Annual renaissance fairs return with kid-friendly merriment. At the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Lancaster County, weekends starting Aug. 14-Oct. 31, families can mingle with strolling costumed characters & enjoy entertainment of the era: sword swallowers, fire breathers, magicians, jugglers, improvised theater & a game of human chess.
At the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville, you can see jousters, jugglers, a sword swallower, Shakespearean actors, a King Henry VIII re-enactor & other 16th century-style performers. Kids ages 11 & younger receive FREE admission on opening weekend, Aug. 28-29. The festival continues weekends through Oct. 24.
Both festivals feature themed weekends (including pirates, Celtic culture & Halloween), craft fairs, traditional foods & games.
PA: $9.95-$29.95, ages 4 & younger free; 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com. MD: $8-$18, ages 6 & younger free; 800-296-7304, www.rennfest.com
The New Jersey Renaissance Faire opens in Columbus on Sept. 18, 2010. More details to come. www.njrenfaire.com
Stephanie Halinski is calendar editor of MetroKids.
