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 The Colorado Renaissance Festival is an ideal event for anyone with a love of costume and pageantry. There are regular live performances and strolling players. The festival boasts live jousting, complete with mounted knights in armor, a mime, jugglers and acrobats, clowns, and a hypnotist. There are performers singing bawdy songs, fire acts, bagpiping, and even a jester--there are over sixty shows a day. You can stroll, shop, dine, and enjoy the entertainment, all within the festive environment designed to make you think you are living in the past. You can even celebrate your nuptials at the festival's own Canterbury Chapel, if you're inclined to have a renaissance-themed wedding in costume. Couples can follow the ceremony with a reception (or even a feast) provided by the festival's own kitchens in the festival's Royal Gardens.
The festival is family-friendly, though, so don't feel like you need to leave the kids at home. Not only will children enjoy the rich and vibrant atmosphere, music, and entertainers, there are a number of special activities specifically designed for little ones (and while children with an accompanying adult are welcome; pets do need to stay home). Past festivals have won numerous awards, including "Best Family Festival in Colorado" from Colorado Parent Magazine.
 You don't have to bring children along, in order to enjoy the festival, however. Adults will enjoy the Pirate's Pub, which offers not only beer and ale, but food and even boasts singing bawdy tavern wenches. There are several opportunities to hear performances on the carillon's four tons of bronze bells. And of course, the King and his court, as well as wenches, churls, peasants, and knights are all in full attendance, and eager to make your acquaintance. The atmosphere resounds with color, music, and fun, for festival-goers of all ages.
In addition to a wide range of entertainers and performers, the Renaissance festival features an Artisan's Marketplace. The Marketplace includes over 200 individual craftspeople and artisans creating and selling their wares. You'll have the opportunity to see skilled artisans who do what they love, creating beautiful and useful one-of-a-kind objects. Craftspeople include leather workers, blacksmiths, glass blowers, and potters, among others. The Marketplace offers a wide range of carefully selected hand-crafted items suitable for gifts and keepsakes, gathered in a single location.
You won't go hungry, either; you can find traditional festival fare including turkey drumsticks, roasted corn on the cob, sausage in several forms, and of course, a wide selection of beers and ales as well as other beverages. Theme weekends mean that the festival changes based on a specific theme for the weekend. Past themes have included Father's Day, a Celtic Festival, a Pirate Festival and even even an Ale Festival.
The Colorado Renaissance Festival is held for several weekends during the summer at 650 W. Perry Park Avenue in Larkspur, Colorado. To learn more, visit their website: http://www.coloradorenaissance.com/
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