Day Trippin': One more festival found in KC Renaissance Festival

During a time of the year when festivals take the stage, no other festival may travel as far back into time as the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.

The festival, now in its 30th year, recreates the life of a 16th century village and runs between two fall holidays — Labor Day and Columbus Day, Oct. 18, over the weekends.

Seven weekends are filled with food, live entertainment, and each weekend, the festival spawns a new theme, which dictates the types of events, music and food served for those three days.

This weekend’s theme, Tales for the Sultan, will feature belly dancing and a Maypole, a longbow tournament and other “sheik” events.

The four other themed weekends to come include Cakes and Ale, Kilts and Kings, Wild Kingdom and Spirited Away.

But being 30 years old, the festival wouldn’t be without some of the favorite attractions such as a jousting tournament, more than 500 costumed characters, giant turkey legs and chocolate covered cheesecake on stick.

Kids will also have something to do as the Children’s Realm features rides, games, shows, crafts and daily knightings by the king.

Shopaholics will revel in the 162 shops that sell items including jewelry, glass and leather goods and more.

A living history tour will take participants on a walk through the 16th century, meeting the workers and townsfolk, learning what their roles were and the importance of it as if they really were back in the 1500s.

Even potential newlyweds can come to the event just to tie the knot at the festival’s Wedding of the Century celebration Oct. 11.

Tickets are $17.95 for adults ages 13 and up at the gates. They are $15.50 if purchased online or in advance at an outlet. Children ages 5-12 are $8.95 at the gates, $7.95 in advance or from an outlet. A list of qualified outlets can be found online at kcrenfest.com/ticket. Children younger than five are free. Students and seniors are $15.50.

The festival is open all weekends through Oct. 18 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., rain or shine.

If you go
WHAT The 30th annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival
WHEN Weekends, now through Oct. 18
WHERE K7 off of Interstate 70 in Bonner Springs, Kan.
COST Adult tickets are $17.95, $15.50 in advance; Seniors/students $15.50; Children 5-12 $8.95 at the gate, $7.95 in advance
INFO 1-800-373-0357
ONLINE kcrenfest.com