Less that 45 miles outside New York City, you can delve into a medieval village. The sights and sounds (and the smells and tastes) of the Renassiance are recreated by the New York State Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo Park, NY.
Celebrating it's 35th year, the fair is set on 65 acres nestled in Sterling Forest. It features over 125 entertainers on 20 stages and it highlights 100 craftspeople who create a variety of renaissance arts and crafts including hats and masks, candles, armor and weapons as well as jewelry and dolls.
Authentic renaissance food can be found at such establishments as The Boar's Den and Magellan's Last Stand. These are intermingled with more familiar offerings as ice cream, falafel and barbecue. For an additional nominal fee there are a variety of games and activities for all ages. Archery and Test O' Strength are among the themed games and Load the Pirate's Cannons is a crowd favorite! Among the rides at the faire are the Dragon Swing, Crow's Nest, a Carousel and Boats.
The faire is extremely family friendly with much of the grounds accessible by paved paths for strollers and easier walking. We recommend arriving early in the day, since the faire opens at 10:00am and the wealth of fun and activities can take a full day to experience it all. There are a variety of nearby accommodations for those who want to experience more than one day in the "medieval period"!
Some exciting daily events include:
The Court of Queen Elizabeth - The Village of Sterling is holding the 1st Annual Pan-Skandia Games to celebrate the 435th anniversary of its founding by peace-loving Vikings!... Queen Elizabeth, celebrating Her Cherries Jubilee, welcomes King James VI of Scotland to Sterling to sign a treaty that pledges mutual defense from outside invaders.
The Tales of Robin Hood - The Lady Marian Fitzwalter and her fiancé, the Sheriff of Nottingham, eagerly welcome to Sterling a group of traveling players to present a pageant honoring the village’s Viking ancestry. The Lady Marian is quickly enamored to the acting troupe’s handsome leader.
Many special events are held for limited time during the faire and can include medieval costumes contest and other activities for kids and adults alike.
The New York Renaissance Faire ends September 23rd, so hurry for your chance to go back in time and live the life in Sterling Forest!
New York Renaissance Faire
Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day
Aug. 4th - Sept. 23rd, 2012
Sterling Forest • 10am - 7pm
Tuxedo Park, NY • Ph: 845.351.5171
http://www.renfair.com/ny/
