The Arizona Renaissance Festival celebrates 37 years. See its decadeslong evolution
Less than 40 miles southeast of downtown Phoenix, in the middle of the desert, one can transport themselves to a 16th-century European village where history and myth collide.
For 37 years, the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival has entertained in spectacular fashion. The privately funded arts and entertainment festival brings to life the whimsical village of Fairhaven.
The village is a theatrical recreation of a 16th-century European market 'faire,' filled with actors portraying both historical and fictional figures. If you're lucky, you might run into King Henry VIII, or maybe you would rather visit the Sea Fairies, a group of mermaids who prove to be a fan favorite every year.
A 50-acre parcel of land in Gold Canyon is where the village comes to life every year at the end of winter and the beginning of spring. As a visitor makes their way into the festival and back in time, they are first hit by the smells of roasted meats, baked sweets, stuffed pies, grilled vegetables and deep-fried foods.
Once inside, history buffs and fantasy lovers alike will have at least a day's entertainment and activities to get lost in.
A wide variety of entertainers offer acrobatic shows, storytelling, interactive exhibits, folk dancing and even fire eating. Oh, and it wouldn't be a proper Ren faire without steel-covered knights jousting "to the death," flying full speed at each other on horseback, all for the roar of the crowd.
Renaissance festivals have become somewhat of an American tradition. They became a trend in the U.S. after World War II, when renewed interest in Renaissance and medieval history hit, along with the rise of the fantasy genre.
America's first Ren fair was most likely the Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California, held in April and May in Irwindale, California, since 1962. Since then, private ventures launched around the nation have resulted in a Renaissance fair in almost every state.
The Arizona Renaissance Festival opened its doors for its first season in 1989. It quickly exploded in popularity, by its fifth season becoming an "official sister event" to the annual Robin Hood Festival, held in England's Sherwood Forest.
"Artists and performers arrive from throughout America, along with special guests from Europe, all gathered in a strikingly unique and very theatrical rural European village setting," an Arizona Republic advertising supplement said in February 1993.
Over 37 years, the festival has entertained millions of people, including families and school field trips, along with the history and fantasy nerds.
This year, the Arizona Renaissance Festival was scheduled to be open every weekend from Feb. 1 through March 30, 10 a.m. to 6 a.m. This year's activities include many of the fan favorites and some new themed weekends, like the "Viking Invasion" weekend, which will take place from March 22-23.
A new addition to the menu that the Queen herself, also known as Beckah Rubinstein, personally recommended is chimney cakes, an Eastern European treat in which raw dough is wrapped around a stick, roasted over the coals, and then tossed in various sweet toppings.
Admission for the 2025 Arizona Renaissance Festival is $36 for people 13 and older and $24 for children 5-12. Admission is free for children four and under.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Arizona Renaissance Festival turns 37. Here's how it started
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