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The Texas Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance theme park presented as an English village. Some weekends are "theme" weekends, with themes like Octoberfest, Pirates, Thanksgiving, and Celtic Christmas. There are over 200 scheduled performances on several stages and performance areas, a tavern, a mud pit, and an arena for jousting and martial arts performances. Visitors stroll along shaded cobblestone paths, mingling and interacting with costumed players, and stop at their leisure to enjoy an impromptu performance, dine, or shop. For an extra fee, there are games and rides with a renaissance theme, including Storming the Castle, a petting zoo, archery and axe-throwing competitions, and (for adults only) Drench the Wench.
The grounds are landscaped, and include five gardens. There's a Venetian style water garden, The Roman Basilica, a rose garden, Titania's Bower, even a Magic Garden for meditation. There's food in plenty, and not just the standard fare of fairs; quiche, a wide variety of hot and cold beverages, pies, ice cream, sausage on a stick, fried turkey breast, pastries and muffins, Cajun food, including alligator and gumbo, as well as fish and chips, coconut shrimp and a wide selection of alcoholic and non alcoholic brews.
There are a number of artisans and crafts people, over three hundred. Their wares include jewelry, clothes in a variety of renaissance styles, pewter ware, pottery, leather work, weapons, candles, lotions, perfumes, soaps, decorative items, custom portraits, glass ware, musical instruments, and even games and toys for children. There are demonstrations by blacksmiths, gold and silver smiths, glass blowers, a replica of a fifteenth century print shop with a printing press, a candle maker, a broom maker, even a Master of the Sword.
The Texas Renaissance Festival is one of the oldest in the country, and it is enormous. There's a high probability you'll want a second day, at least. Fortunately, The Texas Renaissance Festival is held Plantersville, Texas during weekends throughout October and November, so you'll have multiple opportunities to return.
To learn more, visit their website: http://www.texrenfest.com
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