Hear ye, hear ye! By royal decree, King Franscois, along with their majesties, Queen Claude and Queen Katherine of Aragon, do hereby invite thee to Petite Lyons! Visitors can to travel to the 1520s at the St. Louis Renaissance Festival, which returns to Rotary Park in Wentzville, Missouri, in September.
“Most entertainment today happens behind a screen and asks nothing of you. A festival is the opposite; you walk through the gates and you’re suddenly part of the story,” said Tom Peterson, assistant general manager of the St. Louis Renaissance Festival. “You can dress the part, talk to a knight, watch a blacksmith work iron the way it was worked 500 years ago, and you do it shoulder-to-shoulder with other people who are all in on the same joyful pretense.”
Founded in 1999, the St. Louis Renaissance Festival offers a vast artisan market, immersive performances, themed weekends, skill games and more fun for all ages. Catch live performances by 3 Pints Gone, Swords & Roses, Cirque Du Flame and other entertainers, then head to the arena for live armored jousting. Younger guests will enjoy greeting mermaids in the cove, braving the ship ride and exploring the Fairy Wing Forest.
Between shows, visitors can browse a variety of handmade items, including apparel, jewelry, leather goods and more, get psychic readings, and commemorate the day with a henna tattoo.
“Renaissance festivals give people permission to step outside of everyday life for a while,” Peterson said. “You aren’t simply watching a performance, you’re walking into an entirely different world where you can interact with the characters, cheer during a joust, discover unusual shops, and try new foods, all while becoming part of the story yourself.”
The St. Louis Renaissance Festival also offers packages for those ready to say “I do.” Couples can exchange their vows in the chapel, on the pirate ship, in the Fairy Wing Forest, at the Mermaid Cove and other select locations at the festival.
“For our 28th season, we’re expanding the interactive side of the festival with new experiences, attractions and entertainment throughout the village,” Peterson said. “Guests will still find the traditions they love (including the joust, themed weekends, artisan shopping, specialty food and drinks) but with even more opportunities to become part of the adventure.”
This year’s St. Louis Renaissance Festival runs weekends Sept. 12-Oct. 25, with a bonus date offered Monday, Oct. 12. Gate admission is $24.95 for adults, $22.95 for seniors and $15.95 for children ages 5-12 (admission is free for ages 4 and under).
Festival organizers offer several ways to save, including discounted advance tickets, season passes, group rates and coupons at local businesses. The festival also hosts annual charity drives, student programs and more.
“You can arrive in costume and fully join the fantasy, or you can come exactly as you are and simply enjoy a unique day,” Peterson said. “Whether it’s someone’s first visit or an annual family tradition, we pride ourselves on everyone being and feeling welcome.”
Rotary Park is located at 2577 West Meyer Rd., Wentzville, MO.
Kathryn Deters McDonald is a Missouri native, writer, author and lover of all things spooky, ooky and eerie. Salem, Shmalem. It’s all right here in The Spook-Me State.
Leave a Reply