Every year, Amana Colonies holds their renaissance festival, also known as Renfaire, as a fun family event. This celebration includes jousting, arts and crafts, sword fights and more. A common sight at this festival is people dressed up in costumes such as knights, fairies and pirates. While having a costume isn’t a requirement, many attendees choose to participate in the tradition.
Amana provides many medieval-esque foods like the iconic turkey leg at Renfaire. While food certainly isn’t the main event, it is still a much-enjoyed portion of the Faire that Amana is able to arrange. They cater the event with turkey legs, various types of cheesy spuds, brisket sandwiches and many other foods of a similar nature. The Faire also features Amana’s famous root beers and flavored sodas. Aside from that, they have a well-liked slushy stand known as “Slushy Boys.”
“If we’re counting food, then [my favorite] would be Slushy Boys,” West High sophomore Scarlett Mims said.
Renfaire consists of many dated events. One of the more well-known is jousting. Jousting is a sport in which two people ride on horses with lances, trying to unhorse their opponent before getting knocked off themselves. Amana takes its own spin on the event in order to protect their performers.
Most of the joust consists of the entertainers trying to knock over inanimate targets or slice watermelons with swords while riding horses. However, at the end of the show, they joust each other until one person inevitably falls off their horse or drops their shield.
The event allows for many musical performances as well. For example, the Faire often features a violinist dressed as an elf who runs around barefoot with their violin. They typically approach visitors with the question, “Would you like a song?” and have an incredible talent of being able to play any song they hear.
If a person doesn’t want to request a song or don’t know what to request, they offer what’s called, “hit shuffle.” If this option is taken, the guest will roll a dice and, depending on the number, the musician will play you the song that correlates with the number. They require no money or pay in return; they simply spread their musical talents.
These are just some of the many events the Renfaire has to offer. There is also sword fighting, puppy pirate shows, photos with pirates and much more. Upon entering the park, there are schedules available for the day.
Lots of people choose to participate in costume wearing, which is encouraged but not required. People dress as witches, pirates, fairies, nobility and more. With some vendors, being dressed for the occasion can even bring discounts on merchandise.
Renfaire doubles as a marketplace. There are rows of vendors within the park, all selling handmade goods such as corsets, blades, jewelry and armor. In total, the event includes up to 144 different merchants.
Many people at Renfaire are very kind and welcoming. The festivities create a space in which people can express themselves. “A lot of [people who attend] are introverts, but they come out of their shell for Renfaire,” Scarlett Mims ’28 said.
