For all you Renaissance faire goers who have older children, I've put together a few tips to help ensure a fun time is had by all. Aside from common sense tips, like telling your teens to stay together, to keep their phones on and with them at all times, to not leave the faire, to stay away from axe and knife throwing, and to not take candy from strangers, these are some things we found to be helpful during our family's visit to King Richard's Faire this year . . .
5 Tips for Visiting King Richard's Faire with Teens:
1. Renfaire t-shirts - If your children are getting older and are reluctant to dress-up in costumes, Renaissance faire-themed t-shirts are a great option. They are fun, festive, and comfortable to wear, especially if you plan to stay all day. I purchased custom renfaire t-shirts from The Paisley Hanger Boutique because I couldn't find exactly what I wanted online. It was super-easy to order once I decided what I wanted. The three shirts below were created for me, my husband, and our daughter. My husband received many thumbs ups throughout the day for his shirt.
I really love the way the 'warrior princess' t-shirt came out for my son's girlfriend. The design was perfect for a teenage girl.
2. Enjoy some shows together as a family - Before you let your teens go off on their own, try to catch a few shows together. We made a list of what acts everyone wanted to see and tried to time it so we could see as many as possible. Believe it or not, being organized enough to get to each stage early enough to get good seats is not an easy feat. For example, we missed The Great Cats of the World Show this year because we had to squeeze in a bathroom break. By the time we got there, the audience was packed and we couldn't get near it. Luckily, we were able to get great seats for some very fun, laugh-out-loud shows. Part of what makes these shows great is they always ask for volunteers from the audience.
Our Teens' 3 Favorite Shows at King Richard's Faire 2018 . . .
#1: Kevin Armour was new to King Richard's Faire this year with his 'Up in Arms' act. Our usually not-easily-impressed teenage son declared this act to be his new favorite.
Yes, he does put his whole body through a tennis racket. 😮
Our daughter was selected to be one of the volunteers. It was not her first time as an audience participant at King Richard's Faire. She did great, and she got to keep a beautiful yellow rose as a souvenir.
#2: Although the Washing Well Wenches are a King Richard's Faire classic, it was our first time watching their show. I have to say that I have never laughed so hard in my entire life, and tears ran down my face more than once during the show. Although there was no profanity, the humor is very suggestive and over-the-top. You will need to decide when your children are mature enough for the Washing Well Wenches.
Gerty (pictured above) and Sprout (pictured below) were such animated, charismatic characters. The entire family enjoyed the show immensely.
#3: Jacques Ze Whipper has always been a favorite of the whole family. We always watch his show at least once per visit to King Richard's Faire. My husband secretly wishes to be chosen as a volunteer from the audience every year. Maybe next year . . .
3. Set aside some free time - Be sure to set aside time when your teens can explore King Richard's Faire freely. There is so much to discover between acts they've never seen and the many artisan shops. This year, I feel like we did not leave enough time for exploration because we had to leave an hour before the faire closed for the day. If possible, I recommend allowing two hours for your teens to walk around without being rushed.
4. Make sure your teen has cash - Although most shops take credit or debit cards, some shops only take cash, and some only take cards with a minimum purchase. In addition, all food vendors only take food tickets, which can only be purchased with cash. All games and rides only accept cash, as well.
A new treat at King Richard's Faire this year are the 'unicorn donuts'. They are delicious plain, but can be drizzled with maple glaze or the very special pink and blue unicorn glaze topped with edible glitter.
Some of the rides our teens chose this year, were the Pirate Ship Ride and the Pony Ride.
5. Set a time and place to meet up - Set a time 10 or 15 minutes before you actually need to leave to all reconvene. This builds in a buffer in case your teens lose track of time. Also, set a meeting place that's easy to find, such as at the Remembrance Shoppe or at the SKY Chairs. They can likely ask anyone at the faire how to get to either of these locations.
This year, King Richard's Faire is open every weekend between now and October 21st, 2018. They are even open on Columbus Day! Check out the schedule of themed weekends and special events to help you decide which weekend to attend. You can purchase tickets online, which is what I recommend, or at the gate.
See more photos from our 2018 visit here.
If you're a faire regular, let us know what tips you have to share for visiting King Richard's Faire
in a comment here.
