At the end of winding dirt road in Huntersville is a colorful medieval village that for two months every year hosts the Carolina Renaissance Festival, home to jousting knights, singing peasants, and of course, a queen.
For the last 13 years, the reigning monarch at the Carolina festival has been portrayed by Bettina Queen - that's her stage name. She's also a mom, a seamstress, and a sign language interpreter.
WFAE's Nick de la Canal caught up with Bettina to find out what it's like to play a royal, and how she got the gig.
In this interview, she tells listeners about the character she plays, how she got involved in the Carolina Renaissance Festival, and what keeps her coming back, year after year.
The Carolina Renaissance Festivalruns Saturdays and Sundays in October and November.