The Renaissance Fair
- Hannah Dollarhide
- Sep 10, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 25, 2020
Come one, come all! Enjoy a jousting tournament, pay to get insulted or watch birds of prey fly. The annual Renaissance Fair is a Phoenix classic all must take time to experience. With the most dedicated staff and tasty turkey legs, it’s an event you’ll not want to miss.
The 32nd annual Renaissance Fair will be February 8-March 29, 2020 (1). The fair itself happens around this same time every year. It is open on Saturdays, Sundays and President’s Day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.(1). Each weekend contains a different special event from the “Time Traveler’s Weekend” to the “Pirate Invasion” and even the “Final Huzzah!” (1). It’s not every day that you get to walk through 16th Century European village with 2000 characters to immerse you in the experience (2). The amusement park has a 14-stage theater, a 30-acre circus, arts and crafts, feasts and a jousting tournament (2). Ticket on-site are $28 for adults and $18 for children between the ages of 5-12 (2). However, if you decide to purchase your ticket early from your local Fry’s grocery store, you get a $2 discount. That is how I decided to buy my ticket when I went in Spring 2018 so as to avoid the ticket lines at the fair.
The Renaissance Fair is located out at 12601 East Highway 60 Gold Canyon, AZ (2). It is approximately a 35-minute drive from Arizona State’s Tempe Campus (Google Maps). If you don’t have a car, it is approximately a $35 Uber.
Tip: you may bring in one 16-24 ounce sealed water bottle into the festival, but no other food or drink (4)
So, what are some of the things you can do at the Renaissance Fair?
Well, just walking around is a fun time on its own because there are a variety of unique shops, artisans and food stands.
There are jousting tournaments three times a day for your viewing pleasure (1).
There are a carnival-like rides and games like bungee-jumping trampolines and air-ship rides.
One of my personal favorites is the “9-time Guinness World Record Holder Adam Crack” who stops the show with a crack of his whip during the Fire Whip Show (3). He's like a live-action Indiana Jones, one of my favorite movies, which is why I enjoy the show so much.
Another favorite of mine is the bird of prey show, the Ancient Art of Falconry, containing eagles, owls and more (3). Perfect for all the animal lovers out there! I always enjoy the facts they tell about the birds.
And I can’t forget to mention the Shamus the Insulter who will have you shocked and in hysterics from his impressive quips (3). He begins with a warning of, "Sir, you are about to be insulted," and then the jokes on you. An example of one of his lines is Shamus may say that your facial hair looks like "the back end of a weasel mating with your face"(5).
My last little tip, for an extra $2 you can enter the Medieval Torture exhibit. It is a little cheesy in my opinion, but informative and I always go when I attend the fair. For the more of the entertainment found at the Renaissance fair, click here.
Tip: A few of my favorite artisan shops to pop in on at the fair are the glass blower stand, the wax hand shop, and the chocolate covered strawberry store!
My friend and fellow Delta Gamma, Danielle Bricker, recommends the Renaissance Fair because, "The overall atmosphere is super fun! It's totally different than regular life. I love how into it some people get and all the little are stands where people sell things. And the food too!" So take our advice and:
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