If you are looking for some wonderful fun with all ages of your family, then we’ve got an event you’d better get on your calendar before it’s gone! This Saturday and Sunday are the last two days of the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival and you don’t want to let this opportunity pass you by! I’ve got a free adult ticket with your name on it if you are this weeks winner! Check out our facebook page for details! Winner will be announced Friday, March 31, 2017!
Not sure this is for you? Well, allow me to prove you wrong!
This is an event MyCrazy8 have enjoyed for several years and it has become a favorite family tradition! The best part is, there’s something for everyone! There is way too much to cover in this blog post, but let me spotlight a few of our favorite things…
There are many shows that are fascinating to the young and old. Yes, there can be some lewd content you need to be watchful for but each show carries with it a rating that is prominently displayed at the entrance of every show and will give you a heads up as to the content and whether you want your little ones present or not. Here’s a little tip…the earlier in the day the show runs, the more child-friendly the content! Here are some of our family-friendly favorites…
• Adam Crack, the Whipmaster…this guy is fascinating and holds multiple Guinness World Records! He is known for his flaming whips, ability to explode soda cans with a single crack and even plays music with his whips! If your little (or big) one is inspired enough, he sells his hand-crafted whips after the show…various sizes, shapes and colors!
• Ancient Art of Falconry…ever wonder about how they used birds to hunt back in the renaissance?? See it all first hand! These birds of prey, some even endangered birds you might not see anywhere else, will truly fascinate the young and old as they soar closely overhead, performing amazing aerodynamic acrobatics!
• Barley Balanced…Long ago, jesters used to entertain the nobles with their comical antics and nimble acrobatics. If you have a little gymnast in the family or just a daredevil comedian, you won’t want to miss these crazy talented acrobats as they perform shows like “Sharp Knives and Stupid Humans Extravaganza”!
• Don Juan & Miguel…these guys are crazy funny! The Prince of Spain and his faithful man servant showcase their master swordsman skills as well as their mastery of the whip as they keep you laughing over their crazy tales of their many adventures. Just watch the show ratings on this one…they get progressively fringe as the day wears on!
• Fireflicker…if you’re lucky enough, you may catch the illusive “Fireflicker” dragon…he’s a young dragon that wanders the streets of fairhaven looking for shiny treasures to add to his hoard. He loves meeting new people!
• Mother and Father Goose…yes, they are here! If your little ones have loved the tales of Mother Goose, they will get to meet her and her feathered friends firsthand! My kids love to drop in on these two and stick around to cuddle their feathered friends!
• Twig the Fairy…no visit to the fair is complete without a stop at the fairies corner! Twig has long been the main attraction for my little ones and now that some of them are bigger, they STILL love to revisit her magic and hopefully come away with an enchanted and glittery gift from this musical fairy! This year, we got to meet her sister, Juniper!
• The Jousters…this is always the culmination of our day! With three different shows available throughout the day, there is always an opportunity to catch these spectacles of pageantry from the chivalric age! The first two shows are exhibition- oriented and showcase the rules and strategies of the jousting tournament. The final show of the day is for those looking for a little more drama in their jousting! It culminates with a final joust to the death! Pay attention to where you sit because each section is assigned a knight of their very own to be their champion for the tournament! You get to revel in their victories and rally them in lieu of defeat.
• The Mermaids…this is a newer show that made its debut last year. It has become a favorite with my little ones! Watch the mermaids frolic in their tank and even get to meet one while she takes a break on her seashell!
If you are more in the mood for shopping or just appreciating some amazing artisans recreating things you might have only seen during this ancient age of chivalry, then I’d love to share some of our favorites!
• Bard’s Music Shop…this is a fascinating shop to drop by, even if you’re not in the market for a unique and amazingly crafted flute! Learn about the many kinds of ancient flutes and how they were constructed and used…the demonstrations of the “dragon flute”, “fairy pipes” and “travelers saxophone” (yes, a WOOD saxophone shaped like a flute! you have to hear it to believe it!) are nothing short of magical! A delight for the kids as well as a fascinating education for the adults!
• Whirlwood Magic Wands…visit Olivanders apprentice at his shop to purchase your very own magic wand! These wands are incredible works of art. They each come with a black velvet pouch with it’s own magic core appropriate to your wand of choice! These are elegant and beautifully crafted works of wood art and there is a size and unique design for every budding witch and wizard!
• Majestic Hair Flower…these beautiful stainless steal hair adornments are a must have for anyone with unruly hair! You can even swim with them! They are incredibly comfortable, very versatile and easy to travel with. Stop by and they will demo these hair acoutrements for you!
• Captain’s Adorned Hair Ties…these beaded leather hair ties are magical for those of us with long hair and NO braiding skills! You can whip your hair into complicated braids in minutes with ease! And our favorite part? We can bring our beaded leather hair ties back every year to the fair and he will give us a customized hair treatment, specific to the renaissance age! Fun fact…did you know that during the Renaissance, most people were too poor to afford traditional jewelry. So rather than wear a ring to demonstrate their relationship status, women would braid their hair on the right side to announce they are single and on the left side to ward off advances by conveying their married status!
• Black Swan Armory…for the adventuresome knight, this is a must. These guys are amazing wood-crafted swords, spears, cimeters and more! You can buy unfinished swords that you can take home and customize with your own artistic flair, or you can revel in their incredibly fanciful renditions of medieval weaponry!
In the mood to just enjoy the ambience and learn a few things about medieval life? There is so much to see! They have wandering musicians that will regale you with their talents on the harp, harpsichord, violin, drums and even a dulcimer! You can learn about ancient papermaking secrets, learn how to make a candle or a wax hand sculpture. Take a spin on some of the man-powered rides. Cruise the fair in a rickshaw. Pause for a moment at the blacksmiths shop and see what traditional ironworkers could do! Stop off at the kitchens and watch the spinsters craft their magic on looms and regale you with their tasty wood-burning stove skills. All of the artisans are more than willing to give you an education on the techniques of the age specific to their craft. I highly encourage you to stop by the leather and metal workers shops and ply them about their trade…you won’t be disappointed!
All of the artisans, street performers and characters present at the fair are 100% in character! The goal is to immerse you in the medieval world of chivalry and magic. Ask them about something modern and you are likely to get a blank stare or become the unwitting subject of a well-meaning jest! We highly recommend joining wholeheartedly in the fun by dressing the part and coming in character! The fair folk are more than willing to welcome you into the fun and will enrich your experience! We even became elevated to that status of Lords and Ladies as our oldest two were “knighted” by the Kings son!
Have you been to the fair? What are some of your favorite experiences there? Please comment below! There is so much to see and do that we love to hear about new places we need to visit next year!
In case you miss this last weekend of the fair, there’s a few tips we need to divulge when you plan your visit next year! First of all, the fair always runs every weekend (rain or shine) from February through the first week of April. Here are a few tips to keep in mind…
• Student Days which is the last weekend in February and first week of March. They shut down the sale of alcohol and focus on child-friendly encounters all throughout the day. They focus on science and art of the day. Discounted tickets can be purchased for these days as well as meal passes. A definite bargain!
• Discounted tickets can be purchased through Fry’s Marketplace. Keep an eye out on your receipts as well because you earn points for FREE children’s tickets! They will appear on the bottom half of your grocery receipt when you earn them. Just present the receipt at the box office and redeem your free children’s ticket!
• Watch for the first weekend of the fair…discounted tickets sometimes make their appearance.
• There are many themed weekends so if you have a particular interest in Celtic lore, fairies and magic or the like, you’ll want to keep an eye out for these special weekends!
• Like their facebook page! The weeks prior to the opening of the fair, they offer daily contests for free tickets!
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