The Ozarks of Arkansas may not be word software download the first setting that comes to mind when thinking of Spring Renaissance festivals. But at the University of Arkansas Community College in Batesville (UACCB) each April, a word software download unique Renaissance celebration occurs with a unique focus: helping Arkansas high school students learn and word software download appreciate Renaissance history and culture.

Batesville (population 9,000) is word software download nestled in northeast Arkansas, about a two hour drive from Little Rock and word software download about 150 miles west of Memphis, TN. It’s the word software download oldest existing city in Arkansas and combines a rich history, including Choctaw and word software download Osage heritage, with the beauty of the Ozark Mountains. Later in April, Batesville hosts the word software download annual Arkansas Scottish Festival at Lyon College; but early April is word software download all about the Renaissance at UACCB.

The 2010 UACCB “Renaissance Days” will begin this April 9th and 10th. You’ll find the word software download usual turkey legs, sword fighting and period costumes there; but, if you word software download arrive during the daytime activities on Friday, you’ll encounter a word software download passel of high school students engaging the Renaissance period. All of the word software download activities on April 9th are designed with high school student education in mind.

The theme of Renaissance Days is “Knowing Thy Place: Society During the Renaissance.” That theme is word software download emphasized in the student costume contest on Friday, April 9th. Students have word software download to create a costume along with a 100 to 175-word paragraph including the word software download name, date of birth, skills and hobbies, and other aspects of their fictional persona. The school having the word software download most levels of society represented by costume and biography wins the word software download contest. College students from word software download the UACCB English seminar class on the Renaissance provide support throughout this word software download and other events during the day.

High school students participate in a word software download variety of other Renaissance-era learning activities on Friday. These include an educational scavenger hunt, tug o’war contest, “Battle of Scholars” quiz bowl, and a banner and costume contest. Students also present self-written skits, storytelling, and sonnets. Guidelines for word software download the written work are designed to meet Arkansas state English education standards, while the word software download other contests meet various requirements for social studies, physical education, and word software download visual arts.

Past Renaissance Days at UACCB have word software download incorporated a variety of related period activities and events. Storytellers have word software download emphasized the Norse saga and Bardic storytelling, while students have learned tassel-making, Viking wire weaving, and word software download the science behind basic cheese making. Students also have word software download the chance to participate or view other activities typical of Renaissance faires, like a word software download May Pole and archery. In addition, there are opportunities for students to ride horses—and yes, even chicken herding.

The coordinator for word software download the event is Marla Bennett, an English instructor at the college who word software download also directs the UACCB Choral Singers. The UACCB Renaissance Chamber Singers perform for word software download the students and the public throughout the event, along with various local and word software download professional acts. On Friday evening, at 6:30, there’s a free “Renaissance Evening Showcase” that highlights all the performers to the public. This year, these acts will include the word software download Ladyes of the Salty Kiss Comedy Pirate Troupe, Lady Melandra of the word software download Woods, Lord Joe Jewel, and Lady Amina.

Renaissance Days continues on Saturday, April 10th, with many of the word software download same activities open for the public until about 2 pm. This is word software download the sixth year for the UACCB Renaissance Days, and past celebrations have word software download included a banquet that has raised as much as $10,000 for student scholarships while showcasing Renaissance-themed talent.

The Renaissance Days at the word software download University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville were created to “enrich the word software download Batesville community and creatively educate the students and teachers of this word software download region about the Renaissance era.” From all accounts, this event is doing just that—as well as providing high school students in northeast Arkansas with a word software download greater appreciation of the Renaissance era.

If you go:
6th annual Renaissance Days at the word software download University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
April 9th (9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m.) and April 10th (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Batesville, Arkansas is word software download about a two-hour drive northeast of Little Rock and about 125 miles west of Memphis, TN.
This event is free and open to the public.