Press Release

Baxter Springs, KS The Cherokee County Arts Association announces, its Annual Bridgewater Renaissance Faire, to be held in the wooded glen northeast of Baxter Springs, Kansas just off highway 69A, on October 2nd, 2004 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, there will be an admission fee of $5.00 for ages 12 and up, $3.00 for youth 3 to 11, children under three are admitted free with one paid adult, additional fees may be required for some activities within the faire, i.e. tarot card readings, royal feast, and children's craft activities. Proceeds will benefit the cultural arts activities and projects in the county.

This full day of interactive adventure will feature over 400 costumed characters; thrilling staged combat; spectacular entertainment; amazing variety acts; individual performers of all kinds providing music, song, dance, comedy and drama from the Middle Ages; activities including the Maypole dance, royal parades, royal wedding, tarot cards; trebuchet competition; historical reenactments; plus a 15th-16th century marketplace filled with authentic crafts, encampments, period games, and hearty food and drink.

This year, the faire will host vendors from KS, OK, NE, MO, CO, IA and AR. Craftsmen and artisans will be demonstrating and selling arts and crafts from the Middle Ages. Their unique crafts are of the highest quality and include pottery, chainmail, jewelry, leather and more. Other merchants will be offering a variety of items, many suitable for gift giving or collecting. Numerous food vendors will be offering tasty food from the period. There will be games and competitions for both children and adults.

Entertainment
Live entertainment will be provided through out the day on stage, in the streets and encampments. Entertainers for this years event include: members of the Cherokee County Arts Association; Area Schools and Colleges; members of the SCA Shire of Bois D' Arc; members of Bramble\'s Schoole of Defence; individual and professional entertainers including Howl-o and Saltire Pipers, strolling acts and many more.

The purpose of the faire is to provide revenue to fund cultural arts in Cherokee County for both youth and adults; to provide a venue to enable a wide range of ages and talents to perform, to educate school children about the middle ages and the renaissance period; and to provide a festival with something for people of all ages and interests that emphasizes the fine arts in music, dance, drama and artistic crafts.

Faire Games and Contests
Leading up to the faire will be the Little Prince and Princess (ages under 6) and Little Duke and Duchess (ages 6 to 12) contest. Participants will sell chances on a Wal-Mart Gift Card. The boys and girls selling the most tickets will be crowned at the Faire and the winner for the gift card will be drawn. A local coloring contest involving area grade schools will take place two weeks prior to the faire. Winners will be recognized at the faire. During the faire, local high school students will compete in the Trebuchet competition. The photo contest will also be held again this year. Photos must be taken at the 2004 faire and submitted within two weeks of the faire.

During the faire children's games will abound. With a HUNT for the Kings feathers, Queens ribbons and the Jesters marbles to name a just a few. The enchanted forest will return this year for the young and young at heart faire goers. New to the forest this year will be TWO professional story tellers, one will tell Mother Goose stories, the other will tell tales of Prince and Princesses.

Don't forget the Costume contest with five age categories this year; ages 0-2, ages 3-6, ages 7-11, ages 12-17, and ages 17 and up. Costumes must be period style and fit with the theme of the faire.

Adult games are also available including bocce ball and our new highland competitions. Celebrity bocce ball, archery and trebuchet will also be featured again this year.

Faire Royalty
This years faire King and Queen selected by the Committee are Dennis and Mary Burke. The couple will serve as royal host and hostess of the faire and oversee the days events.

Royal Wedding
This years wedding couple, selected for a renewal of vows ceremony by the Faire Committee is Rusty and Melanie Bingham. They will participate with their family and friends in a renaissance wedding ceremony. Following the ceremony the couple will be the guests of honor at the Royal Feast hosted by the King and Queen and complete with wedding cake.

Royal Feast
The Royal Feast will be catered and served by Cafe on the Route and served at 2 pm at the faire. The feast will be served family style and will include foods fit for a king. Seperate tickets are required for admission to the feast and are available in advance or at the faire. $10 Ticket includes feast, drinks, and wedding cake. Seating is limited.

Tickets and Passes
Tickets may be purchased at the gate for general admission to the faire - $5.00 for ages 12 and up, $3.00 for youth 3 to 11, and children under three are admitted free with one paid adult. Royal Feast tickets are available for $10 at the faire or in advance.

Renaissance Faire Industry
The whole Renaissance Faire industry, a relatively recent undertaking, has been enormously successful. It has grown from a few small groups to numerous million- dollar businesses. Dozens of independent Faires thrive nationwide, and there is even a conglomerate called Renaissance Entertainment Corporation, which is traded on the NASDAQ.

The Kansas City Renaissance Festival, in Bonner Springs is in its 28th year. The KCRF is an annual, six-week event held the last weekend of August through the first weekend of October. Tickets for the KCRF in 2004 are priced at $15.95 for adults and $7.95 for children.

About Bridgewater Renaissance Faire
The Bridgewater Faire was fashioned after the popular Kansas City Renaissance Festival. Started in 1988 and initially held every two years, this event was organized by the local community and area high school. The event was taken over by the Cherokee County Arts Association in 2000 and is now held annually. This will be the 5th annual faire sponsored by the Arts Association.

Company Website: http://bwrenfaire.us

About Cherokee County Arts Association
The Cherokee County Arts Association was organized in 1999 by a group of individuals interested in promoting the arts within the county. Lola Wade, Kent Lynch, Sallie & Ron Smith, James & Jeanie Bishop, Greg & Lori Dixon, Alan McColm, Dennis Burke, Tim Burns and James Christman were the founding members of the association. The group now boasts an active participation of 100 members.

Besides putting on the annual renaissance faire, the group produced Cinderella in 1999, A Saloon Show in 2000, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat in 2001, the Music Man in 2002, and Annie in 2004.

A tax-exempt organization, the Cherokee County Arts Association is actively seeking contributors and contributions for the Arts. Membership in the organization is available for a fee or donated efforts to the organization.