One of the purposes of the MHS is to: "Further the education of the membership and the general public in care and captive propagation of reptiles and amphibians.
another is: "Educate the members and the general public in the ecological role of reptiles and amphibians.

That said, it is easy to see why Ren-Fest is one of our biggest events for the MHS.

Look & See! These were all taken Saturday at the Festival:

This is me holding a Savanah Monitor

This is the MHS Gator Pond

This is two members with a Reticulated Python

Here is a member with her Burmese Python

Members with a Green Anaconda

This tortoise goes around and collects donations for the MHS

This is the MHS Cottage. This is where we get into costume, keep our belongings, cook, and if we wish, sleep

Gator at Gator Pond

Close up of Green Anaconda

Baby red eared slider

Dominance being displayed in male tortoises

More tortoises

There are alot of different shows at Ren Fest, this was during the Jousting show in the Jousting arena

There are many rules and procedures we have to follow, to avoid any incident.....Like no patrons are allowed to touch the heads of any animal, we have to keep the heads away from the patrons. We must not walk around the festival grounds with our animals in sight. When it is time for the parade, and we have to take our animals to where the parade starts, we have to bag them to get them there. The only animals allowed in plain sight outside the "fence" are the LARGE snakes, which are not held, but kept on the ground, and for every large snake, there has to be a minimum of two people attending it.

Also, all lizards must be harnessed.

We cannot smoke while we are in costume, unless we are "Off stage" which is a couple of areas that only workers can go, so the patrons do not see us smoke.

It was great to answer questions people have, and educate them. So many people think snakes are "slimy". The most common question asked is...."Does it bite?"
The most common answer is....."Anything with a mouth can bite"....or...."Yes, but so do I!"....LOL

My favorite was when a member was referring to his retic, pointed to her tail and said "this end has never bitten anyone"

During the parade, some people say......"Yuk! Snakes", we come back with "Yuk! Humans!"

Ren Fest is full of sarcasm and humiliation at the expense of the patrons. You have to have a good sense of humor to go there. The workers will pick on anyone that will make a good target, they will yell loudly for all to hear as they humiliate and insult you. It is all in good fun, though.