5 Reasons to Visit a Renaissance Festival
Visit a Renaissance Festival!
A few years ago, I would have laughed at the thought of going to a Renaissance Festival. I am no history geek! However, times have changed, and everybody and their brother goes to Renaissance Festivals ( or Ren Faires as many people lovingly call them) for a fun weekend activity. There really is something for everyone.
In case you are not familiar with Renaissance Festivals or Renaissance Faires, they are festivals with a renaissance theme. Many people come dressed up in outfits, and everyone else shows up hoping to see everyone else's renaissance costumes. Many visitors have veered off a bit, and some people come dressed in other attire, such as pirates, vampires, Santa Claus, etc. It is truly a sight to see. Let me tell you why you should visit a Renaissance Festival.
Ren Faire Fun!
Have you been to a Renaissance Festival?
1. Food
If you've read anything else I've written, you know without a doubt one of my major motivators to do anything in life is food. I absolutely love festival food, and the Ren Faire is a festival with a lot of food options.
You might think the Renaissance Festival will only have food from that era, but that assumption is wrong. Sure, you can get a giant turkey leg (which is delicious, I might add), but you can get plenty of modern fair foods, too.
A list of some of the many delicious treats I saw at the Renaissance Festival:
Oreo Cookie Smoothie
- Cheesecake on a Stick
- Soup in a Bread Bowl
- Crab and Cheese Pretzel
- Chicken Sandwich
- Root Beer Floats
- Beer
- Cone of Cookies
- Dirt Cake
- Giant Soft Pretzel
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
- Smoked Turkey Legs
- Ice Cream
- Roasted Nuts
- Fish and Chips
- Cinnamon Buns
- Crab Cakes
- Meat and Spinach Pies
- Potato Wedges
- Caramel Apples
- Candy Apples
- Steak on a Stake
- Curly Fries
- Onion Rings
- Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
- Corn on the Cob
- Seasoned French Fries
- Steak Sandwiches
- Quesadillas
- And much, much more!
2. Animals
Yet another aspect of any fun festival are the animals. At a Renaissance Festival, you might see anything from horses to elephants. If you are lucky, elephant rides might even be offered depending on which Ren Faire you attend.
If you have children, it is quite popular for any fair to offer pony rides. Unfortunately, they usually only allow children this privilege, but hey, as an adult, you can't have everything in life. You can simply enjoy the sights of the adorable ponies... oh, and the kids riding the ponies... while at the festival.
3. Shows
Renaissance Festivals typically offer a number of different entertaining shows. You can watch a jousting match, see a man in tights balance on a tightrope, or even watch a belly dancer perform on stage. There are a wide variety of options and shows you've probably never imagined.
If you want something a little creepier, you might be able to see a sword swallower performance. At the Maryland Renaissance Festival, there is a display call the Museum of Unnatural History. For just a $1, you can walk through a maze of disgusting animals in jars. Let's hope it's all fake!
4. Costumes
If you enjoy dressing up and walking around like you just stepped out of a book, then the Ren Faire could be for you. At the Renaissance Festival, you will see peasants, kings, queens, vampires, pirates, and numerous other costumes. Some people don't even worry about keeping up with the renaissance theme. You might see any kind of outfit at the festival.
Even if you don't want to get in a costume, you can enjoy watching everyone else wearing their attire. Some people put a lot of work into their costumes, while others are simply hilarious. You will surely be entertained by what you see.
5. Shopping
If you enjoy shopping, you just might enjoy buying some of the handcrafted products at the Renaissance Festival. You can find glass products and even see some the items being created while in the store. You can find numerous shops that sell leather crafted items. There are plenty of jewelry stores, too. If you've always wanted to wear a crown of flowers, you can buy that at the Ren Faire. If you've just wanted to wear a crown in general, you can even find that there!
Although many of the products fall under a renaissance theme, you can always find items that are simply pretty and handcrafted. Many of the products sold at the festival are items you can not find anywhere else. If you are looking for something really unique or want to give a very creative gift, the Renaissance Festival might be the best place for you to go.
Copyright ©2013 Jeannieinabottle
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