Texas Renaissance Festival

-Liz Valvano

The Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville near Houston is eight weekends of medieval fun.  The theme park is a combination of all the holidays.  Every weekend starting in the beginning of October through the end of November, from 9 a.m. to dusk, staff dresses up and entertains guests who come for the 27 stages of entertainment, 300 shops, demonstrations and many types of traditional and ethnic food.  The fair is open for private groups, weddings, berry picking in the King’s Orchard and one week of school days in addition to the eight weekends.  During the winter, 16^th century musical instruments get everyone into the holiday season with festive music and Christmas carols.  This year, Ren Fest was excited to announce Thanksgiving Friday, Saturday and Sunday opening for the fairground.  Each worker is completely in character to enhance the effect of the time period.  Tickets are $21 at the gate for adults, but advanced tickets are only $16.

I have attended the Ren Fest for four years, and it is a fair for all ages.  While the kids will enjoy the petting zoo and pony rides, the shows are raunchy and comical for the older audiences, and the funniest shows include Ded Bob and the Other Brothers.  You can get anything in the shops.  It is impossible to see everything in one day, but that’s just another reason to go every year.  Make sure you stay for the fireworks, and dressing up in medieval garb is a must.  The King’s Feast is two hours of comedy and food, and a great addition to the park.  Costumes are available for sale or rent in the front of the park, and shops are all around the grounds for gear and outfits.  I recommend the Texas Renaissance Festival for all high school students and their families.