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The Renaissance Festival: Joust your way back in time
Story and photos by Nathan Anderson
The Texas Renaissance Festival is celebrating 27 years of business, and according to Eulice Vail,
a festival merchant, each year gets increasingly better. People come from all over Texas to celebrate
the festival.
Upon arrival at the event grounds, one finds workers and visitors dressed in 16th century costumes.
Knights, kings, queens, peasants, beefeaters and even wenches stroll among the
guests. The festival began this year Oct. 6 and runs through Nov. 18, rain or shine. Guests will find
plenty of things to see and do. Plays, enactments and jousting are just a few of the activities
offered. There are also 60 food booths and more than 300 arts and crafts shops.
The festival provides entertainment for the entire family. Children can enjoy the petting zoo, as
well as elephant rides, a giant swing and a carousel. Adult activities include axe throws, knife
throws, and bow and arrow shooting.
By far, the most popular event at the festival is the jousting. Knights dressed in full armor mount
their horses and go head to head in full-contact jousting. Audiences, cheering on their favorite
knights, feel very much a part of this medieval sporting event. Each year, festival attendance increases.
"We used to be happy if we saw 10,000 people during the festival; now we might see 30,000 in one
day," Vail said. Tickets are available at the gate. Prices are $20 for adults, $9 for children 5-12,
and free for children 4 and younger. Discount tickets are available through www.texrenfest.com
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For more than 25 years, the fall season has turned a small area northwest of Houston into a medieval
getaway.
