleside Road, Winchendon, MA, on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and April 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each day. It is a ticketed event: the pre-event rate for persons age 15 and up is $20 for one day's admission, $35 for both days. Young persons 14 and under are admitted free with an adult, and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Tickets may be purchased online in advance at https://www.eventeny.com/events/wyndonshirerenaissancefaire-8828/. This link includes lists of performers and vendors with links to their information, as well as a list of volunteering opportunities. Tickets will also be sold at the gate, with onsite rates being $25 per day or $40 for both days. The site has limited parking; more parking will be available at 32 Elmwood Road and 3 Memorial Drive with shuttle service provided.

The Faire has its own website with much more information about the event: https://wyndonshirerenfaire.com/. Here you can find information about food available, performers, the cast of the ongoing, interactive roleplay that will run for the whole two days, a schedule, information about event policies and a map of the park.

By "map of the park," we do mean the WHOLE park. The entire walkable area of the Winchendon Community Park will be transformed into "Wyndonshire" with sections occupied by Vikings, pirates, mermaids, Witches, fairies and various characters we'll let you discover for yourself. From the gate to the lake, the park will be transformed into a realm of history, myth, magic and a bit of literature all combined into a lively, glittering whole. But it won't just be the cast creating all of this--Faire-goers will be drawn into the fully interactive storyline, as well. Wyndonshire Faire is an immersive entertainment experience, where the visitors are a part of the performance.

Costumes are encouraged for attendees but not required--although as the organizers say, even if you don't arrive with a costume, you may leave with one! (It's called "garb" in proper Ren Fair parlance.) There will be many talented vendors selling their wearable wares. Check the policies for costumes (or garb) at https://wyndonshirerenfaire.com/policies/ (there are very few restrictions, but note that all garb must be "family friendly" and is subject to safety inspections and requests for adjustment by Faire security).

The Courier sat down with Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire Coordinator Dawn Higgins, and members of the FaeGuild Wonders Creative Team of the Wyndonshire Renaissance Faire--Richard Fahey, Rajuli Fahey and Amy Bee--to talk about the event and the people who are helping it grow into a phenomenon.

Mr. Fahey is an expert on Medieval studies and Medieval literature, particularly the epic Beowulf, with a Ph.D from the University of Notre Dame. As the Faire Playwright, Academic Consultant, and Creative & Theatrical Director, he is bringing many elements into the storyline and staging, from Shakespeare to folklore. Attendees will be stepping into an "aesthetic of wonder," he said, entering a world of both history and fantasy.

Ms. Higgins said that Renaissance Fairs have been a passion of hers for nearly a lifetime, going back to her teens. "The thing that I loved about the Ren Fairs was when you walk through those gates, it was like you were going back in time, and experiencing things you've never experienced before," she said. You can learn a lot from the various demonstrations and crafts, but "I want people to come in and feel like the rest of their life has stepped away for a minute, you're just here immersed in this new realm, just enjoying it, and learning about different things that were done back in the days," she said. She loves the clothing, too.

Ms. Fahey, who is the Wyndonshire Stage Manager, Art and Entertainment Director, described how she moved to Winchendon a couple of years ago. She holds a degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in the Studio for Interrelated Media. "It's a very interesting degree where you hold art shows, and you participate in art shows, and it's self-art-driven. So I've been hosting art shows since I was in college. I was involved with musical theater and Renaissance Fairs since I was 17 years old." She teaches belly dancing from her studio, Magnolia Studio, in town and her group the Nagashri Dancers will be performing at the Wyndonshire Faire.

Ms. Fahey said that when she saw the first call for volunteers for a Renaissance Fair, she felt that all her skills and experience were suddenly coming together into one cohesive goal. Winchendon was beautiful, she felt, but "there's not too much art here." But the new park opened, and Ms. Fahey said, "If [Winchendon] kids will come into that park and see all of the adults and all of the teens getting together to create this art magic, it might shift their perspective on what's possible for them to do in life. Just to see adults in play and see everyone being creative and supportive. And it's not about being the best. It's about loving what each other brings to the table...It's really about, we are doing this together as a community. We're offering what we have and it's awesome."

Ms. Bee, who is serving as Faywood Coordinator and Stage Manager for Wyndonshire, runs P.J.'s Slushie Shop, and was drawn in when she heard about the storylines being developed for the Faire. "There wasn't any turning back from that, the magical seeds were planted," she said. The whole team feels like a family. Like Ms. Fahey, she feels that the Faire has pulled together so many of her interests so perfectly, it's almost as if this is why she moved to Winchendon.

What the organizers didn't expect was the number of kindred spirits just waiting, like Ms. Fahey, for this opportunity. Auditions were held for key parts in a planned Faire narrative, and "all these people came to the auditions and they were more professional than we ever expected," Ms. Fahey said. People came to auditions in full garb and in character. People came to sing, read a part and blew the Planning Group away. "No one knew that all of these people with similar interests were going to come out of the woods," Ms. Fahey said.

But they did. More, and more, and more people came to auditions and started volunteering. The roles, and sub-stories, and character groups just grew and grew and grew. The amount of training, experience, and talent, in theatre, improvisation, music, historical recreations, dance, storytelling and much else among the cast is staggering.

Ms. Higgins said, "I think, initially, there was a concern that people in Winchendon might not be interested in a Renaissance Fair. But contrary to popular belief, once we started putting ads out there, we realized that yes, they do." And not just people in Winchendon--thanks to the Wyndonshire team, a very large number of people outside of town are now very interested in Winchendon.

The organizers began with weekly meetings, and they realized they needed a story for the Faire, and then Ms. Fahey started reaching out to her Ren Fair contacts for bands. Among the first to sign on were the Knights of Lord Talbot, an educational reenactment group that does combat demos in full armor. They helped with the entire planning process for Wyndonshire Faire, as did other groups. "Not only do you have people that are coming to perform, but they want to be involved, actually helping you make it," Ms. Higgins said. "There was no stopping it. It really couldn't be stopped. People were hungry for it. It was almost like, if you build it, they will come."

As the different performers and groups have come in, they've built their own plotlines, developed their own characters, and added their own skills, including music, dancing, garb design, sewing, and building. Workshops have been held just to work on props and garb, or to help teach people how to make what they need. People stepped into roles that needed to be filled who never planned to be performing. Local businesses have donated lumber and supplies. The Faire was able to pick up some old church pews being discarded by the Central Baptist Church in Chelmsford to repurpose into Medieval-esque benches.

And there have been rehearsals. Lots of rehearsals.

All of the vendors have been getting into the spirit of the event. The Planning Group asked each one of them to bring wares that are consistent with the Faire theme--either Medieval or fantasy oriented--and all of them have come up with inspired ideas. One of the most enthusiastic has been Red Apple Farm, which has devised Ren Fair themed custom ciders and three different kinds of decorated caramel apples. Red Apple Farm got so into the Faire experience, they will be hosting a Ren Fair of their own the following weekend, called Enchanted Orchard, with many of the same performers and volunteers as Wyndonshire.

So, what can first-time Ren Fair visitors expect from Wyndonshire Faire--without giving away too much?

Mr. Fahey said, "I really would like them to feel as if they're stepping into a work of literature, whether it's Renaissance or medieval, Shakespeare or something along those lines. That's the vibe that I'm going for and the overall creative direction that I was thinking of for this specific Faire, which leans in also to the immersive experience. There are multiple plotlines going on immersively that aren't on the schedule, that are there for people to encounter or not, and just have a 'create your own adventure' with the Faire itself...the goal, I think, for the whole creative team is to create something that is not just a play or a performance, but actually a world that you step into."

Ms. Fahey said, "You can wander, if you just want to see the theatrical stuff, and then the next day if you actually want to go into the woods, and interact with some fairies and ask them questions, you're encouraged to approach them. Ren Fairs are so unique in that way, because it's not just about going to a show. It's about the environment, and the actual nature that's around you. Some people, I feel, had never even been down certain paths in the park...we have made it so that the areas of interest and the theatrical experience are throughout the park in a way that it leads you down paths" you might not ever have seen.

"I want folks to be able to come away from the Fairy Grove, and all other fantasy aspects of the Faire, putting two and two together in the most beautiful way," Ms. Bee said, "putting the period piece and the magic behind it together and being able to see how they come together, with the Fae Grove, with the Pirate's Cove, with the witches' den. It's really something special to behold. You can't have the same experience twice at this Faire if you tried. It's too interactive with the audience." The actors will be improvising constantly and playing off each visitor they meet.

Ms. Fahey said, "people become the characters and they'll be at it for eight hours each day. There are of course set scenes that are scripted, but then the rest of it is the patrons. We're encouraging them to dress up if they want, they can participate in drum circles, so bring instruments. You can eat your turkey legs side by side next to a Viking."

The main Faire storyline involves a wedding feast between two royal families, who happen to be named Murdock and Whitney (any resemblance to real prominent Winchendon families past or present is of course entirely coincidental). The families each have a crest featuring a local animal--the Red Baron's is a fox, the Blue King has a stag and the Green Queen has an otter. Ms. Fahey said, "We wanted to have that fun Harry Potter houses kind of thing, that people can pick their favorite person for the entire time. These three families, they're trying to convince the patrons to support them...there might be a sticker or something that you can put on your water bottle...look out for these little audience participation Easter eggs throughout the entire Faire."

Mr. Fahey added that there will be scavenger hunts, factions, gossip spread around where characters will come up to attendees and dish some dirt on one faction or hint about something coming up. It's all part of the immersive and interactive experience.

The Faire has been designed with awareness of diversity. Handicapped parking is available, and many of the paths are paved. The Planning Group has worked with the CFCE and Alexis Chanthachack at Beals Memorial Library to create a sensory-friendly space for kids on the autism spectrum.

Program events will be ongoing in four specific areas--three stages and "Wyndonshire Field"--along with immersive performances (all over the place) and ongoing demonstrations and activities. Improvisational experiences will be ongoing in the Fairy Grove, Witches' Den, Mermaid Pool, Viking Settlement, Pirate Deck and...well, everywhere. Follow the map, or just go where whim and wonder take you. See https://wyndonshirerenfaire.com/ for details. You can also join the Faire's public Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/867697607955323.

Hundreds of volunteer hours have gone into Wyndonshire, and many of the performing groups have gone above and beyond to give this new effort a boost. It's paying off. Ms. Higgins said that she's been hearing people as far away as Manchester, NH talking about the new Ren Fair in Winchendon. A person in Ashburnham told her, "Oh, my gosh, this is the best thing that Winchendon could have ever done. We needed something like this in this area for so long. I can't even tell you how many of my friends and I are planning to come."

There is already talk of Wyndonshire Faire collaborating with the Visit North Central Mass tourism board on future Faires. The Planning Group hopes and plans for Wyndonshire Faire to be an annual event. Businesses could tie into the Faire, and residents could open AirBnBs for visitors to stay. Many Ren Fairs run for several weeks. Ren Fair devotees often visit and even work on multiple Fairs during a season.

For those who would like to be a part of working on Wyndonshire, there are still volunteer jobs that need to be filled, and all offers of help are welcome! Volunteer sign-up is at https://www.eventeny.com/events/wyndonshirerenaissancefaire-8828/ (scroll down).

The Planning Group members said they were deeply thankful for all the support and assistance they've received from the Winchendon Parks and Recreation Commission and Recreation Coordinator Tiffany Newton, Town Hall and the Board of Selectmen for hosting meetings and working with the needs of the Planning Group on policies and regulations, the Beals Memorial Library for hosting meetings and helping with special programming, and most especially, the people of Winchendon, for their enthusiasm, interest, participation, donating of materials and effort, and all-round support. They're looking forward to seeing you all at Wyndonshire Renaissance Fair!

Antique Appraisal at the Beals Memorial Library

Have you ever wondered what some of your antiques or collectables are worth? Bring them to the Beals Memorial Library to find out!

On Saturday, May 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Winchendon library will be hosting an antiques appraisal with licensed auctioneers, Ken and Robin Maston. During this event, patrons can get the value of their antiques or collectables evaluated for a small fee: $5 for one item, or $10 for up to three items. All proceeds from this event go the the Friends of the Beals Memorial Library.

With over 25 years of experience in the estate liquidating business, experts Ken and Robin Maston have assisted families in selling hundreds of thousands of items from antiques to collectables, household goods and furniture. Their experience as licensed auctioneers has given them the knowledge and experience in evaluating a wide range of items and categories, and they are looking forward to sharing that expertise with the Winchendon community!

The Beals Memorial Library is located at 50 Pleasant Street in Winchendon. For more information, contact the library at 978-297-0300 or visit their website at bealslibrary.org.

Land Trust Partnership Succeeds in Protecting Lake Monomonac Forestland

WINCHENDON - Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust and North County Land Trust (NCLT) joined forces with residents a year ago to protect 200+ acres of forest at the southern reaches of Lake Monomonac. With the support of individual donors and a grant from the Bafflin Foundation, the fundraising to secure this land for conservation is complete.

The new 194-acre Monomonac Hill Conservation Area will be open to the public for hiking, biking, and other passive recreational activities in June 2024. An additional 54 acres of wetlands south of the old White's Mill Pond were added to Winchendon Springs Wildlife Management Area last year as part of this project. Conserving this land also helps secure the watershed of both Lake Monomonac and the Millers River.

"We're all connected by water and the forested land that it flows through, and by working together we can protect both", said Emma Ellsworth, Mount Grace Executive Director, "Watershed boundaries are created by mountains, valleys or ridges and rarely fall neatly within city or state lines. This makes the partnerships among our different organizations essential for the conservation of these important regions."

Mount Grace and NCLT worked in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, a local private conservation buyer, town administrators, both the Winchendon Springs Lake Association and the Monomonac Lake Property Owners Association, and many concerned Winchendon and New Hampshire residents.

"This is a multi-faceted project that required cooperation, understanding and effort from the whole community," said NCLT Executive Director Anna Wilkins, "Of course, Winchendon is a great place for a project like that. NCLT is pleased to partner with Mount Grace to pool our expertise and resources to help lead this land conservation project with the greater Winchendon community."

Jill Sackett, Chair of the Winchendon Master Plan Implementation Committee, agreed, saying: "The Town of Winchendon Master Plan, which reflects the values of Winchendon residents, calls for prioritizing land protection based on size, connectivity to other protected lands, and biodiversity. It also calls for responsible land management and for partnerships with conservation groups. This single project significantly furthers our progress on all three fronts. We couldn't be more pleased."

Conserving this land links the expanded Winchendon Springs Wildlife Management Area to hundreds of acres of forest conserved by the Town of Winchendon. Parts of this landscape are considered crucial habitat by Massachusetts' Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, so this larger connectivity ensures that species can migrate through diverse habitats to provide greater resilience to climate change.

"We are so fortunate to have so many people and groups who recognize how important it is to protect the land around our waterways," said Renee Tambling of the Winchendon Springs Lake Association. "To be able to save such a big piece of land, especially in conjunction with all the other work that's been done in town lately, makes a huge difference. This already resonates today, but I think future generations are really going to understand how important it was to get this done."

Now that the project is complete, Mount Grace and NCLT can ensure the land stays open for recreation and continues to provide critical wildlife habitat for the Millers River headwaters.

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