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Ohio Renaissance Festival returns with new comedy show

Shane Adams of Harveysburg, aka Sir Shanton, rides to victory as part of the jousting competition at the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

Contribtued photo Shane Adams of Harveysburg, aka Sir Shanton, rides to victory as part of the jousting competition at the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: 2009 Renaissance Festival

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By Justin McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 11:31 PM Thursday, September 16, 2010

HARVEYSBURG — For the next six weeks, Kenneth Honnigford is prepared to forgot the everyday life of a Butler County merchant, pull on a broadsword and defend the honor of Queen Elizabeth I.

During the upcoming weekends, Honnigford, a 29-year-old Middletown man, will become Sir John Reswald, one of the queen’s most loyal guards at the Ohio Renaissance Festival.

The Ohio Renaissance Festival will catapult southwest Ohio back to the times of knights and princesses, lutes and jester, every weekend from Saturday, Sept. 4 until Oct. 17.

Honnigford, who has been a queen’s guard for four years, said he prefers the Renaissance time period to modern life because of its simplicity.

“Today, we’re always running around like chickens with our heads cut off,” Honnigford said. “In the Renaissance time, you got up when the sun came up and worried about planting your crops.”

Honnigford said putting on the intricate and detailed costume of a Queen’s guard transforms him.

“It’s layered which can be very hot, but I don’t even notice it,” Honnigford said.

The guard enjoys interacting with the crowd and other performers throughout the festival, mostly with conversation. For others, the interactions are of a more painful variety.

Returning to the festival via horseback is Harveysburg resident Shane Adams and his alter ego, the bombastic skilled jousting champion Sir Shanton. Adams is the legitimate defending multiple-time world champion in jousting. The jousters compete in non-staged, legitimate events during the festival.

“People just can’t believe we’re doing it for real,” Adams said. “A lot of times when they hear the devastating crack of the pole, the crowd just goes silent.”

Adams has received national attention for his skill and devotion to the ancient sport and has even recently traveled to Hollywood to promote the sometimes vicious exchange between man and wooden pole.

A variety of returning and new shows are also part of the Renaissance Festival. The much beloved and messy Mudde Show comedy troupe will return, delighting audiences with their antics. A new comedy show staring Boba Da Vinci is geared toward audience participation.

Culinary favorites such as the giant turkey leg and juicy pork tenderloins will also tantalize guests with a taste of olden times. Valley Vineyards of Morrow will host a wine tasting, allowing guests to sample a flight of locally produced wine for a nominal fee.