The Clayshire Castle Medieval Festival in Bowling Green, Indiana was another one for the record books. This charming faire has become one of my favorite stops on the festival circuit, and 2025 marked my third year returning with Auburn And Main. Nestled on the grounds of a picturesque, privately owned medieval-style castle, the event runs for one special weekend every September—but Clayshire stays busy year-round. If you peek at their social media, you’ll see everything from banquets and feasts to a packed calendar of Renaissance-themed weddings. It’s truly a place where magic feels normal.
Our Vendor Setup (And the Sparkles!)
This year, we were placed in the same spot as last year—right next to the food stand, which is both a blessing and a temptation. I brought an extra dose of sparkle to my booth setup, adding pink glittery curtains and flower garlands around the tent perimeter. In addition to my main 10x20 booth, I also set up a second 10x10 storage tent behind it. Having all my overflow inventory neatly tucked away made the weekend run so much smoother and kept me from tripping over tiaras like in years past.
I also brought more crowns specifically geared toward men this year, and they were a huge hit! There’s something wonderful about watching people of all ages and genders find a crown that fits their personality.
Sales were steady, similar to what I’ve seen in previous years, and the energy from the crowd and fellow vendors made the weekend even better.
The Food: Overpriced and Perfect
One of the best perks of being placed next to the food stand is, well… everything smells amazing all day. I am a sucker for good (and often overpriced) faire food. This year, a charcuterie booth popped up for the first time, offering artisan cheeses, meats, bread—and a complimentary wooden charcuterie board with every order. Who doesn’t love snacks AND a free prop?
My absolute must-have, though, was the grilled kielbasa on a stick. For eight dollars, I got a sausage roughly the length of my forearm absolutely drenched in barbecue sauce. I had at least three of them over the course of the weekend and would’ve eaten more if they hadn’t sold out.
Faire Horses and Mounted Archery Magic
Another favorite part of the Clayshire experience is the morning “walk-abouts,” when the horses stroll past our booths before the crowds arrive. Clayshire hosts several equestrian shows, including my personal favorite: mounted archery. The talent and multitasking required is incredible, and this year I had the joy of crowning one of the riders by adorning her helmet with a tiara from my booth. It was such a highlight!
Perfect Weather (Finally!) and My New Favorite Vendor Hack
After surviving the rainy hurricane remnants of the 2024 festival, this year’s warm and sunny weather felt like a luxurious blessing—even if I left slightly sunburned.
One vendor hack I used this year? Hand fans.
Last fall I stocked up on clearance fans for about 36 cents each. When the afternoon sun settled in with zero breeze, I handed fans out to overheated mamas chasing their kids around. They got a much-needed break, and I got a captive audience browsing my tiaras a little longer. Win-win.
The Vendor Community: Kindness in Action
Clayshire has some of the friendliest and most welcoming vendors I’ve ever met. In fact, I only attend this faire because another vendor at the Michiana Ren Fest told me I’d love it. Back in 2023, I emailed the organizers a month before the show offering to be on the waitlist, willing to take any last-minute spot. Ten days later, I was accepted after someone had to cancel due to a family emergency. I took the opportunity immediately—and I’ve been grateful ever since.
Discounts, Jokes, Facts, and Songs
Crowns bring out the fun in people, and this year’s discount options made interactions even better. In addition to my usual choices—like discounts for first responders, veterans, or customers buying two or more—I introduced new “fun” discounts in 2025:
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Tell me a joke
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Tell me a fascinating fact
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Sing me a song
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Give me a compliment
The customers did not disappoint.
My favorite dad joke:
“What do you call a pile of cats? A meow-ntain!”
My favorite fact:
A whale’s throat is only about as big as a loaf of bread—so they actually can’t swallow you whole.
And my favorite moment of the entire weekend:
A two-person acapella group serenaded me with a 1950s song I’d never heard before… then came back later and did it again to earn another discount. Absolute legends.
Evenings, Logistics, and the Exhausting Vendor Grind
At the end of each festival day, vendors aren’t allowed to leave until all patrons have cleared the one-lane road leading up the hill. It normally takes about an hour after closing before we can even begin the drive off-site. Some vendors camp on the grounds, but I am not a camping girl—I need a shower after a full day of selling sparklies.
So my dad (my unpaid but enthusiastic helper) and I would head to our hotel about 45 minutes away. After packing up, navigating the road, grabbing takeout, and showering, we were usually in bed by 9 PM and asleep minutes later.
Sunday is its own beast:
2.5 hours to tear down the booth
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loading the truck and trailer
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a six-hour drive home
= rolling into Metro Detroit around 2 AM, fueled by coffee and Monster.
It’s a marathon, but it’s our marathon.
Final Thoughts
Clayshire Castle Medieval Festival 2025 was another magical, rewarding, sun-soaked weekend filled with amazing customers, vendor camaraderie, good food, beautiful horses, and some truly impressive cosplay. Whether I was handing out fans, laughing at dad jokes, listening to impromptu acapella, or crowning festival-goers of all ages, this event reminded me again why I love doing what I do.
I’ll be back next year—pink curtains, fans, forearm-length sausages, and all.