RenFest celebrates its 16th anniversary

From a Royal Faires press release that just popped into our inbox:

To celebrate its 16th anniversary as the Carolinas’ biggest kingdom of outdoor entertainment, the Carolina Renaissance Festival has planned two months of non-stop entertainment, feasting and games, Saturdays & Sundays, October 10th through November 22nd .

At the Carolina Renaissance Festival, the entire 22-acre kingdom forms the set for comic adventures, in which you can be both audience and part of the fun. With a cast of over 500 costumed characters, the festival is like a Monty Python movie come to life.

Festival fans can leave their cares behind and enjoy the pleasures of a simpler time in a storybook town where you can choose from continuous music, dance and comedy shows, shop for wonderful arts and crafts; plus games, rides and a feast of exotic food and drink.

You can throw tomatoes at the insulting fools locked in the stocks at Vegetable Justice. Cheer for your favorite mounted knights (or pirate) at three jousting tournaments each day. Or test your skill at games like the Dragon Climbing Tower, the Archery Range and the Maze.

In the festival’s vast 16th century European village, an expected 160,000 revelers will find shows on 10 stages of continuous entertainment, including fan favorites back for the anniversary celebration:

The sharp wit of the Ded Bob Show.
The Juggling and Comedy antics of London Broil.
All three Tortuga Twins.
Zilch the Torysteller.
The dangerous balancing theatrics of Dextre Tripp.
The dashing swordsman Don Juan and his zany servant Miguel.
Birds of Prey demonstrations of majesty in flight.
Cast in Bronze, America’s Rare Traveling Carillon - Weighing over 13 tons, this unique musical instrument features 48 bronze bells.
And hundreds of minstrels, dancers, jugglers and jesters.

New entertainment this year includes:

Barely Balanced! Acrobatics & Comedy! - Enjoy this trio as they display high energy, dangerous acts of balancing antics accompanied by slapstick comedy.

Ye Olde Public Punishment! - Crooks and criminals beware! Thy fate be sealed whenst the Ye Olde Nottingham Players unleash an interactive public punishment spectacle like no other! Locks, stocks, songs, comedy, and humiliation unfold as you join in on the fun!

Families will enjoy the King, Queen, and there Court (where kids can be knighted by royalty), Mother and Father Goose and their costumed flock, rides on the people-powered Da Vinci’s Flying Machine, Christopher Columbus’ Voyage to the New World, the Slider Joust, and the Piccolo Pony (a rocking horse bigger than an elephant).

The food is as spectacular as the entertainment. Festival kitchens cook up an endless feast of bread bowl stews, steak-on-a-stake, gourmet sausages, and the festival’s famous giant roasted turkey legs.

For dessert, try the fresh crepes, the cakes and cookies from the Monks Bakery, candy delights from the Chocolate Shoppe, and a favorite of all renaissance wanderers: a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds.

Festival pubs offer soft drinks, beer, wine, champagne, ale, and Medieval Margaritas.

You can also book the Village Haven for group parties and wedding ceremonies.

When the Carolina Renaissance Festival was introduced to the Charlotte area in 1994, the shows took place on three stages amid six acres of village attractions. Now 16 years later, the event has grown to become one of the largest renaissance festivals in the country.
The Village of Fairhaven is now spread over 22 acres with its 10 stages of non-stop entertainment, a tournament arena for jousting, an open-air market with 100 artisan shops, kitchens and pubs, games of skill and the people-powered rides.

Have more fun than you thought possible in a single day at the Carolina Renaissance Festival.
For visitor convenience, the Festival has embraced modern times. In addition to purchasing advanced discount tickets at Harris Teeter stores region-wide, Festival goers can now print their own tickets in advance online at RenFestInfo.com.
The 16th anniversary Carolina Renaissance Festival will be held weekends, Saturdays and Sundays from October 10th through November 22nd. For more event information, call, toll free; 877-896-5544, or on the web at RenFestInfo.com.



WHEN YOU GO:

What: The 16th annual Carolina Renaissance Festival.

Where: North of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville. The Festival is located on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85).

When: Seven consecutive weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from October 10th through November 22nd. The Festival runs from 10:00 AM until 5:30 PM, rain or shine.

Advance Discount Tickets: $18 for adults, $7 for kids ages 5-12; print your own discount tickets on-line at RenFestInfo.com or available at Harris Teeter Stores region wide. Children under 5 are always free. Tickets purchased at the gate are $1 more. Senior discount tickets (60 and over) are $17 at the gate. Parking is free courtesy of Harris Teeter.

Event Sponsors: The Carolina Renaissance Festival is presented by Harris Teeter, Carolina Blonde, Pepsi, and the Charlotte Observer.

Additional sponsors include Jacob’s Creek, Diamond Springs, Miller, Guinness, Carolina Medical Center NorthEast, DoubleTree Hotel, Sunbelt Rentals, Valpak, Party City, Jersey Mike’s, Dunkin Donuts, Chick-Fil-A, AAA of the Carolinas, SmartBox USA, My School Rock’s Magazine, Parent Teacher Magazine, The Mommies Network, Charlotte Tech Support, and Autobell Carwash.

Information: On line at RenFestInfo.com, or call (704) 896-5544, toll free (877) 896-5544.