Renaissance Festivals are a time of fun and frivolity. Many include enjoying food in large quantities and combining it with alcohol is substantial but responsible amounts. Add in shows and entertainment from the days of the Renaissance and you have a lot of fun. This is the 31st annual Renaissance Festival, held just behind the fairgrounds where the Anne Arundel County Fair is held each year. There will be plenty of shows, games, food, and beverages to entertain everyone regardless of your age.
The Renaissance Fair in Crownsville, MD last for nine weeks, starting on the 26th of August and lasting through the middle of October. The fair is open from 10 in the morning until 7 at night on each Friday and Saturday during that time period, and it’s also open on Labor Day which is September 3rd. There are plenty of activities for fans of the time period who want to see shows that bring them back to that simpler time of life. There are also plenty of games for fair attendees to participate in. Among those include the very popular game of throwing an axe out of a target made out of hay. If you hit the target, you win one of the much sought after “woodies”. These are small disks made out of a tree branch with a rope attached for you to wear around your neck.
There are too many shows to describe them all, but I will share some styles of shows you will be able to view at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. These include comedy shows, shows of skill in acts of jousting and archery, improvization shows, and comdedic presentations.
Second only to the shows (and ranking higher for some), is the availability of food and beer. One of the more popular fair foods is the large turkey legs that you eat right off the bone. Other primative foods include sausage on a stick and meat pies. They also have different soups, stews, barbecue, and other foods for you to enjoy for lunch or dinner. The stick theme continues into dessert with cheesecake on a stick. If you want a dessert not on a stick there are other options such as caramel apple pieces, apple dumplings, and even sundaes made with croissants.
There are several special event weekends throughout the Maryland Renaissance Fair. One of them is the first weekend which is Children’s weekend with special shows for the kids on August 26 and 27th. September 8th and 9th this year is the Celtic celebration weekend. September 22nd and 23rd is Adventure weekend which in the past has been known as Pirates Weekend, with pirates invading the fair. October 6th and 7th is a celebration of Oktoberfest for the German fans of this fall holiday season. Finally Chivalry weekend ends the fair on October 20 and 21 with a chance for couples to renew their vows in a group ceremony on the 21st to end the celebration of the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Come out and enjoy the trip back to the Renaissance. It includes employees and guests as well dressed in period clothing. There are also numerous vendors to purchase unique items from throughout the 125 acre fairground. Come and enjoy the Maryland Renaissance Festival on weekends from August 26th through October 21st, a total of 9 weekends of fun and Renaissance period entertainment.
