Get in touch with your inner Lancelot in Connecticut

HEBRON, Conn. - "Click thy mouse here," the website instructs, underscoring that the Connecticut Renaissance Faire sits somewhere at the intersection of a circa-1600 country harvest festival and a gathering of cyber-goths ready to take fantasy role-playing out into the autumn sunshine.

Next weekend, in fact, is "Fantasy and Romance Weekend" at the Renaissance Faire, just east of Hartford. Fair-goers are encouraged to dress up as "elves, wizards, barbarians, unicorns, and other characters of fantasy." If you don't have a costume, vendors can outfit you with wizard and warlock gear, chain mail, and leather jerkins.

Don't tell your favorite history teacher, but the Renaissance and the Middle Ages meld here, where knights on horseback joust to win the favor of fair damsels, a sword swallower and a fire-eater demonstrate ye olde sore throat, and King Arthur and Guinevere get married with full pageantry every afternoon.

You don't have to get into costume to attend - the same attire you'd wear to any country fair where there are horses (closed-toe shoes advised) is appropriate.

But the fairest of fair-goers should be aware that on Sunday, Oct. 5, there's a judging for the title of Best Bodice Babe.

Connecticut Renaissance Faire, Hebron Lions Fairground, 347 Gilead St., Hebron, Conn. 860-478-5954, ctfaire.com. Weekends through Oct. 19 and Columbus Day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Adults $16, ages 5-12 $7, under 5 free.

PATRICIA HARRIS