King Henry and his royal court invite one and all to his 16th Century European village featuring 16 stages of live entertainment.
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Over 250 artisans fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted wares for a truly unique shopping experience. Patrons can interact with hundreds of memorable characters roaming the village streets as well as view live armored jousting throughout the day.
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Minnesota’s History with the Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival began its journey in September of 1971 on a 22 acre field in Jonathan, MN. More than 25,000 people visited the two weekend grand opening of the festival, then named “A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life!” That celebration has since relocated to Shakopee, MN and has grown to be the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 300,000.
Huzzah! Welcome to our Village and to our Festival Day. Queen Katherine has lost her mirth; life in London – the stuffy politics, the stiff codes of etiquette and decorum, and the pointless palace intrigue – has drained away her joy. To raise her spirits, King Henry has charged the Master of the Revels to arrange a Festival day. Today is that Festival day! The Queen is coming to this Village to take a hiatus from the stoic and worrisome world, and instead, to enjoy the simple pleasures of music and dance, the deliciousness of good food and beverage, and the uncomplicated camaraderie of the common people whom she loves so much. And, like the Queen, we invite you to escape from your everyday world and revel with us in this frivolous and frolicking Festival day!
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New in Entertainment
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THE SHAKESPEARE EXPERIENCE
Shakespeare at the Festival
William Shakespeare is credited with the most influential canon in all of literary history. The plays are still being performed and are still relevant more than 400 years after they were written and first performed at the Globe Theater in London.
Shakespeare Shorts
This season the Festival is presenting two Shakespeare Shorts. A condensed version of Romeo and Juliet will be presented on the Bakery Stage at 1:00, and the Pyramus and Thisbe scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream will be presented on the Witchwood Stage at 11:30 and 3:00.
Shakespeare Guild
Many of our performers are members of the Festival’s Shakespeare Guild by virtue of having committed to memory a Shakespearean character speech. Guild members perform Shakespearean passages each Festival day at 12:30 on the Witchwood Stage, and 4:30 at the King’s Arbor, where new members to the Guild may be presenting their initiation passages. Guild members wear a Shakespeare Guild medallion on their costumes and can be stopped anywhere in the village and are obligated to present their piece to you upon request.
The Queen’s Gambit Royal Chess Match and Champions’ Battle
Our fair Queen Katherine and the Vikings’ Jarl Aesa have agreed to a royal chess match – a champions’ battle – a Queen’s Gambit, so to speak. Each of these powerful women have brought a treasured weapon from their personal armory to put into the hazard; winner take all in this friendly, but earnest competition of arms. Three of Jarl Aesa’s Vikings and three of Queen Katherine’s subjects will meet in one on one battles as the Jarl and the Queen play out their wager across a chess board. Don’t miss the Queen’s Gambit Royal Chess Match and Champions’ Battle at 5:00 in Bad Manor Green.
The Wizard’s Cote
The renaissance era heralded a rebirth of the arts and sciences – painting, astronomy, sculpture, chemistry, performance, and physics. The magical arts also experienced a resurgence, offering a contrast to science and belief. Wizards, magicians, alchemists, and enchanters conjured events and experiences that seemed to challenge what they knew and what they believed. Our Festival is honoring this age old tradition at the Wizard’s Cote, a little cottage where you can find our Festival’s wizards and magicians in residence throughout the day. Stop by and see Brother Paul, Fez the Fantastic, Vincenzo, and Paul Cook amaze and baffle you with their prestidigitati
England’s first female monarch was Mary Tudor, who reigned from 1553 to 1558, when she was succeeded by her half sister, Queen Elizabeth I, who reigned for 45 years through the Elizabethan and Shakespearean era. As queen, Mary ordered the execution of nearly 300 people for heresy, earning her the nick-name Bloody Mary. Our Festival celebrates this notorious queen by holding a Sunday morning Bingo Tournament at which her signature cocktail is featured – the Bloody Mary! Prizes awarded for all the bingo winners. A great way to start your Festival day!
Hosted by: Fitz & Jane the Misfortune Teller
Sundays @ 10am
A Wake O’Wine
We are gathering at the Celtic Cottage for Old Uncle Fergus O’Hara’s wake. Although Uncle Fergus hasn’t actually passed over to the other side quite yet, despite his protestations from upstairs, we’ve decided to celebrate his life and imminent passing with Irish tales and songs. Come and join us for A Wake and O’Wine at the Celtic Cottage. Sample four wine varieties from Menage a Trois wines and some family style snacks as we celebrate the life of Old Uncle Fergus.
Daily @ 1:30pm
Sponsored By
New Food & Beverage
Vikings Valhalla Mead Hall
Monks Craft Beer Pub
CrosSwords Tavern
About
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Minnesota’s History with the Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival began its journey in September of 1971 on a 22 acre field in Jonathan, MN. More than 25,000 people visited the two weekend grand opening of the festival then named A Celebration of Nature, Art, and Life! That celebration has since relocated to Shakopee, MN and has grown to be the largest Renaissance Festival in the United States with an annual attendance of 300,000.
About Mid-America Festivals
Mid-America Festivals is the nation’s largest producer of outdoor themed events. In 2019, we entertained nearly one million people in a wide variety of locations across the country.
Mid-America Festivals currently devotes its time towards developing some of the best festivals in the country. Mid-America Festivals, along with affiliated entities, owns and operates the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, the Trail of Terror (located in Minnesota), the Bay Area Renaissance Festival (located in Dade City, FL, Pasco County), the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, the Michigan Renaissance Festival, the St. Louis Renaissance Festival and many other events. The company demonstrates its event production and promotion leadership by embracing all aspects of event production from specialty merchandise and corporate sponsorship to ticket sales and multi-media marketing.
Based in Minneapolis, Mid-America’s staff is comprised of talented managers’ experiences in all aspects of entertainment. Mid-America Festivals began producing Renaissance Festivals in 1976 as a natural extension of its president’s career in major venue promotion and production. The company’s background ranges from rock and roll events like the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, and Prince to event management for concerts like Rock the Garden in Minneapolis.
This year the Minnesota Renaissance Festival marks our 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Celebration. In 1971 the Minnesota Renaissance first appeared out of the summer mists to celebrate the spirit of the Renaissance. As has been their tradition, the King and Queen have proclaimed that the Master of the Revels gather the finest crafters and artisans, a cornucopia of food, challenging and adventurous games, music both pastoral and raucous, and stages full of acts of comedy and skill. And of course the most important ingredient in our Festival celebration, you! We’ve missed you! Our villagers and royalty are eager to welcome you through the gates and have you join us in celebrating our 50th Anniversary Golden Jubilee Festival day! Huzzah and cheers for 50 years!
King Henry and his royal court invite one and all to his 16th Century European village featuring 16 stages of exciting entertainment. Over 250 artisans fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted wares for a truly unique shopping experience. Patrons can interact with hundreds of memorable characters roaming the village streets as well as view live armored jousting throughout the day. Come celebrate our 50th season by visiting the Festival grounds in Shakopee, MN
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Free Parking
Live Armored Combat Jousting
7 Full Themed Weekends
16 Stages of Exciting Entertainment
50 Free Family Friendly Activities
250 Artisan Booths for Endless Shopping
Food, Drinks & More!
About Mid-America Festivals
