Every year hundreds of people flock to Huntersville, North Carolina to capture the essence of the Renaissance period at the Carolina Renaissance Festival. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is one of the largest and best known festivals nationwide. The festival fills up a twenty-acre park with attractions that include amusement rides, crafts and tournaments. Some of the guests fully enjoy the experience by dressing in medieval armor and Renaissance clothing.
North Carolina Renaissance festivals and fairs have gained popularity in recent years due to the public's fascination with medieval and classical history. The Renaissance period was a time during European history from the 14th to the 16th century that had a huge impact on food, art, theatre and clothing.
Things To DoThe fair is home to numerous entertainers including comedy acts, joust tournaments and theatrical presentations. The festival has an impressive list of other things to do including:
1. Castles and cottages set up all around the festival for visitors to walk through
2. Mazes, catapults and elephant rides
3. For the truly brave, a realistic dungeon complete with period tools and pictures depicting what happened to the people that were kept in the dungeon
4. Skilled artisans marketing handcrafted items including jewelry, clothes and tools
In addition to the entertainment, vendors and pubs, there is also live music and dancing.
Food and Drink
The food at the festival is reminiscent of food from the Renaissance period. It includes succulent turkey legs, large bowls of chili and bratwurst. There is also beer and ale to quench the thirst, and the activities will highlight a home brewed beer competition.
Along with the entertainment and food, the festival has special events geared around certain Renaissance themes. These themes include a kid’s free weekend, brew fest and Celtic music. For Halloween, the park will host a treasure hunt with prizes.
Information
This year the event will take place weekends only from October 10, 2009, until November 22, 2009. The fair is open from 10:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Free parking is available across from the festival. Tickets purchased in advance are $18 for adults and kids age 5-12 get in for $7. Children under the age of five are admitted free. Tickets bought at the gate cost $1 more per ticket. Pets are not allowed so leave Rover at home. The festival is open rain or shine so don't forget to bring an umbrella. The festival will take place at 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.
Erin Oxendine - Erin Oxendine has numerous years of experience as a writer and editor with an emphasis on legal matters, travel and health issues. Erin ...
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