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Show Standard-Examiner go! COVER STORY Friday, May 1,2015 3 Renaissance festival returns with more magic By SONJA CARLSON Standard-Examiner staff Step inside a storybook filled with history and fairy tale lore at the 10th annual Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire, beginning this weekend and going through the month. Pirates, kings and queens, fairies, knights and even mermaids will set up residence in "Hawkhurst Village" each weekend in May to bring magic to the kingdom of Marriott-Slaterville, located at 3105 W. Pioneer Rd. "We try to encompass not just the history but the mythology that goes with the time frame so it's a broader learning experience," said Mandy Brown, marketing director for the festival and director of the Intermoun- tain Renaissance Arts Foundation (IRAF). Brown said the fact that the festival is also fantasy- involved makes it more unique compared to other Renaissance faires. And unique it must be, as she said the festival once attracted more than 15,000 people over the course of four weekends. There are some additions and changes to this year's festival, including a revamp of the site and moving the local band concerts from Fridays to Saturdays so more people can see them, Brown said. The pubs have also been redone, she said, with a new pub called The Outlander Inn, for ages 21 and older only. The new pub will be tucked away inside the gated fort, located about halfway through the festival site so as to not impact the family-friendly atmosphere of the festival. To accommodate those who don't wish to drink alcohol, located near the Field of Honor will be a non-alcohol drink station. A Queen's Tea will take place this year on May 10, 17, and 24 with Robin Rawl- ings, who will be impersonating Queen Mary I. Snacks and treats will be served ABOVE: Laura Bedore (left), of Salt Lake City, dresses as Queen Elizabeth and Robyn Rawlins, of Ogden, dresses as Queen Mary I during the last year's Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire. RIGHT: Aaron Stokes, of Brigham City, wears wraps around his hands as he plays a harp. with tea or hot chocolate while guests chat with the queen and learn Renaissance etiquette. Tickets for the tea are $12. Seating is limited. Portions of the festival proceeds will go to local non-profit organizations such as the IRAF and Pack N Pounce Animal Rescue. "The festival is built for the community to help the community so supporting the local non profits is the best way to support it in bulk," Brown said. The Knightly Games — a fundraising jousting event for the IRAF — will return this year, open to those of the public who have a horse and know how to ride. Interested individuals can register at www.Renais- sanceArts.org or speak with the Knight Master at the IRAF booth. Brown competitors bring their own horses or share, and that there are four horses with nine competitors already lined up to compete. A Rum- pelstiltskin impersonator up, and Captain Hook may be joining as well. The fundraiser will support the foundation's educational, literacy and anti-bullying programs. Brown said activities PREVIEW • WHAT: 10th annual Utah Renaissance Festival and Fantasy Faire • WHEN: 10a.m.-6 p.m., every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from tonight fo May 24 • WHERE: 3105 W. Pioneer Rd., Marriott- Slaterville • TICKETS: $12/ adults, $6/youth ages 6-12, free/5 and under; www. UtahRenFest.com and at the gate kids can especially enjoy at the festival include watching the mermaids in the mermaid pool, exploring the pirate ships, throwing water balloons at people in the stocks, attending magic shows', participating in reading activities with the fairies or riding ponies with Pack N Pounce. "There's stuff for all ages," Brown said. "It keeps a pretty good balance for everybody." Along with entertainment, vendors of all sons will be selling wooden toys, handcrafted goods, jewelry and other trinkets. Admission to the festival is $12 for adults and $6 for youth ages 6-12. Ages 5 and under are free. Federal employees, seniors, military, adults in costume and two non-perishable food items for the Legacy Initiative receive a $2 discount. Discounts cannot be stacked. Group ticket discounts and advance tickets, as well as tickets for the Queen's Tea, are available to purchase online at www.UtahRenFest. com. For a chance to win free tickets, check out the festival's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ Utah-Renaissance-Fe sti val- and-Fantasy-Faire, where updates on closures will also be available if the weather is ever bad. Contact reporter Soma Carlson at 801-625-4229 or scarlson@standard.net.' Fallow her on Twitter @ sonjacSE. |
