Massachusetts Renaissance Fair Named One of the County’s Best
Renaissance fairs and festivals are celebrated all over Massachusetts, the United States and world, really, and for good reason. Going to a Renaissance festival is just plain fun. They offer a great chance to wear your favorite period costumes, take part in interactive events and pretend you’re living in a totally different era. Now, one Massachusetts renaissance festival has been named one of the best in the country.
Best Renaissance Fairs and Festivals, Including in Massachusetts
The experts at USA Today have released their roster of the best renaissance festivals in America, as part of their 10 Best series. This series has experts picking spots for which to vote, and then readers voting for their favorites. Of these fests, they note, “Renaissance fairs and festivals across the United States offer unique and immersive experiences that transport visitors back to the enchanting days of knights, jousting, and lively marketplaces.” The 10 fairs they highlight “provide a delightful blend of historical reenactments, entertaining performances, and an array of artisanal crafts and delicious food.”
For Massachusetts, they picked the King Richard’s Faire in Carver, Massachusetts, as No. 9 on the tally. “Just an hour south of Boston, King Richard’s Faire transports guests to a time full of minstrels, fire eaters, and knights on horseback,” they say of this great spot, adding that taking place over 80 acres, “this large-scale festival takes place every fall for eight weeks of pure merriment, including themed events like Viking tug-o-wars and romantic vow renewals during the All’s Faire In Love and War weekend, and bawdy celebrations like the Men in Kilts Contest during Highland Happenings weekend.”
So, how did renaissance festivals and fairs get started? According to Smithsonian Magazine, “The first of these festivals debuted in the early 1960s, serving as a prime example of the United States’ burgeoning counterculture.” They add, “United by their raucous entertainment, elaborate costumes and setting in the distant past, these outdoor events boast a surprising backstory.”
If you’re wondering about the very first renaissance fair or festival, “The first Renaissance Fair is widely credited to have been the “Renaissance Pleasure Faire” in California, USA, in 1963,” notes Whidbey Ren Faire. ” Originating in the 20th century, these fairs have grown into vibrant events that bring the spirit of the Renaissance era to life,” they add.
