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On July 16 & 17, El Chorro Regional Park will be transformed into an Elizabethan-era village at the 27th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival. The park is located off Highway 1, between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.

The public is invited to travel back in time to a thriving English village from over 400 years ago, featuring a vibrant marketplace, delicious food, stages and a real joust.

Festival spokesman Rick Smith says, "We invite the public to come out and enjoy this unique experience. We have over 800 costumed vendors, actors and historical re-enactors from all over California who come here to create an English village during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I."

"We have plays, music, comedy and dance shows, juggling, comedy shows and much more on two stages," says entertainment coordinator Trey Cromwell. "There are strolling musicians, peasants, merchants, rogues, street characters and lots of improvisation," he adds. "The highlight of the day for many people is the full contact joust. This is the real thing, and it is held twice daily. We're talking real jousting on horseback with knights in full armor. Even the horses wear armor."

Vendor coordinator Justin LeCavalier spends months carefully selecting food, craft and game vendors to give the festival an authentic character. According to LeCavalier, over 70 vendors offer everything from swords to complete costumes, hats, leather goods, jewelry, pottery, wooden toys; basically anything that looks like it could have existed around the year 1585. "Our vendors have to wear costumes and create authentic looking booths to display period looking displays," he adds.

LeCavalier says that visitors will find a wide variety of food and drink, including the requisite turkey legs, meat pies, fish and chips, beef and chicken sandwiches, German potato panccakes, bangers and sausages, tri-tip, vegetarian options and handmade ice cream. He adds that teas, juices, beer, ale and wine are available.

Hours are 10 AM - 6 PM on Saturday and until 5 PM on Sunday. Adult tickets are $17, seniors and ages 6-15 are $10. Under age 6 are free. Advance ticket sales and discount coupons are available online. Parking at Cuesta College is $1.00 per car. Pets are not allowed.

Visit http://CCRenFaire.com for more information and to purchase advance tickets online.

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Renaissance Festival story ideas

Why do people put these on and why is Renaissance period so enduring?

History of Renaissance festival in the county. History of Renaissance festivals in the US. California.

History behind jousting.

History behind the food.

History of Queen Elizabeth and court.

History of peasants/middle class.

History of clothes.

Spotlight - Ren Faire entertainers

Spotlight - Ren Faire vendors...some of the more innovative ones.
Mead
Weapons
Leather goods
Costumers

Debunking Ren Faire myths:
it is just a bunch of drunken debauchery - ours is family oriented
you have to have a costume to come
it's too expensive
it's too hot
it's just for young people
I have to participate in things
I'm vegetarian, what's there for me to eat?
it's too hard to get around there
I have to be in a group
it's just a fancy, craft show

DOWNLOAD PRINT RESOLUTION PHOTOS HERE.


For further information contact:

Rick Smith, Media Coordinator
(888) 744-9381