The Renaissance Pleasure Faire Review
Oh my gosh Iโm so tired. But I had so. much. fun!
What an overwhelming experience. At first, I was afraid it would just be me, my friend, and a few other dressing up. I didnโt dress in ultra-accurate medieval garb, so I was also afraid Iโd get weird looks from the actors because of my inaccuracy. My friend said he expected it to be four kitschy booths and a couple of kids in a park.
We couldn’t be more wrong.
A Whirlwind of Sights
Once we stepped past the gate, we were hit with a whirlwind of activity. We needed a moment to pull away from the main throng of people going down the dirt road causeway that led a winding path down the length of the faire. Off to the side, catching our breaths, our eyes drank in the sights on offer: colorful twirling guests in all manner of horns, wings, and bejeweled dresses, actors in medieval garb chatting with us about their produce in neat little baskets, guests buying Welsh cakes and greeting shopkeepers in practiced English accents, a large group that genuinely looked like actors from the TV show Vikings withย their leather armor and kohl black eyeliner.ย
We smelled fire, and realized we stepped near a glass blower gearing up for the day, pumping air into his furnace. He caught our eye and grinned. Everyone was so happy, laughing and interacting, I couldnโt help a bubble of laughter escaping me just from watching the scene.ย
My friend and I adjusted our capes, I ran to the โprivyโ to relocate my stowaway snacks from my bra to my bag, and we set back out into the fray.ย
And my goodness, the people. Even at the end of the day, I was still surprised by the all of the unique things I saw. You can never get “used” to seeing the varying costumes and garb.
At first, I had been worried I was the only one dressed up. Now, I felt a little inadequate for not going all-out!
That isnโt to say you have to dress up at all- plenty werenโt. It was about 3/4 of those dressed up to some degree, whether it was a Party City costume or full on hand made reenactment garb, and 1/4 of people wearing regular t shirts and shorts. No one stood out necessarily, which is the weird part. You can walk around this place in a mushroom fairy hat and hoop skirt, or paint your face like a clown in a striped pantsuit, and people wonโt look twice. Well, that isnโt quite right- plenty of people asked others about their clothing, asking for pictures or just complimenting their work. A few stood out to me: a mushroom fairy, a cult, an interesting alien type of creature, a rolly poly beetle, and a man dressed as a hay bale that everyone shouted โhey!โ as he passed.ย
Everyone was so kind and sweet. One woman offered to take our picture, another complimented my friendโs vest, and when my friend noticed a manโs Ancient Staff from Runescape and complimented it, he lit up in delight and said โthanks bro!โ Every interaction was positive and genuine.ย
Jousting
We went to 2/3 jousting matches, and they were both a ton of fun. Jousts were at 12:00, 2:00, and 5:00, and there was plenty of seating, though Iโll bet the final joust drew the biggest crowds. Cheering along for our horse and rider was so exciting, and our particular jockey seemed to love his role. It was scripted, of course, with neither joust winning, and only for the final winner to be revealed at the 5:00 PM session, which we were too exhausted by this point to attend. It was still fun to watch the stalemates, and the second joust ended with the two jockeys fighting each other with swords over insults. Huzzah!
The Events
My friend and I didnโt need to check the schedule for the events- they announced themselves. We happened to be at the front of the park when we heard the announcement of the Queenโs arrival to Depford (the fake town we were in), which, while I hadnโt initially been looking forward to the Queen, ended up being one of the best parts of the faire. The acting and performance of the announcer was top notch, and people seemed to really respect the Queen.ย
Feel the energy of the crowd as you cheer on your favored horse and jockey!
Ax throwing, darts, knife throwing, fencing, throw a “dragon’s egg” into a hoop!
Plays, acrobatics, sword swallowing, whips, fire juggling, singing, and more!
Want some real training for your sword? The workers here will saddle you up and teach you how to fence!
Don’t let your preconceived notions fool you- these turtles are fast! Go King Arthur, go!
The perfect spot to drop off the kids! The animals fit right into the Renaissance Faire theme.
Queen’s College
If youโre heading to Irwindaleโs Ren Faire, you absolutely canโt miss the Queenโs College Craft Section. Itโs a charming little nook right by the lake, granting a gentle reprieve from the hustle and bustle outside.
As soon as you walk in, youโre greeted by a delightful mix of colors and creativity. The booths are brimming with handmade goodiesโfrom cool leather works and unique jewelry to colorful textiles. Itโs like a treasure hunt, with each stall offering something different and inviting you to take a closer look. I loved discovering one-of-a-kind pieces that you just wonโt find in a store.
What a peaceful view!
Some of their offerings:
One of the best parts? Watching the artisans in action! I found myself mesmerized by a blacksmith shaping metal right before my eyes. Itโs fascinating to see the skills involved, and it really gives you a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship. Plus, many of the artisans are more than happy to chat about their work and share stories, which adds a personal touch to the experience.
Everyone was so kind and helpful, and offered genuinely good advice. I would love to come to the ren faire just to do the crafts! If youโre feeling crafty yourself, definitely check out the workshops. I took a pottery painting class and had a blast! Itโs a great way to get your hands dirty and create something special to take home. Even if youโre not the most artistic person, itโs all about having fun and trying something new. They welcome artists of all levels to come and join.
The Queen’s College
Overall, the Queenโs College Craft Section is a delightful break from the intense heat and socialization that a Ren Faire can have. It’s nice to just focus on creating something with your hands, guided by someone who’s passionate about their craft. Itโs a relaxed space where you can wander, create, and even make a few friends along the way. Whether youโre looking for a unique gift or just want to soak in the artistic vibes, this section of the faire is a must-visit. Youโll leave feeling inspired and maybe with a little something special tucked under your arm!
The Food
Let’s be honest- people don’t really go to ren faires for the food. BUT, it’s greasy, it’s filling, it’s meat on a stick. And, there’s some good sweets there too! Here are some of the top things I ate at the ren faire:
My Haul
What to take home?
I ended up buying a little bottle of garnet at the $1 table by Moonieโs fire juggling.
I also took home a $5 water bird whistle sold by the super nice announcer from the joust tournament. Of course, there are lots of clothes and props to buy, but everything there was out of my price range.
Next Time
What we didnโt do, but should have done, is go to the information desk first. They have maps, scheduled times for events, and little yellow fliers for the gnome scavenger hunt, where you can go to shopkeepers and food stalls in search of little gnomish friends and get their stamp. At the end (once youโve found 15, I donโt think you get anything extra for finding the whole bunch), you can show your stamps to ____ and collect an exclusive silver enamel pin emblazoned with your title for $5.ย
I would spend more time browsing the shops (seriously, there were so many), and the gnome scavenger hunt is a good excuse to have while shopping and practicing in-character phrases to workers.ย
I also got so inspired by all of the guests in their garb, and on the ride home came up with about a thousand different costume and character ideas to dress up as. Now that I know that it isnโt strange to wear whatever your heart desires, I want to really go all in next time!
There were a ton of D&D references, and not just stores selling dice-they even had a โShakespeare and Dragonsโ play were plays like Romeo and Juliet were acted out, but the characters had to roll for actions and monsters came out on stage. I now want to dress up as a D&D character of my own campaigns, and even find a group there if possible! I havenโt yet played D&D with strangers yet, and wish there was some kind of one shot at the Faire. And wouldnโt that be cool? They could have a beginner and an experienced version, with the former introducing people to dice, the mechanics, and rules, and the latter just handing players pre-made characters to get into the role of and playing around the park! But thatโs just me. Iโd pay for that experience- D&D at a Renaissance Faire!ย
Overall Review of The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindaleย
I will say, the faire can be an overwhelming experience, but after the initial shock of seeing a fae man in horns playing with mud and a and a cult dressed in red and walking in unison with their hoods up and all the other surprising characters, you get acclimated.
Like at a Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights, or Disneyland, or a carnival, the actors (and guests), will come up to talk to you. Shopkeepers especially will to lure you into their shops. You know that stretch in a mall where there are a bunch of kiosks selling anything from sunglasses to stuffed animals to phone cases that hawk their goods and call out to you to check out their stuff? It feels like that, except the sunglasses hut employee is wearing balloon pants and a jesters hat with bells on. Expected to be vended to by vendors, but make it into something fun by roleplaying into the experience.
I just wish there were prices on things- you have to ask sellers how much an item is, and I swear I saw one seller look a woman up and down before replying โ$29,โ for a dress, as if she were sizing up her mark. Thatโs just my pessimism though. I will still only buy things that have a price tag, personally.ย
There were also the infamous pub crawls, which, if youโre into that sort of thing, seems like a great way to meet people, but also meant that a big crowd of tipsy people were being shepherded through the faire and every once in a while you had to dodge their stumbling.ย
Throughout, I didnโt see any drunks- which, at 5:00 pm when we left is a testament to the barkeepโs restraint, as the day drinking started at 11:00 am. There was definitely a lot of sexual humor and innuendo- plenty of โjust the tipโ jokes to encourage tipping, swallow jokes from the sword swallower of course, and so many โcan you handle my ballsโ jokes from a dragon egg themed basketball worker. No one I saw was harassed in any way though; everything felt safe and comfortable, and no one was being rude- not even the guests to each other.
I frequently saw security in their bright red shirts pass by who freely interacted with guests, and there was zero trash on the ground on account of all the trash cans and workers in orange shirts picking up. It was an extremely well oiled machine- from the parking lot to the exit, everything had a place and all contingencies had been thought of.ย
There were plenty of โprivies,โ complete with hand washing stations, ASL translators at every event, and there were a ton of people in wheelchairs with accessible seating. There were also lots of places specifically designed for kids to have fun. All in all, it was such a welcoming, safe, and fun experience genuinely for all ages. We saw grandmothers and babies, middle aged and teens, disabled and not, and everyone seemed to be having a whale of a time. It was set in the backdrop of a gorgeous lake, with huge trees offering shade, and lots of places to sit down and people watch. There were SO many events, activities, and things to do- it felt like everywhere you turned, there was something to occupy your time. I could spend three full days at this Ren Faire and maybe see everything.ย
Renaissance Pleasure Faire
Overall, it was totally worth the $42 ticket price and $12 parking. I can even see the season pass being worth it if you go six times in one year to make up for the $225 price tag (the Faire is open Saturdays and Sundays April 6 โ May 19, 2024 ยท 10 a.m. โ 7 p.m., so seven weekends total) or to go three times in one year if the season pass can work for two people, I dunno.ย
Final verdict
Iโm still so excited as I write this, the day after being at the Faire, and I canโt wait to return! Huzzah!
โ๏ธ So, will you be going to the Renaissance Faire this weekend? โ๏ธ
“Hey””
-Hay Bale Man
Ren Faire Goer
