The Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire, now in its 13th providing immersive “edu-tainment” to central Florida residents, is offering patrons even more opportunities to step back in time.
What began in 2002 as a small, local event is now a multi-weekend festival which attracts
tens of thousands of visitors from all over central Florida. Originally sponsored by PALS
of Lake and Sumter Counties, the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire has served as one
of the primary fundraising events for the Educational Foundation of Lake County since “We’ve been experiencing growing pains for some time.”, says the Faire’s co-founder and Entertainment Director Michael Dempsey. “Our patrons, vendors and entertainers have been asking us for years to expand to two weekends but it wasn’t until this year that we finally felt ready to take the leap.”
In addition to running for a longer period of time this year, the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire is also moving to a brand new location; a rustic, well-shaded site at the corner of Hwy 19 and CR 448 in Tavares, FL, a mile from its former location at Hickory Point Park. Recently built volleyball courts at the park hastened the Educational Foundation’s decision to find a new location for the Faire but Dempsey notes that the popular event outgrew the limits of the park some years ago and welcomes the opportunity to bring in a wider mix of entertainers.
“Patrons are going to love the new site!”, says the Faire’s Marketing Director, Jennifer Dempsey. It feels like some enchanted, magical forest lifted from the pages of a Shakespearean play.” “Our emphasis has always been on making the Faire a fully immersive, educational
experience”, says Educational Foundation Executive Director Carman Cullen. “When patrons arrive to the new site, they will find over 100 actors recreating life in an authentic Century European estate and village. Various entertainments of the period will be featured including knights in armor, jousters, human combat chessmen, games of skill, pirates, madrigal singers, dancers, and comedians.”
Though the Faire offers significant educational value, a good measure of fun and intrigue is always added to the fictional storyline which guides the many ornately costumed reenactors interactions with Faire’s patrons. In this year’s tale, the year is 1606 and fairegoers have been invited to Lady Arabella Stuart’s estate to enjoy the annual Autumn Festival. Guy Fawkes’ Gun Powder Plot of the year previous has been foiled but conspiracies still run rampant within the hallowed sanctum of the Court of King James 1.
Students and history buffs of all ages are encouraged to visit the Village of Shrewsbury, a living history museum displaying more than fourteen essential occupations of the time and offering a variety of fun, hands-on experiential learning opportunities designed to year of bring history alive.
Brought back this year by popular request is another opportunity for patrons to declare their love for one another in a handfasting/vow renewal ceremony led by the King. All handfasting participants will receive a personalized certificate suitable for framing.
To reserve space, please call the Educational Foundation of Lake County at (352) 326-1265 or look for sign up information at the Faire site. Returning to the entertainment lineup at the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire this year are “Empty Hats”, “Washing Well Wenches”, “The DaVinci Brothers”, “Blackbeard the Pirate”, “Emrys Fleet”,“Matilda’s Ladies”. “The Bawdy Boys”, “Celtic Mayhem”,“Johnny Phoenix”, and “Rascal Roberts”.
New this year will be “Three Pints Gone”, a celtic music trio, “Matrimoniacs”, a physical
comedy troupe and “Noble Cause Productions”, a live combat jousting group.
New artisans and merchants will also be joining returning shopkeepers to offer Faire patrons an ever-changing variety of period attire, jewelry and other unique wares.
In addition, specialty food vendors will delight fairegoers’ palates with many offerings from the popular turkey leg to scotch eggs. For those patrons ages 21+ who want to party like it’s 1599, beer, wine and mead will be served at Lord Edward’s Pub, the Pirate Pub and The Drunk Monk Pub . Here, adults will be entertained by bawdier entertainment acts not typically seen at this otherwise family-
friendly event including “The Bawdy Boys” and “The Washing Well Wenches”.
The 13th annual Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire , now located at the intersection of SR 19 and CR 448 in Tavares, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, November 1st, Sunday, November 2nd, Friday, November 7th and Sunday, November 9th
Regular admission is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 4-12 with children 3 and under
Seniors are invited to take advantage of the $5 Senior Rate on “Senior Day”, Friday,
November 7th from 12pm to 5pm.
Teachers and Homeschoolers are encouraged to take advantage of the “Education Day” rate of $5 for Students and $5 for Chaperones on Education Day, Friday, November 7
To save time standing in line, patrons are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance online at http://www.medievalfest.com/tickets.htm. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate during each day of the event.
For more event details, visit www.lakerenfaire.com or contact at cullenc@lake.k12.fl.us or (352) 326-1265. For location and directions information go to www.lakerenfaire.com.
