How to Run Your Own Medieval Faire!

What does a Medieval Faire or Renaissance Faire typically include?

An event at your specific facility can be a small, intimate event, or a larger, extravagant affair! Here are some aspects of traditional Medieval Faires that you should consider:

1. Costumes and Dress-up: All your staff should expect to get creative and dress up! It is also strongly recommended that your guests arrive in costume as well. Many different costumes are possible, including knights, kings, queens, peasants, jesters, and courtiers.
2. Live Entertainment:
   • Jousting tournaments: Brave knights on horseback competing in a test of skill might work if you have a large space, but smaller spaces can also arrange for sword fights, archery, or even knightly games of skill that your participants can join in!
   • Minstrels and musicians: Live music featuring medieval instruments like lutes, harps, and flutes, along with period inspired dancers, can bring life to your event. Consider something fun, like a medieval rendition of modern songs, as a unique twist too!
   • Theater performances: Street performers or plays that reenact medieval tales, myths, or comedies are always a hit!
   • Jesters and comedians: Light-hearted humor and interactive entertainment could be in the form of magicians, comedians, buskers and more!
3. Medieval Food and Drink:
   • Turkey legs, pies, mead, ale, and roasted nuts are popular choices. You'll often find food trucks are happy to make creative name adjustments to their typical dishes to make it feel fun and medieval!
4. Craft and Artisan Vendors:
   • A variety of vendors is always a good idea! Handcrafted goods such as leather goods, pottery, jewelry, weapons, and medieval-inspired clothing are sold by artisans.
5. Falconry:
   • For an added touch of realism and extravagance consider booking a Falconer. Falconers often provide live demonstrations involving their birds of prey used in Medieval sport and hunting. Birds of Prey demonstrations are always a highly engaging activity that offer immersive education that is accessible to a wide audience. Attendees are sure to be thrilled with an up close and personal experience of the "Sport of Kings!"
6. Games and Competitions:
   • Archery, axe throwing, knight combat challenges, and other medieval-themed games can be set up for visitors to try their hand at.
7. Interactive Experiences:
   • Many faires offer opportunities to try medieval arts like blacksmithing, crafting, pottery making, or even learning how to sword fight!