Renaissance Revival

Neighbors of the Paramount Ranch site in Agoura joined with environmental organizations and parks agencies Sunday for a whirl of activities to help raise $3.6 million needed to preserve the site as national parkland.

The site, located near Malibu Lake in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, was acquired by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy last year and will be transferred to the National Park Service if the service can generate the $17.6 million the conservancy needs for the purchase. A congressional committee has already designated $14 million for the transfer.

Paramount Ranch was the site of the annual Renaissance Pleasure Faire for 24 years before the event was moved to another location.

Sunday’s activities included entertainment by people in Renaissance costume and jugglers such as Dana Merryday. A grand “Bringing in the May” procession was billed as a Renaissance seasonal rite. Mati Waiya, at left below, holds a container emitting white sage smoke during a traditional Chumash Indian cleansing ritual.