Great Lakes Medieval Faire

It's Faire to Say Travel in a time machine to a fairy-tale village of lords, ladies, and clueless pooches. By Marge Perko Laura Lagasse wants you to bite into her hot buns. Seriously. And you'll find her portraying Hilde the German baker at the 16th annual Great Lakes Medieval Faire in Rock Creek. Throughout six straight weekends, a part of the Ashtabula County town morphs into the fictional 13th-century village of Avaloch, where spectators can bump into jousting knights, fairy storytellers, marauding pirates, and costumed crafters. "You don't have to travel far to go back in time. We have the über-patrons, who make sure their costumes are period-correct down to the last stitch. And there are those who have no idea what to expect," says Lagasse. "Just a warning: I wandered in one weekend and have been hooked since." Each weekend will showcase a fantasy-related theme, from imaginary Scottish Highland games to a pirate invasion. This weekend, ladies can dress in gowns and tiaras for a Sweet-16 Princess Birthday Bash. And the crowds will swell with roaming entertainers like Axel the Sot, the Wishing Well Wenches, and Ima Nut, with her highly untrained dog, Blockhead. "You won't find any gas pumps or politicians in Avaloch," says Lagasse. Just wenches, warlocks, and lots of food." The faire runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Sunday, August 5, at 3033 State Route 543 in Rock Creek. Admission is $5.95 to $15.95. Call 440-474-4280 or visit www.medievalfaire.com.