Folsom Renaissance Faire
Sep 30, 2008 05:00PM ● By Super Admin
There’s nothing like a good joust to kick off a weekend. If you’ve never seen a joust before, don’t let the pageantry or the “staged” feeling fool you. The first time a knight’s lance cracks like thunder against his charging opponent’s shield, shattering into a shower of splinters to the accompaniment of the crowd’s enthusiastic “ooh!” you’ll know it’s all very real.
Of course, jousting is only one of the events you can see when the Renaissance Faire comes to Folsom City Lions Park for the 16th year on October 18-19. The event features four stages of live entertainment, children’s games, parades, educational demonstrations, jugglers, minstrels, magicians and more than 1,000 actors, all ready to help you get your medieval groove on. There are also spectacular sword fights and battle reenactments, “courtly games,” cannon-loading demonstrations, puppet shows, storytellers and poetry contests. “This is truly a step back in time, the production company we’re working with to put on the event does a great job transforming our everyday city park into a village from the past,” says Sarah Trobee, Recreation Coordinator with the City of Folsom. “From the moment you buy your tickets and walk through the gate, you’ll be in a different time; it’s a great experience for the whole family.”
The production company, Renaissance Productions based in the Bay Area, produces several Renaissance festivals throughout northern California. This is the first year that the group has worked with the city; they were selected after an extensive jury process, based on their ability to assist the city with more marketing, and to bring some new twists to the Faire.
The fun starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and goes all day. Make sure to bring sunscreen, but don’t worry about going hungry; there’s plenty of authentic food to go around. Say what you will about guys in tights and women in funny headgear- those renaissance folks know how to eat.
Best of all, the Faire offers a full day’s entertainment for just about the same cost as a movie. Tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and kids under age six are free. Tickets are available online, or discounts may be available by purchasing in advance through <a target="_blank" href="http://www.folsomfaire.com">folsomfaire.com</a>
More importantly, your ticket price also goes to support the Folsom community. Proceeds from the Faire (and from some of the merchant booths) will benefit the Folsom CAVE Teen centers, which provide free after school programs to more than 700 local students. Proceeds will also help support the Folsom Lions Club and the Friends of the Folsom Public Library.
“We’ll have a used book sale at the Faire, where you might find a rare and valuable book,” says Mary Cobb, vice president of Friends of the Library. “One year a gentleman bought a book, had it appraised and discovered it was worth $1,500.” Now there’s something for the loot bag.
Of course, jousting is only one of the events you can see when the Renaissance Faire comes to Folsom City Lions Park for the 16th year on October 18-19. The event features four stages of live entertainment, children’s games, parades, educational demonstrations, jugglers, minstrels, magicians and more than 1,000 actors, all ready to help you get your medieval groove on. There are also spectacular sword fights and battle reenactments, “courtly games,” cannon-loading demonstrations, puppet shows, storytellers and poetry contests. “This is truly a step back in time, the production company we’re working with to put on the event does a great job transforming our everyday city park into a village from the past,” says Sarah Trobee, Recreation Coordinator with the City of Folsom. “From the moment you buy your tickets and walk through the gate, you’ll be in a different time; it’s a great experience for the whole family.”
The production company, Renaissance Productions based in the Bay Area, produces several Renaissance festivals throughout northern California. This is the first year that the group has worked with the city; they were selected after an extensive jury process, based on their ability to assist the city with more marketing, and to bring some new twists to the Faire.
The fun starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday and goes all day. Make sure to bring sunscreen, but don’t worry about going hungry; there’s plenty of authentic food to go around. Say what you will about guys in tights and women in funny headgear- those renaissance folks know how to eat.
Best of all, the Faire offers a full day’s entertainment for just about the same cost as a movie. Tickets are $12 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and kids under age six are free. Tickets are available online, or discounts may be available by purchasing in advance through <a target="_blank" href="http://www.folsomfaire.com">folsomfaire.com</a>
More importantly, your ticket price also goes to support the Folsom community. Proceeds from the Faire (and from some of the merchant booths) will benefit the Folsom CAVE Teen centers, which provide free after school programs to more than 700 local students. Proceeds will also help support the Folsom Lions Club and the Friends of the Folsom Public Library.
“We’ll have a used book sale at the Faire, where you might find a rare and valuable book,” says Mary Cobb, vice president of Friends of the Library. “One year a gentleman bought a book, had it appraised and discovered it was worth $1,500.” Now there’s something for the loot bag.