Renaissance Festivals

Most Renaissance Festivals are arranged to represent an imagined village in England during the reign of Elizabeth I, as this period has been generally considered to correspond to the flowering of the English Renaissance.

In a modern Renaissance festival there are stages or performance areas set up for scheduled shows as well as audience participation comedy routines. Other performances include dancers, magicians, musicians, jugglers, and singers. Between the stages the streets ('lanes') are lined with stores ('shoppes') and stalls where independent vendors sell medieval and Renaissance themed handcrafts, clothing, books, and artworks. There are food and beverage vendors, as well as game and ride areas. Games include basic skills events such as archery or axe-throwing as well as Drench-a-Wench and Soak-a-Bloke, which allow a player with a good aim to hit a target and get a fair employee wet. Rides are typically unpowered—various animal rides and human-powered swings are common. Live animal displays and falconry exhibitions are also commonplace. Larger Renaissance fairs will often include a joust as a main attraction.

Fantasy elements, such as centaurs, are welcomed at some Renaissance fairs

In addition to the staged performances, a major attraction of Renaissance fairs is the crowds of actors - both professional and amateur - who play all sorts of historical figures and roam the fair, interacting with visitors. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes. Many of the fair vendors sell or rent costumes for all ages and types. The Renaissance fair subculture's word for these costumed guests is "playtrons", a portmanteau of the words "patron" and "player", and they add a second level of enjoyment to their experience by "getting into the act" as Renaissance Lords and ladies, peasants, pirates, belly dancers, or fantasy characters.

Most fairs have an end-of-the-day ritual, a parade or concert where all employees gather and bid farewell to the patrons. For those who  work at the fair, the last concert that a festival holds for the season is traditionally an emotional moment. (from Wikipedia)

Take a look at the Renaissance Festival in Deerfield Park, Florida.

What activities would you most enjoy if you were to go to a Renaissance Festival?

Florida Festivals

The state of Florida is almost always hosting one festival or another. Between Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Key West, you can be sure to find some grand tourist event on the calendar.
From the Gazparilla Pirate Fest in January each year, through Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at year's end, Florida is always celebrating. 

If you're looking for something more small-town, these communities host some pretty amazing (and unusual) festivals. Read about 10 Small Towns and Festivals.


So, which festival would you most like to visit? Why?

World's 10 Best Festivals

According to Lonely Planet...Being at festivals is like standing inside the mind of a culture as it dreams. They have the ability to be both extremely intimate and public spectacles at the same time. Here are 10 of the world’s best festivals. Let yourself go...And be sure to look through the picture gallery.