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The year is 1585. Queen Elizabeth and her stunning Royal Court are on their summer travels throughout England to meet her people. They stop in Donneybrook Upon The Thames, a small village near the English Channel. The villagers have prepared a great celebration for Her Majesty including a spectacular summer faire. The Queen’s own chefs have arrived before her to prepare a great feast for the entire village, and her brave knights are holding a rousing joust for her entertainment.

And so we lay the scene for the 28th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival, held in San Luis Obispo’s El Chorro Regional Park on July 21 & 22.

Media coordinator Rick Smith, one of the original founders of the event, says, “This is our 28th year and it just gets better every year. Our acts are top notch and the joust is the best you’ll see anywhere. You can spend the entire day here and be entertained the whole time. There’s nothing else like this on the Central Coast."

Smith says that the village comes alive as reenactment groups portraying Irish, Scots, English military, woodworkers, peasants, rogues, seamen, middle class, musicians and the Queen's Court set up camp and give living history demonstrations. “The costumes are absolutely fantastic,” he says, “they are so authentic. He explains that each participant develops their own character and they know how that character interacts with the other people in the village to make it all seem real.

“Visitors will enjoy continuous stage shows including comedy, a parrot act, music, dance, plays and of course, the Royal Jousting Tournament,” Smith says. The joust is held twice per day, at 1:00 PM and again at 3:00 PM. Children will also enjoy pony rides, face painting, games and a petting zoo.

Vendor coordinator Justin LeCavalier say the festival offers a unique shopping experience: ”Over 50 vendors will offer everything from swords to complete costumes, hats, footwear, tankards, leather goods, jewelry, pottery, wooden toys; basically anything that looks like it could have existed around the year 1585.”

LeCavalier adds that food will include the traditional roasted turkey legs along with meat pies, roasted sausages, ribs, salads, sandwiches, foods from the Orient, handmade ice cream and more. “Guests can quench their thirst with freshly squeezed lemonade, iced teas and of course, the Queen’s own beer, ale and wine,” he says. There is a beer garden where visitors can sit at tables in the shade, be waited on and enjoy entertainment arranged especially for them.

Smith says that guests are welcome to come in costume but that it is not required. “We love it when our guests want to be part of the fun by dressing up. If you don’t have a costume you can get anything you want at the festival, from a simple hair wreath to a blouse or complete costume. Whether visitors come in costume or not, they’re sure to have a wonderful time.”

Smith says that parking is across Highway 1, at Cuesta College. Parking is $2.00 per car and there are free shuttle buses running constantly to the festival entrance. Hours are 10 AM till 6 PM on Saturday and until 5:00 PM on Sunday. Adult tickets are $17, seniors and ages 6-15 are $10. Pets are not allowed. Full information and advance tickets are available at www.CCRenFaire.com.

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Renaissance Festival story ideas

Why do people put these on and why is Renaissance period so enduring?

History of Renaissance festival in the county. History of Renaissance festivals in the US. California.

History behind jousting.

History behind the food.

History of Queen Elizabeth and court.

History of peasants/middle class.

History of clothes.

Spotlight - Ren Faire entertainers

Spotlight - Ren Faire vendors...some of the more innovative ones.
Mead
Weapons
Leather goods
Costumers

Debunking Ren Faire myths:
it is just a bunch of drunken debauchery - ours is family oriented
you have to have a costume to come
it's too expensive
it's too hot
it's just for young people
I have to participate in things
I'm vegetarian, what's there for me to eat?
it's too hard to get around there
I have to be in a group
it's just a fancy, craft show

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For further information contact:

Rick Smith, Media Coordinator
(888) 744-9381