Jousting With Knights In Shining Armor At The Renaissance Festival
HOLLY (WWJ) - Where's the one place you can go to see fairies, gypsies, pirates and knights? The Renaissance Festival in Holly, of course, where you never know what you'll find or who you'll meet.
WWJ's Kathryn Larson ventured to the festival where she met 27-year-old Troy Kiser.
"My character's name is Sir Laughlin of Linster of Clan O'Reilly," Kiser said.
If you ask around, most are like Sir Laughlin of Linster, a 10 year self-proclaimed Knight who wants to escape from the real world.
"Well, I'm trying to make this act my job. But, normally I do some bartending stuff. I've worked at a greenhouse."
Sir Laughlin says it's a nomadic life but it's not lonely, it's exciting.
"You know, we've adrenalin junkies and then you just throw horses in the mix. And we're all dorks because we like Medieval stuff and sword fighting. So, you know, it's really fun."
The Knight says his horse Prince William, like the half a dozen used for the show, are rescues from the Michigan Humane Society. Together, the jousting duo can put on quite a show but sometimes, things get dangerous.
"I saw a guy get trampled... luckily we wear armor so he was alright, he was a little banged up. I personally got hit in the private parts, I got hit in my head, I threw my shoulder out," Kiser said.
But even though there is pain, there is also glory. So what's his best advice to aspiring Knights?
"I always tell them to stay in school, get straight A's and eat their vegetables, listen to their parents and then when he's old enough, get a high-paying computer job and then if he's thinking about being a knight, then come along and I'll make him my squire."
For more information on the Renaissance Festival, visit www.michrenfest.com.
