The Medieval Mayhem Renaissance Fair in Show Low Arizona is a small fair on a big field. Specifically, the municipal soccer fields which form the preponderance of Frontier Park, which, in turn, are surrounded by cow pasture, despite this being essentially downtown. They do not pack the whole field with vendors. You can comfortably experience the entire fair in an hour, (two if you want to eat; three if you want to see a show) and cross the thing in about ten minutes. This leaves plenty of room to load in and out, and camp onsite, as we prefer to do.

In previous years we had armies of bugs, but we were either before or after the grasshopper invasion this year. There is, alas, standing water in the ditch around the cattle pond, so bug netting is still essential.

Two important things to know about Show Low, Arizona: 1] is has an elevation of over 6000 above sea level, which meant in the middle of a July heat wave we had highs that touched the 90’s. Compare to Phoenix where it touched 115.

And 2] Show Low is very much a small town. Saturday was Derby Day, where they shut down main drag so that residents could race non-motorized box cars down a hill. This was a big thing. The Fair folk believe its proximity to the park drives up attendance.

Also there is a permanent storefront selling Trump merchandise just down the street. Past that is the Burger King, which is the most reliable source of hot breakfast and coffee close to the park.

The Fair is only open Friday and Saturday – though it is open late. Show Low shuts down on Sunday, so we had that whole morning to load out.

Which takes longer than you think – at 6000 feet.

We’ll be back next year.