APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – The ‘Light The Night Market’ in downtown Appleton had a Renaissance flair this year.
“We’re big Renaissance market fans anyway, we go to the Bristol one every year,” said vendor Dave Kodet, who is the co-owner of Engrave Situations. “Yeah, this is our niche market right here.”
Many of Kodet’s products seemed to fit the Renaissance theme, including knives and axes. He also wore clothing designed to look like something that people would wear in that era.
He said they’ve been coming to this event for several years.
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”(The ‘Light the Night Market’) is a throwback to the old bazaars they would have, the fire dancers and knife swallowers and just the exotic animals,” he said. “These crazy markets that you see in Greece and stuff. It’s crazy that they still do them.”
The Renaissance theme was also apparent in other parts of the event. ‘LARPers’ (live action role play) waged mock battles in Houdini Plaza, and there was maypole dancing throughout College Avenue.
There were also dozens of other vendors selling everything from jewelry to crocheted animals. There was also face painting, a pirate ship ride, bubble shows, and a chance for people to get up close and personal with snakes.
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“We can come out and get a lot of people to come and learn about snakes and realize that you don’t have to be afraid of them,” said Carl Hogue. “We get a lot of people who follow us, so we bring people to see other things that are at this event.”
Organizers had originally planned the ‘Light the Night Market’ for two weeks ag,o but severe weather forced them to reschedule.
There will be another ‘Light the Night Market’ event in Appleton this summer on Aug. 22.
