Renaissance Festivals
Read about Renaissance Faires and Festivals, their history and where you can find them.
Creating Your Renaissance Character
The Central Coast Renaissance Festival is a vibrant celebration of history, culture, and creativity. One of the most exciting aspects of this festival is the opportunity to get a costume and develop a character from that era. Whether you are a participant or paid guest, creating a Renaissance character makes your visit so much more […]
Food and Drink at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival
As the scent of roasted meats and freshly baked pastries fills the air, a visit to the Central Coast Renaissance Festival will transport you to a realm where delightful food and drink intertwine with the magic of the past. Amidst the bustling streets and vibrant performances, the array of food offerings will invite you to […]
Pyes in Renaissance England
In celebration of Pi Day, let’s delve into the history of pies and what they were in Renaissance England. Before we go back to the 16th centuery, we should look into how Pi Day came to be a nationally recognized day passed by the House of Representatives on March 12, 2009. Origin of Pi Day […]
A Peasant’s Breakfast in Renaissance England
In Renaissance England, the peasant class relied on a simple yet nourishing breakfast to sustain them for the day’s toil in the farms and fields. This morning meal, typically devoid of extravagance, was composed of staple foods readily available to those of modest means. A Typical Peasant Breakfast […]
The Harsh Reality of a Peasant Woman’s Life in 16th Century England
For the vast majority of women in Renaissance England, life was an endless cycle of backbreaking labor and hardship. Born into poverty, most females of the peasant class had a harsh existence that began before they could even walk. From a tender age, peasant girls were tasked with chores and responsibilities to support the family […]
Experience the 38th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival!
Join us for an enchanting journey back in time at the highly anticipated 38th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival! Immerse yourself in a world of chivalry, merriment, and medieval charm at this captivating event taking place in the heart of the Central Coast. Step into a realm where knights don shining armor, actors amuse with […]
Inexpensive Costume Ideas for the Renaissance Festival
The Renaissance Festival is a magical time where history comes alive, and people from all walks of life gather to celebrate the rich culture and traditions of the Renaissance era. One of the highlights of this festive event is dressing up in elaborate costumes that transport you back in time. However, creating a Renaissance costume […]
The Majestic Tapestry of Renaissance England’s Royalty
Once upon a time, during the vibrant era of the Renaissance in England, a multitude of distinct royals graced the courts with their presence, each with their unique personalities, aspirations, and struggles. Let us embark on a journey through the corridors of power and witness the tapestry of royalty that adorned this remarkable period. First […]
The Emergence of the Plague Doctor
During the bubonic plague outbreaks in Elizabethan England, the role of the “plague doctor” emerged. These were physicians who were tasked with treating those who had contracted the disease, but also with trying to prevent its spread. However, it is important to note that the term “plague doctor” was not commonly used during the Elizabethan […]
Feast Like Royalty: A Guide to the Delicious Food Choices at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival
The Central Coast Renaissance Festival is a celebration of the culture and customs of the Renaissance period. Along with live music, battling knights, and other forms of entertainment, the festival also offers a wide variety of food and drink options that are sure to satisfy any visitor’s hunger and thirst. From traditional fare like turkey […]
A Look at Breasts and Modesty Throughout History
No pun intended, OK? Alright, moving on . . . The Central Coast Renaissance Festival, and most Renaissance Faires and Festivals, attempt to simulate what it might have been like in Europe 450 years ago. We get some things right, but honestly, we are off base on a few. That’s OK. It’s all in the […]
Falconry in the Renaissance Era and its Enduring Legacy Today
Experience the Thrill of Falconry at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival Falconry is an ancient sport and practice that most people rarely, if ever, see. You will get an up-close look at it at the Central Coast Renaissance Festival. Falconry, also known as hawking, was a popular pastime among the wealthy during the Renaissance Era. […]
Renaissance festival hairstyles for women: a guide to peasant, middle class, and noble styles
During the Renaissance era, hair was considered an essential element of women’s fashion, and different hairstyles were adopted by women of different classes. The peasant, middle class, and nobility all had their unique styles, which reflected their social status and lifestyle. Middle-class women, on the other hand, had more resources and time to devote to […]
A Renaissance Festival Romance, Conclusion
Read Part 1 of the story here. Read Part 2 of the story here. Read Part 3 of the story here. In the weeks following the Renaissance Festival, William and Lily found themselves reminiscing about the joy and excitement of the event. They often talked about their favorite moments at the festival and laughed about […]
English Renaissance: From Simple Language to Shakespeare’s Inventions and Modern English
During the English Renaissance, the English language underwent significant changes and evolved into the modern form we know today. At the beginning of the Renaissance, English was still a relatively simple language, with a limited vocabulary and a grammar that was much simpler than that of other European languages. However, as England began to emerge […]
From Historically Accurate to Fantastical: The Rich Variety of Festival Costumes
The festival is a great place to see a variety of costumes and fashions, ranging from historically accurate garb to imaginative interpretations of Renaissance style. Here are some of the different types of costumes and fashions you might see: Historical Accuracy: Some festival-goers take great care to create historically accurate costumes that are representative of […]
Why is Sarah Sad?
Sarah had always been fascinated with the Renaissance era, the fashion, the food, and the activities. She had heard a lot of great things about the Central Coast Renaissance Festival, and she had made up her mind to attend the event. The festival promised a weekend of fun-filled activities like jousting, live music, and artisans […]
A Renaissance Festival Romance, Part 3
Read Part 1 of the story here. Read Part 2 of the story here. In the weeks that followed the Renaissance Festival, William and Lily continued to spend time together. They went on picnics, took long walks along the beach, and even tried their hand at sword fighting. As their love deepened, William began to […]
A Renaissance Festival Romance, Part 2
(If you missed part 1 of this story, you can read it here). William and Lily wandered through the bustling Central Coast Renaissance Festival, taking in the sights and sounds of the colorful event. The air was filled with the aroma of roasted turkey legs and freshly baked bread, while the clinking of armor and […]
A Renaissance Festival Romance, Part 1
Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Lily who had always been enamored with the romance and chivalry of the Renaissance era. She had grown up reading tales of knights and maidens, and her heart had always longed for the kind of love and adventure that seemed to exist only in the […]
Step Back in Time and Experience the Humorous Humiliation of The Stocks
Participants are not punished or humiliated and are instead encouraged to have fun and enjoy the festival atmosphere. It’s all in good fun and a way to immerse oneself in the culture and entertainment of the Renaissance era.
Creating Your Renaissance Character
Creating a character for a Renaissance festival can be a fun and creative process. Here are some steps you can follow to create your character: Research the Renaissance period: Before you start creating your character, it’s important to research the Renaissance period and understand the culture, history, and fashion of the time. This will help […]
Children At The Renaissance Festival
Costumes and Dress-Up: Children often enjoy dressing up in costumes and playing make-believe. Renaissance festivals offer an opportunity for children to dress up as knights, princesses, fairies, and other characters from the period, which can be a fun and engaging way for them to participate in the event.
Queen Elizabeth’s Tilbury Speech
Queen Elizabeth went to Tilbury, England to rally the troops on August 9, 1588. At the time, England feared that Spain would invade its shores. That moment has gone down in British history as one of its finest. Here is the speech in full: My loving people, We have been persuaded by some that are […]
How To Create A Renaissance Festival
Whether we call it a “faire” or a “festival,” there are certain steps that help create the feeling of authenticity. Of course, we are just playing make-believe, but we do our best to take our participants and guests back to an earlier time. Here is a great blog post we’d like to share about how […]
Highlights from the 35th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival
These photos are from the 35th Central Coast Renaissance Festival. Before we turn our attention Let’s spend some time reviewing this year and giving a shout-out to those that made it happen. New Shows First off, the armored knight shows were fabulous. In my 37 years of working at this festival, I have never seen […]
Festivals and Fairs in Renaissance England
Despite the hardships of daily life in Renaissance England, Elizabethans eagerly anticipated the various festivals and fairs that punctuated their calendar throughout the year. With leisure time limited, these events provided much-needed respite from work and an opportunity to come together as a community. While some celebrations coincided with Christian holy days, others had Pagan […]
12 Tips To Have A Magical Visit To The Central Coast Renaissance Festival
The Central Coast Renaissance Festival will turn San Luis Obispo’s Laguna Lake Park into a Renaissance village on July 16 & 17, 2022. This isn’t like any other summer festival, so here’s some advice on what to expect and how to get the most enjoyment out of this unique experience. From the moment you arrive, […]
Food and Your Life Style
In general, people eat two meals a day: Dinner, at midday say 11:00 or 12:00 Supper, in the evening, about 6:00. Husbandmen and others whose work is never done may have their supper as late as 9:00. It is best to refer to having dinner instead of lunch or even luncheon. Invite people to dine […]
The Shakespeare Book
The Shakespeare Book brings the work of William Shakespeare to life with full-color photography, images, idea webs, timelines, and quotes that help you understand the context of Shakespeare’s plays and poems. From Shakespeare’s most-famous plays, such as Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar, to less-frequently performed works such as King John and Henry VIII, every […]
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