Renaissance Faire Weddings: Western US

Renaissance faires and festivals can be a romantic getaway for the two of you--or be a venue for your wedding.

Below you'll find a list of Renaissance faires held in the Western US (click here for faires in the Eastern US and here for faires elsewhere around the world.) We've provided the month these faires typically operate but contact each for this year's specific dates; these may vary.

Many faires offer wedding packages (and, often, handfasting packages as well). For faires that we know offer wedding packages, we have included an * beside each listing.

Renaissance wedding photo courtesy Kansas City Renaissance Festival

ARIIZONA

*Arizona Renaissance Festival
Location: Phoenix
Date: February- March
Cheer on your favorite knight in shining armour in a 5,000 seat arena. Twelve stages, graced by the likes of festival favorites The Tortuga Twins and Don Juan and Miguel, guarantee continuous entertainment.

Devonshire Renaissance Festival
Date: November
Location: Phoenix
Highlights include: come enjoy one of Phoenix's merriest events, which is currently celebrating its twenty-first anniversary

CALIFORNIA

Renaissance of Kings
Date: October
Location: Hanford
Highlights include: return to the romance of Tudor England at Renaissance of Kings, celebrating its 26th season

*Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Date: September - October
Location: Gilroy (Northern California)
Highlights include: over 1000 costumed performers and more than 100 artisans and crafts booths. Watch armored jousting and witness pageants and parades throughout the day.

Kearney Park Renaissance Faire
Date: November
Location: Fresno
Highlights include: Join King Henry VIII and Katharine Parr in 16th century England, complete with magicians, archers, jugglers, and a full royal court,

Escondido Renaissance Faire and Shakespeare In The Park
www.goldcoastfestivals.com
Date: April
Location: Escondido
The Virgin Queen rules again at the Escondido Renaissance Faire, and her majesty and her royal court will be entertained by works from The Bard, costumed re enactors, jugglers and strolling minstrels

*Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California
Date: April - May
Location: Devore
Celebrating its 42nd year, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire offers three jousts daily, performances of Shakespearean plays, and rousing entertainment by Ren faire favorites the Poxy Boggards.

*Crossroads European Renaissance Festival
Date: April May
Location: Corona
Turn back the hands of time to the days when daring knights performed heroic deeds for the heart of a fair maiden

Ojai Renaissance and Shakespeare Festival
Date: April
Location: Ventura
A 16th century village is brought back to life, and its visitors will be entertained by works from The Bard and various street performers

Tulare County Renaissance Festival
Date: April
Location: Visalia
Elizabeth I precides over the festivities, which include battle reenactments and jousting. The Tulare County Renaissance Festival is currently celebrating its fifteenth season.

Heart of The Forest Renaissance Faire In Santa Barbara
Date: May
Location: Santa Barbara
Five stages provide continuous amusement, while visitors are enticed by belly dancers and enthralled by dueling knights.

Calaveras Celtic Faire
Date: March
Location: Angels Camp
Now in its 18th season, the Calaveras Celtic Faire offers jousting demonstrations by the Knights of The Azure Cross, an archery competition, and celtic stepdancing to the tunes of Irish whistles and bagpipes.

Fresno City College Renaissance Faire
Date: March
Location: Fresno
The calendar turns back to the middle ages with a reenactment of Queen Elizabeth's coronation at this renaissance faire, now in its 12th year.

East Meets West- A Celtic Faire and Moroccan Festival
Date: March
Location: Las Vegas
There are two realms to choose from at this faire. The celtic/Renaissance section offers masters of illusion, strolling minstrels, and the tournament of The Silver Arrow, while the Moroccan section is a fantasy world unto itself, complete with an international bellydancing competition and camel rides.

Crossroads Palm Springs Renaissance Festival
Date: March
Location: Palm Springs
Revel in the merriment of live theater and the joyful sounds of strolling musicians.

KANSAS

Bridgewater Renaissance Faire
Date: October
Location: Baxter Spring
Highlights include: witness the beauty of a medieval wedding, dance to the music of strolling minstrels and a celtic harpist, and learn about the ways of the Renaissance with a history tour.

Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Date: end August - October
Location: Bonner Springs
See article for more information

LOUISIANA

Lousisiana Renaissance Festival
Date: weekends from November - December
Location: Hammond
Highlights include: jousting tornaments, sword play, strolling musicians, and birds of prey

NEVADA

Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival
Date: October
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Highlights include: one-act Shakespearean plays, royal parades and gladiator battle

OKLAHOMA

Norman Medieval Fair
Date: April
Location: Norman
To commemorate its 28th season, the Norman Medieval Fair challenges you to a game of wits at a human chess match as well as medieval-themed games for the young at heart. This is a free event.

Oklahoma Renaissance Faire
Date: May
Location: Muskogee

This just in from Howl-O: Oklahoma Renaissance Faire, Muskogee, OK Howl-o is absolutely thrilled this year to be playing at the Red Ram Tavern in the Glen. Such a beautiful enchanted forest setting. Plenty of room for the wee ones to dance and enjoy, which they do! So many wonderful people came; including wizards, nobility, fae folk. Seasoned rennies singing along to "The Work of the Weavers", and newbies revelling in the merriment of "The Scotsman" for the first time! Also performing at the Great Hall at 11 am, and with violinists Mickela & Marrie at the Maypole Dance at 4:30! OKRF runs weekends April 30- May 1, May 7-8, 14-15, 21-22! We are including a link here for an Mp3 Postcard of "Forest Home". You may send this card to as many friends as you wish, then download the Mp3 for free! http://mp3postcards.com/listen/?725

TEXAS

*Excalibur Fantasy Faire
Date: March - early April
Location: Austin
This year's faire is a tribute to Robin Hood. Join in the celebration, which includes jousting twice daily, the hypnotic bellydancing of Hands of Fatima, and the music of Renaissance faire favorites The Brobdingnagian Bards.

*Four Winds Renaissance Faire
Date: March - April
Location: Tyler
Love is in the air during Romance and Chivalry weekend and on Easter weekend don the garb of your favorite Hobbit or ethereal elf in celebration of the Tolkien Festival. Other faire highlights include full contact jousting, archery, and belly dancing.

*Scarborough Faire The Renaissance Festival
Date: April - May
Location: Waxahachie, Texas
Eleven stages provide never-ending entertainment, and you can enjoy the regal Grand Parade and special themed weekends, including Renaissance Romance, where you and your true love can renew your vows, and Pirate Adventure weekend.

*Texas Renaissance Festival
Date: October-November
Location: Plantersville (near Houston)
Located near Houston between Plantersville and Magnolia, the Texas Renaissance Festival is the largest Renaissance Festival in the country. Over its seven-weekend run, the event draws 325,000 visitors. The fairgrounds are transformed into a medieval world with 300 permanent structures all constructed in the true Tudor style. Click here for an article on weddings at the festival and here for an article about the festival in general.

UTAH

*Cedar Outland Medieval Experience
www.lunamoor.org
Date: April
Location: Cedar City
A different theme for each day, revelers can live the Romany life of a gypsy on Wednesday, transform into a salty pirate or Viking on Thursday, join in the Scottish Highland Games on Friday, and wrap up the festivities with a Monty Python tribute on Saturday.

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