This season of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is off to a roaring start after a weekend of sunshine weather and 85 degree days. The normally slow paced crowds of opening weekend gave way to a gluttony of families taking photos and participants dressed in their best bodices and chain mail, informed by the exuberant media attention mere days before the festival started.
Remembering the Renaissance Festival of Years Past
Everyone remembers the untimely death of Joe Kudla in 2008, the famous portrayer of Thomas Snot in the Puke 'n' Snot show, died 5 days before the gates opened after 35 years in the role. A replacement Snot was hired to fill the large shoes of Kudla.
Dave Albright of All Pun and Games, one of the companies that operates games such as Archery and Castle Catapult, also lost an employee that same year to heart failure the night before opening weekend. “I got some bad news around 2 a.m. last night so I apologize for the rocky start," he said.
16th Century Renaissance Faire
Renaissance Festival is a celebration of the medieval era of the 16th century. Participants and visitors are encouraged to dress as knights, peasants, jesters, wenches, or even in costumes that don't fit the era. In years past, wizards and witches mingled with Klingons and stormtroopers. This first weekend even saw a couple dressed in 18th-century Bavarian lederhousen.
The theme for the first weekend was A Silk Road: Discover the Riches, and it featured the Minnesota State Belly Dance Competition, Arabian Horse Shows, Samurai demonstrations, and Yoga lessons. Also, the annual Pet Fest offered the opportunity for pets an pet lovers to parade their animals and enter into a pet costume contests, and.
Nearly a dozen new vendors joined the hundreds of crafts and wares available at the festival this year. Leather, metalworkings, perfumes, candles, woodworking, pottery and jewelry all add spice to the food and entertainment.
This season also sees the expansion of the food menus to include more heart-healthy and vegetarian dishes as well as its old standards of turkey legs, bread bowl soups, and oversized pickles. The Feast of Fantasy, held at Bad Manor, is also on schedule and this year features steak au poive and sliced chicken breast with l'orange sauce.
Music and Fun No Matter the Weather, Even on Labor Day
Returning this year are the many great acts the MN Renaissance Festival has been known for in the past as well as new ones. Highlights include the comedy stylings of the Tortuga Twins, the fire eating of Johnny Phoenix, and insult comedy troupe of Vilification Tennis. Remember to take a picture of Puke 'n Snot.
Renaissance Festival is located in Shakopee, outside of Minneapolis, and runs weekends and labor day from August 21st to October 3 and Friday, October 1. Gates open at 9am and close at 7pm. Rain or shine and offers Free Parking. Tickets range from $20.95 for adults and $11.95 for children with a $2 senior discount.
Upcoming events include the World Highland Heavy Games Championship, the Minnesota Longbow Competition and Home brewing Competition, the Minnesota State Juggling Competition, and a Bocce Ball Tournament.
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is operated by Mid-America Festivals, which operates 4 other similar festivals in other states and the Trail of Terror in October.
Jason Chavis - Jason lives and works out of Minneapolis. He is the author of four books, two movies and a play as well as numerous articles for a variety ...
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