The sound of sweet music makes it around Reid as the Ballroom transforms into a fantasy kingdom full of life. As students dressed up in their finest tunics, dance and chatter added to the room’s cozy ambiance. This year’s Renaissance Fair Club’s Autumn Ball acts as a safe space and distraction from the stress that students have accumulated over the week, allowing students to escape into a world of fae and magic. 

Mila Sacarelos, a junior and Ren Faire Club president, said that she just wants people to enjoy and experience a Renaissance Faire, whether they are new to the clubs events or have attended multiple.

“I think it’s an amazing event, I have so many good memories about the Faire. It takes a lot of work but it’s definitely worth it,” Sacarelos said. 

Sacarelos acknowledged the hard work put in by the members of the club in the spring before the Renaissance Faire, where members’ tasks include waking up as early as 3AM to begin setting up for the event and practicing skits. Although the Renaissance Faire is still months away, the Autumn Ball demonstrates the year-round effort members put into planning exciting, fantasy-filled events for campus year-round to build up excitement for the club’s signature event. 

Sophomore Sarah Adams, who is the club’s merchant chair, emphasized the club’s longstanding presence on campus.

“The Renaissance Fair started years ago, we’re having our 56th Faire this year and while we started with the intent to plan the Faire we started branching out the past few years,” Adams said.

The rich history of the Renaissance Faire is one of Whitman’s unique aspects. The ball is one of the many events and activities that the club plans ahead of the Faire as an end-the-semester event to help engage more students to attend the Faire that’ll follow soon after.

“It’s everyone making costumes and characters to build something and act as a reward for our work, to see everything come together,” Adams said.

Sacarelos also hopes the Faire acts as a distraction to the many issues and stresses that the community might face. First-time ball attendee and freshman Keira Hofmockel agreed that the Faire was a source of positive distraction.

“It’s been a really nice distraction, especially since right now is a bit yikes- but it’s been nice to have something that’s a distraction and fun, it’s very uplifting,” Hofmockel said.

The club’s activities also allow people to explore new territories and ideas, like a renaissance itself on campus that gives students new avenues to delve into their interests.

“I’ve sort of been interested in Renaissance Faire type stuff but I’ve never really had the opportunity to do it, so just seeing how I like it has been exciting,” Hofmockel said.

Adams agreed, emphasizing how the Faire allows students to express themselves and contribute to the unique environment of the college.

“There’s nothing like being able to say my college has a Renaissance Faire,” Adams said.

This exploration of ideas and territories isn’t just limited to exploring the Faire itself; it’s also evident in the way students explore self-expression for the Faire. A wide variety of tunics and styles can be found to represent fae, royalty and even peasants. While Hofmockel said she really enjoyed the whole event, she especially enjoyed dressing up.

“Most days I’m in a T-shirt and jeans, I’m not really dressing up but I always have fun dressing up so having an opportunity to do that allows me to do something I enjoy,” Hofmockel said.

Both Sacarelos and Adams have high hopes for the future of the club, and both express a desire to continue seeing the Faire grow by seeing more of the community engage with the club.

“I want to continue seeing us have fun and bond over having a welcoming community as new people bring in new things and ideas,” Sacarelos said. 

Adams agreed, emphasizing the open nature of the club’s events.

“We just want to keep growing, keep reaching out to the community and make sure that they know that they can always participate,” Adams said.

The community involved in Whitman’s Ren Faire Club helps the Autumn ball feel welcoming. You never know the wonders and treasures that lie ahead in an evening full of jolly laughter and happy dancing.