Renaissance fair

A Renaissance or Medieval fair (ren faire, or festival) is an outdoor gathering that aims to re-create a historical setting—most often the English Renaissance—for the amusement of its guests.

For other uses, see Renaissance fair (disambiguation).

Renaissance fairs generally include costumed entertainers or fair-goers, musical and theatrical acts, art and handicrafts for sale, and festival food. These fairs are open to the public and typically commercial. Some are permanent theme parks, while others are short-term events in a fairground, winery, or other large public or private spaces.

Many Renaissance fairs are set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Some are set earlier, during the reign of Henry VIII, or in other countries, such as France. Others are set outside the era of the Renaissance; these may include earlier medieval periods (including Vikings), or later periods, such as the Golden Age of Piracy. Some engage in deliberate "time travel" by encouraging participants to wear costumes representing several eras in a broad time period. This is also done by having garments for rent to participants. Renaissance fairs encourage visitors to engage with costumes and audience participation. Many welcome fantasy elements such as wizards and elves. Some Renaisance fairs offer campgrounds for those who wish to stay more than one day.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.