Florida’s Renaissance Fairs

Enter a world where chivalrous knights rescue lovely maidens and menacing dragons roam the countryside. Explore a time when artisans were respected for their craft and kings feasted wholeheartedly. Renaissance festivals have long been revered as the go-to gathering to escape suburban America and discover a past world where fantasy and romance are paramount. It is time to grab your period dress, brush up on ye olde English and get ready to immerse yourself in Florida’s renaissance faire scene.

Excluding the Florida Pirate, Gaspaarilla Pirate and Pirates in Paradise Festivals, there are eight Renaissance Fairs in the state of Florida: Camelot Days, Florida Renaissance Festival, Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire, Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire, Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair, Sarasota Medieval Fair and the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. Spanning the length of the state, there is a renaissance fair, or ren fair as they are more commonly called, near you.

Starting in the Panhandle, the Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair (GCRF) will be held at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6, 2011 from 10am to 5pm. Boasting the only real, live horseback jousting event on the Gulf Coast complete with medieval knights in full armor and selected as one of the Southeast’s top 20 events for March 2008 and 2009 by the Southeast Tourism Society, the GCRF is in its tenth season. With increased support from the community, patrons can expect amped up entertainment this season. The two day fair will include falconry, jousting, medieval fighters, musicians, jesters, jugglers, fire breathers, sword swallowers and dancers in addition to the fair’s royalty. At the GCRF you will find renaissance games, camel and pony rides and merchants with renaissance goods. Admission to the festival is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children 12 and under and free for children four and under and includes one ticket each for the King’s prize drawing. 3603 Mobile Hwy, Pensacola, FL 32505, gcrf.net.

Traveling southeast to the Alachua County Fairgrounds, the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire is in its 25^th year. On January 29-30 and February 4-6, 2011, prepare to journey to back to King Arthur’s court where you will find Queen Guinevere and Merlin in addition to over 160 artisans. Partake in games of chance, watch the famed living chess match and savor a delectable giant turkey leg. Overcoming the ren fair reputation of debauchery, the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire provides ample entertainment for younger audiences such as camel, elephant and pony rides as well as human-powered attractions. Parents can also bring their children to the royal pavilion to be made into lords and ladies. The Hoggetowne Faire’s scheduled hours are from 10am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays and 9:30am to 3pm on Friday, February 4^th, and tickets cost $14 for adults, $7 for children five to 17 and admission is free for children under five. Admission is half-off on Friday, February 4^th with discounts offered to school groups. 2900 NE 39^th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32609, gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/HMF/medieval_index.html.

The next stop on our tour of Florida’s ren fairs is the city of Tavares, home of the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire. For three days from November 5-7, 2010, enter into an authentic replication of a European village in the 16^th century. 60 artisans and more than 100 performers will be working the Faire demonstrating their crafts and selling their wares. Lady of the Lakes strives to have historical accuracy with performers, craftsmen, games and food true to the time of Queen Elizabeth Regina. New to the Faire, the Mythical Monster Museum is sure to delight children ages 5 to 105. The Monster Museum features legendary beings like trolls and fairies along with the weapons and tactics used to overpower them. You may even get a glimpse of a few living creatures among the remains in the museum. Though the advanced ticket sales for the event have closed, tickets will still be available at the gate, $15 for adults and $7 for little lords and ladies. For $10 extra, visitors can join the Queen for tea or participate in beer school, and for $35 patrons will feast with the royal court in front row seats at the Faire’s kickoff event. A discounted rate of $5 is available on Friday for both seniors and students. Operating hours are from 9am to 5pm. 107 North Lake Avenue, Tavares, FL 32778,medievalfest.com.

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival took place February 13^th to March 28^th this year at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, FL. Despite the fact that the 2010 food menu was not tremendously faithful to the renaissance theme with items like Portabello burgers and mini corn dogs, offerings also included bangers and mash, scotch eggs and shepherd’s pie. The unique concept of theme weekends makes the Bay Area Festival a must-do event and brings people back week after week. This past season, themes included Highland Fling!, mock Highland Games with free vow renewals in a ceremony with the King, and High Seas Adventure, a nautical theme highlighting fencing lessons and pirate krews. Various music and stage acts grace the Bay Area’s Festival each year and roaming characters are plentiful. The marketplace consists of merchants selling products and services such as leather and metal work, mixed media art, glass work, woodcraft, fiber art, musical instruments, apparel, fine art, face and body art, jewelry and pottery. Details of the 2011 Festival, planned for February 26^th to April 10^th, can be found on the Festival’s website, but last season advanced adult admission cost $14.95 and advanced child admission cost $6.95 compared to gate admission of $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for children five to 12. Senior admission at the gate was only $14.95. Season passes were available and cost $74.95 for adults and $42.95 for kids. Discount tickets were also offered at Walgreens, MOSI and select Circle K’s, and discount coupons could be found at Subway, Beall’s and Vitamin Discount Centers. Discount tickets for the upcoming season are still available at Walgreens, MOSI and participating Circle K’s, and discount coupons will be on hand at participating area Subways. 11315 46^th Street North, Tampa, FL 33617, bayarearenaissancefest.com.

Further down the West coast, the Sarasota Medieval Fair is trying on the theme, “King Arthur-Return to Avalon.” Housed at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, patrons will enjoy 10+ stages with live entertainment, human combat chess and the Free Lancers, a team of jousters. The famous Washing Well Wenches are also scheduled to appear both weekends on the Market Stage. An excellent opportunity to grab articles of the past, the shops this year will include calligraphy, heraldry and oils and incense. The Fair will be held November 13-14 and 20-21, 2010 from 10am-6pm. You cannot yet purchase advance tickets online, but once the sales begin, general admission will cost $14.95, the price for seniors and students is $12.95 and kids five to 12 will cost $6.95. At the gate a standard ticket will cost $16.95, admission for seniors and students will be $14.95 and the rate for children five to 12 will be $8.95. Children four and under get in free. Each morning of the Fair at 9:45, the Opening Gate Ceremony takes place; if you can make it in time, you will not be disappointed. 3000 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34237, sarasotamedievalfair.com.

Before laying siege to the fairs of the east coast, we must make a stop at the Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire at Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers, FL. The January dates for the 2011 event have not yet been announced, but admission prices are $13 for lords and ladies and $6 for those ages six to 12. The Riverdale Kiwanis are proud to put forth a quality renaissance fair experience with professional performers, live sword fighting and period food and beverages, for example meade. Numerous merchants and artisans will be on site demonstrating their skills and selling their goods. An entertaining element of the Faire’s website, there is a tutorial for practicing your old English before the festivities take place. With the mission of improving the quality of life for children and families worldwide, the Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire is sure to be family-friendly fun. Lakes Regional Park, Biggar, FL 33908,medieval-faire.com.

The final two ren fairs are within close proximity to each other. The Florida Renaissance Festival has two locations in Key Biscayne, running weekends from January 8-23, 2011, and Deerfield Beach, running weekends from February 12-March 13, 2011 plus Monday, February 21, 2011 for President’s Day, while Camelot Days Medieval Festival will take place in nearby Hollywood.

Exclusive to the Florida Renaissance Festival, the GSAC approved Scout Patch program brings in scouts from around the nation to learn about times of yore where modern conveniences like electricity and sneakers did not exist. Leaders with scout groups exceeding 6 members receive free admission to the Festival for participating in the program which allows scouts the chance to explore the medieval village and engage in discussions with its residents about its history. The educational quest is followed by the scout’s choice of optional activities ranging from jousting and noble games to falconry and skilled worker demonstrations; each activity will offer insight into how people entertained themselves before television or video games. Scouts may additionally be exposed to creating crafts such as stained glass candles. Another kid-friendly aspect of the Florida Renaissance Festival is the Kids’ Kingdom play area. Kids’ Kingdom has games, crafts and activities for the younger members of your party and presents age-appropriate stage acts. Not to worry, the Festival puts forward plenty of entertainment and shopping for adults as well. The 2011 season’s hours are from 10am to sunset each day, and admission prices for both Deerfield and Miami are $20 for adults, $7 for children six to 11, $15 each for groups of 20 or more adults and $6 group rate for children with 20 or more adults. A season pass for Deerfield Festival costs $50 for adults and $20 for children, and a season pass for the Miami Festival costs $35 for adults and $15 for children. Children under six are admitted for free. Quiet Waters Park, 401 South Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami, FL 33149.ren-fest.com.

Our voyage ends in Hollywood at T.Y. Park where Camelot Days will come to life on November 13 and 14, 2010 from 10am to 5:30pm. Bellydancers and fairies alongside entertainers like Emrys Fleet, The Rat Catcher and Celtic Mayhem will bring you back to a simple and enchanting time. Free kid’s activities include a craft area, playground, knighting ceremony and the Quest Mystery game. Admission to the Festival is $12 for adults, $3 for children six to 12 and free for children under six. 3300 N. Park Rd., Hollywood, FL 33021, camelotdays.com.

Waste not ye time in purchasing tickets for the event of your choosing, and mayhap we shall meet anon.

Sources:
Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair, “GCRF”. Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair.
The City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs, “Hoggetowne Medieval Faire”. Gainesville Cultural Affairs.
Educational Foundation of Lake County, “Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire. Medieval Festival.
MidAmerica Festivals, “Bay Area Renaissance Festival”. Bay Area Renaissance Festival.
Sarasota Medieval Fair, Inc., “Sarasota Medieval Fair”. Sarasota Medieval Fair.
The Riverdale Kiwanis, “The Medieval Faire: Riverdale Kiwanis”. The Riverdale Kiwanis Medieval Faire.
Florida Renaissance Festival, “Florida Renaissance Festival”. Florida Renaissance Festival.
Camelot Days Medieval Festival, “Camelot Days Medieval Festival”. Camelot Days Medieval Festival.