Calling all history buffs! Whether you’d rather be a knight in shining armour, an elegant princess or a spritely fairy, a noble jouster or a charming mermaid, turn yourself into a real life Renaissance Man (or Woman) for a day at the 35th annual King Richard’s Faire. Prepare for a real blast from the past when you enter the magical kingdom of King Richard.

      Even in the parking lot, performers and faire-goers alike fill the air with medieval spirit, donning costumes and making announcements and conversation in Elizabethan English. Don’t have a costume? You can rent or buy one from the many skilled artisans that set up shop throughout the forest.

      In the Tournament Field, the King and Queen watch from their perch as young jousters provide them with entertainment for the afternoon. Under the beating sun, the knights begin sword-to-sword combat in chainmail helmets and shining armor. They kick up the dust as they speed past on their trusty steeds, aiming to complete various obstacles, such as a lancing a hoop or, in later rounds, knocking each other off in a battle to please his majesty. At the end of the final round, the winning knight’s lustrous hair billows with the trot of his horse in a final victory lap.

      Over at “Ye Great Cats World Park Stage“, the Squire of the Wire finishes up his show with a daring high-heeled tightrope walk. The crowd anticipates the next show from the Traveler, ringleader of the Great Cats World Park show, clad in leather boots, velvet leggings, hair feathers, and a vampy purple lipstick. The fierce lineup includes cats hailing from South Africa to East Asia, showcasing beasts like Banshee the Bengal tiger and Dexter the Spotted leopard.

      Every day just before 1:00 p.m., the King is joined by all his men, women, artisans, and creatures of the kingdom in a galavant of regal proportions. Accompanied by horses and trumpeters, the parade is not an attraction to be missed.

      Wondering what else the Faire has to offer? With over eight different stages, shows, and acts performing throughout the day, the only possible way to indulge your curiosity of the dark ages, the lighter ages, and the age of rebirth is to escape to the tantalizing realm of King Richard’s Faire.