‘Tis time for the 16th century to come alive once again with the 34th Annual Texas Renaissance Festival. Knights, ladies, jugglers and fortunetellers, just to name a few, will entertain as patrons stroll down shaded cobblestone pathways.
The Texas Renaissance Festival began in 1974 with three stages and 15 acres of land. It now boasts 21 stages and more than 150 performances daily with Royal Fireworks held at dusk. It also features jousting, more than 300 arts and crafts shops, international cuisine and five wedding venues including the King’s Chapel, Roman Basilica, Rose Garden, Water Garden and the English Garden.
For those unfamiliar with the festival, it is made up of eight themed weekends, beginning this year with Oktoberfest. If you love Bratwurst, sauerkraut and beer, this is definitely your weekend.
The following weekend’s 1001 Dreams will fill the festival with wizards, elves and fairies, which will probably give it a Lord of the Rings feel. Don’t forget to pull your fairy costume out of the closet for the Fantasy Costume Contest.
All Hallows Eve, Oct. 25 and 26, is sure to be a popular weekend since it captures the spirit of Halloween with ghouls, goblins and other spooky creatures along with a trick-or-treat outing, Jack-o’-lanterns and another costume contest.
"Arr" you ready for a swashbuckling weekend of pirates? Then take your booty to the festival on Nov. 1 and 2 and enter the Talk Like a Pirate Contest. When in Rome, or at least on Nov. 8 and 9, you can enjoy a pasta eating contest or be a barbarian at the Barbarian Invasion on Nov. 22 and 23.
Finally, the festival will close with Celtic Christmas, which is the last weekend of November. Everything will be adorned with Christmas decorations, and the festival will be filled with the music of the season. Festivities include a yuletide scavenger hunt and a visit with Father Christmas.
The festival is located on FM 1774, between Magnolia and Plantersville 50 miles northwest of Houston. Gates open at 9 a.m. and close at dusk. Tickets at the gate are $21 for adults and $10 for children. Discount tickets are available at HEB, Market Basket, Randall’s, Woodforest National Bank, ClicknPrint Tickets and at www.texrenfest.com.
