When the Renaissance Meets Steampunk
On March 12, 2011, Toy Soldiers of Division #2358 The Red Tide, along with special guest Brigadier Davis from England, invaded south Florida’s annual Renaissance Festival! In the most peculiar meshing of renaissance and steampunk one has ever witnessed, soldiers dispersed propaganda throughout the kingdom. They were even recognized by some workers who were familiar with the Dr. Steel logos they bore.
Soldiers at the festival partook in henna tattoos, ½ lb chocolate chip cookies, funnel cake, and fries, the traditional foods of the renaissance period. They bought corsets, threw knives and battleaxes, chucked rotten tomatoes at the village heckler, and enjoyed some rambunctious Celtic music, as it was a Celtic-themed weekend. The traveling Ugly was also in attendance, blowing bubbles and hiding in maidens’ cleavage. The soldiers even met a few mystical creatures, including fairies and Santa Clause! Why Santa was there, we’ll never know, but he was pretty darn jolly.
After a long day of cannons, crusades and cookies, the Toy Soldiers bid the festival farewell until next year, leaving only propaganda and taking as many souvenirs as they could carry.
