Get Away to King Richard's Faire!

Disclosure: In exchange for this honest review, our family received complimetary tickets to the Faire.

If you're in New England and are looking for fun history-inspired family fun, consider King Richard’s Faire, which has recenly opened for its 40th anniversary season and will continue 10:30-6 weekends through October 24th, 2021, including the Monday, October 11th holiday.

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Last weekend, my family and I spent a daycation meeting friends at the Faire.

Our friends had never been there before and we had so much fun showing them around and taking in shows together.

Rapt attention.

Laughter.

Cheering.

Amazement.

We shared it all as we took in the live entertainment, walked through the Gaming Glen, and went to all three jousts of the day - a true favorite of our family and, now, of our friends, too.

Using the program you can pick up just inside the gate, we mapped out our day and managed to get around to almost all of the eight vibrant stages.

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing our favorite longtime entertainer - Jacques Ze Whippeur and his dashing danger and whip stunts-  not once, but twice!

Our friends and my youngest quite enjoyed the new performers “The Captain’s Canines”, a specialty dog act, too.

We were also amazed and humored by another new performer The Unicycling Unicorn, a talented juggler who can juggle while sitting 14 feet in up in the air on one wheel!

El Zappo amused us with his family-friendly circus comedy and cool optical illusions. (Truly - have you ever seen a head shrink or grow before your eyes?)

The “Unspun Tails” aerial show impressed us...

...and, even more impressive, was how the performers went from there right onto performing as the Accidental Acrobats.

Wow! Such stamina.

Of course, we also enjoyed a strolling the 8-acres of the wooded Carvershire realm, seeing minstrels...

... browsing the shops of  talented artisans, and just enjoying the fun atmosphere of the Faire.

Oh, and we each chose some epicurean pleasures to keep us going throughout the day, too.

It was truly a fun-filled day and we are so glad we wew able to enjoy this family tradition again after the 2020 hiatus last year.

Speaking of that, the performers did a wonderful job incorporating precautions into their acts without overdoing it.

The Faire truly felt normal - or as normal as the wacky, wonderful, history-inspired...

...but totally fictitious fun ever is. 

A day at the Faire is an escape from day-to-day realities that inspires laughter, awe, fun, and, always, ourkdis imaginations!

This year, it did the same for our friends.

What a great time! 

If you are in the area, I recommend going. Get there at opening and stay until it closes.

There's a lot to see and do there.

More Information

Visit King Richard's Faire online for a site map, FAQ's, event schedules, ticket sales, and Visitor Information.

The Faire is at 235 Main Street, Carver MA 02330. 

Parking is free!

Tickets: $37 adult (12+); $35 for seniors ages 65+, $18 for children ages 4-11; and free for children 3 years of age and younger.

Please email info@kingrichardsfaire.net for group discount tickets.

Instagram/Twitter: @KRFaire #KRFaire; Facebook

Learn about History with the U.S. Life Saving Service {A Review}

Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor compensated in any other way.

Flexible and fun history that can be used for home, co-op, classroom, or museum program use?  That is what Rebecca Locklear delivers with her Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915: 17 Student Workshops with 120 Activities (which we've recently had an opportunity to review) and, I hear, The Mayflower at Cape Cod – Stories, activities, and research that connect 1620 with life today that other Homeschool Review Crew families have been enjoying. 

Engage in Learning about Courageous Life Savers from the Late 1800's and Early 1900's

My family receive a digital version of the 120-page Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 book which is chock full of information and ideas to guide students in grades 4-12 in an investigation of the time period of 1878-1915 through the lens of the U.S. Life-Saving Service - a forerunner of the U.S. Coast Guard which installed eight-member rescue teams on remote coastlines of the USA.

With portions to read, critical thinking and problem solving activities, group work (which can be great if you participate in a co-op, scouting, etc.), and research areas, the curriculum is a well-rounded one. It also aims to capture and keep student attention and make learning memorable, accessible, and relevant through activities such as:

• art
• cooking
• drama
• games
• music
• science
• stories

and more.

Material in the book is written at level that students in grades 4 and 5 can enjoy and grasp, while older students, parents, and teachers can learn and enjoy, too. That makes it great for family studies.

It is also broken into four workshops - or units - with additional art and research ideas, which makes it adaptable for a short study (cherry picking a single workshop) or a longer one (moving through all four workshops and extending with research).

Any way that Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 is used, it surely aims to make students enthusiastic about learning about the courageous and good-humored men who rowed out through violent storms to rescue folks aboard shipwrecks and makes for an interesting addition to history studies!

Our Experience

Although Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915 is written in such a way that entire families can enjoy it together, because my 14-year-old has a heavy, self-selected workload right now, I chose to dive into the Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service workshops with just my 13 and almost-10 year olds.

We started by reading material fro the introduction and watching a linked Youtube video and, then, carried on with other reading, watching, and activities, completing the "Life at the Station House" workshop and dipping into some others.

My almost-10-year-old had this to say about our experience so far:

I never actually knew about the Life Saving Service before. I think it is interesting. Did you know they shot lines out of canons to attach to masts to save people? Did you know that they each had a cooking day? And did you know they had to sit in a tower   number hours and ring a bell every 30 minutes to tell people they were awake? I learned all this and more.

My favorite part so far was making the bread with molasses using the muffin recipe from the book. We learned molasses was made back then by people stomping on sugar cane.

We also made a chowder (with our own made up recipe because the life saving men often created their own recipes with what they had available and chowder was a common dish.)

I recommend this to people who like history.

And my 13-year-old said:

The U.S. Life Saving Service study taught me about the live saving stations. I did not know much about them before. 

One of the worst things I think that they had to do besides saving people in storms was stand up for four hours on watch in frigid weather looking for ships in distress. 

I thought it was interesting that they all took turns cooking for each other. In some ways that sounds interesting, but in others not so much. I like the stories and play they told about it. It made it seem more like actual real life than just reading it, and it was funny. We also learned that these days you cannot kill a lobster in some countries by boiling it.

It is illegal in some place, because they say lobsters can feel pain. Of course, the live saving station men did not follow that rule. They boiled lobsters, hunted for food, fished sometimes when on drill, and more. 

A motto of the life saving servicemen was that the book says you have to go out to save people. It does not say you have to come back in. The men had to be brave, courageous people willing to face danger, death, and terrible weather to save others. In between, they also faced extraordinary boredom at times just doing drills, cooking, watching, waiting...

I liked this study and want to finish using it. I think it would be good for late elementary school through middle school

So, as you can see, so far so engaged here with my kids and this resource. That makes me happy!

Happier still is that the resource connects to local history for us!

We realized that we are blessed to live within driving distance of some of the remaining life saving stations.

So, the other day, we drove to one, hoping to be able to tour inside. 

Of course, though, due to current events, the place is closed this season. Still, we were still able to view the exterior and imagine the life the men led inside.

We also were able to enjoy some of the same beaches that the men may have done their work on. Granted, we did this in beautiful sunshine, not stormy gales, all the while recognizing how the men would have had to navigate the cold, wavy seas during inclement weather to rescue people and, at times, products.

We hope to return to the station we visited once it opens and also hope to foray in a different direction to another one. Having done Rebecca's study, such field trips will be especially meaningful.

We recommend the study as an interesting one that can easily adapt for home, classroom, and group use, engaging students through a wide variety of activities and are grateful for having had this opportunity to learn more about local and national history through the lens of the Life Saving Service.

The life, work, and legacy of the men in the Life Saving Service surely is interesting and worthwhile to learn about!

Learn More

Over 60 Homeschool Review Crew families reviewed either Exploring the U.S. Life-Saving Service 1878-1915: 17 Student Workshops with 120 Activities or The Mayflower at Cape Cod – Stories, activities, and research that connect 1620 with life today over the past few weeks. Click through to find social media and blog reviews.

Find writer Rebecca Locklear on Facebook. You can also sign up for Rebecca's email newsletter through her website where you will find more ideas and information from this talented writer and multiple-subject teacher of materials for preschoolers through 12th graders who is also a professional pianist, choral director, and outdoor enthusiast with a motto of Dum vivimus, vivamus, which in Latin means “Let us LIVE while we live", which shines through in her work.

We enjoy Rebecca's work!

There's Still Time to Get to King Richard's Faire!

If you are in the Massachusetts area, now's the time to plan a fabulous fall day to escape your reality at THE New England Renaissance Faire.

King Richard's Faire - New England's largest and longest-running Renaissance festival- is now in its 38th season and makes such a merry outing filled with engaging entertainment, enjoyable rides, exciting games of skill, a royal zoo, amiable artisans, and more amidst an enchanting 80-acre wooded site.

My family has been enjoying the Faire for years and always counts down to going.

Again, this year we were not disappointed by the enchanting experience of visiting many of the eight vibrant stages of live entertainment...

...strolling through Carvershire enjoying the traveling talent...

...and visiting all three of the jousts.

This meant we were entertained by hundreds of actors, singers, dancers, minstrels, stage combat pros, acrobats, aerialists,  puppeteers, and more - all free and included with admission.

We, of course, visited artisans, walked through the Gaming Glen, and partook in some of the Faire food, too, making a full day of family fun!

Fun for All Ages!

After this year's visit my husband said:

Our family enjoys going to King Richard's Faire with its variety of entertainers.

This year, I particularly enjoyed GoGaucho, a fresh new act with extreme talent and a dash of humor. 

 

Of course, Jacques Ze Whippeur is an old family favorite of ours...

...and the joust was entertaining despite its modern-day twist. 

My favorite part of going every year is watching my children's reaction to the entertainment and seeing even my teenager laughing and cheering.

 

Then, when I asked my 12-year-old what she'd like to share.

 She said:

King Richard's Faire has draws for many people: shows, jousting, food, and more! 

My favorite shows this year were: 

 ...Jaques Ze Whippeur ...

 

...The Mis-Adventurers ...

 

...The Accidental Acrobats ...

 

I also enjoyed the joust!"

My 9-year-old said:

King Richard's Faire is a medieval renaissance Faire with many shows that play multiple times.  

My three favorite parts were: 

 

The food.  The King Dog was delicious! 

 

Jaques Ze Whippeur's show! 

The jousts!

And my 13-year-old said:

I enjoy King Richard's Faire. 

Jacques Ze Whippeaur is a performer there that is extremely talented and charismatic. He has different acts and bits. Some of my favorites are: 

... when he asks, "Why don't I have any real facial hair?"while whipping a flaming whip around himself...

...when he whips dry spaghetti from his mouth... 

... and when he sticks a needle through a balloon without popping it. 

If you go to King Richard's Faire, be sure to watch Jacques Whippeur. 

 Obviously, my family enjoys one of their old favorite entertainers - Jacques Ze Whippeur the most and, although we all missed some of our other old favorites that were not at the fair this year, we also enjoyed the some of the new acts, to include the Accidental Acrobats, a duo of contortionists...

Sir Guy, a comedian...

... and GoGaucho, a dynamic blend of dance, music, comedy and other tricks.

The overall atmosphere of the Faire is always one filled with merriment and adventure and the entertainment is fabulous!

Helpful Tips

Whether you are a first-time or returning visitor to King Richard's Faire, it's helpful to remember that when you are in the King's domain:

• No outside food or beverage is allowed; however, there are gluten-free, vegan, and lactose-free menu selections available for sale among the many tasty menu items offered at the Faire. Also, you may bring an EMPTY water bottle to fill at water bubblers.

• Carvershire is in the woods, which means that both the beauty of the great outdoors and the challenges are present.  In other words, there may be bees, tree roots, hot and cold weather, and even rain to contend with, but there are also sunshine, shade woodsy areas, and field areas to enjoy. Be prepared, dress and plan accordingly, and expect well-maintained port-o-potties should you need to use the privy.

• Guests wearing costumes are welcome and appreciated. You can come in costume or rent costumes for all ages and sizes right inside the front gate at Seams Like A Dream! Also, since this is a"Fantasy Faire" not a medieval re-enactment, be aware that anything goes. You might see traditional re-enactment gear, but you'll also see anything from Monty Python to Harry Potter to Game of Thrones to DC/Marvel superheroes to, yep, a man in a barrel! Indeed, things are more comic con than reenactment as far as guest costuming goes.
• Cash is a good idea since box office and food tickets are cash only and performers welcome cash tips. Vredit cards can be helpful, too, since most artisans, accept Lady Visa, Master Card and AMEX.

• The Faire is open unless safety is compromised; then the Faire makes announcements on their Facebook page as soon as a rare decision for closure is made.

• Carvershire has no wifi due to it being a big site with not enough signal, so plan accordingly to be on our date plan. Also, know that the signal is better near the entrance and at the joust and bring a battery if you think you will need one.

Plan Your Visit

The Faire is at 235 Main Street, Carver, MA, 02330.

You can visit weekends and Monday holidays through October 20, 2019. Be sure to check out the schedule for special events and themed days!

You can purchase tickets at the gates or purchase them in advance online. Adults are $34, children ages 4-11 are $17, and children under 3 are free.

Group discounts are available.

You might also like to see our past King Richard's Faire posts - all of which give a flavor of how enduring the fun of the Faire is.

I hope you enjoy the Faire as much as my family always does!

Disclaimer:We received free promotional tickets in exchange for this honest review.  We were not required to write a positive review nor were we compensated in any other way.  All opinions we have expressed are our own family's.  We are disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.