The Bay Area Renaissance Festival

at MOSI

 2008

 

 

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival was first held in 1979 in the city of Largo. This inaugural Faire featured renaissance dancing, archery contests, jugglers, mimes and madrigals.  

By 1980, the Faire had added food booths, a human chess match and a unique marketplace. Ownership and management changed to the Mid America Festivals group at that time. As attendance to the popular event grew, so did the number of artisans, demonstrations, entertainers and foods. The Faire grew to a full five weekend event to accommodate growing demand. At that point the event had developed beyond the status of local event to a regional tourist attraction.

 

The show continued to develop fans through the next decades, offering more each year in entertainment, education, food and art. Through the 1990’s, Faire attendance had grown to nearly 80,000 annual guests.

 

In 2004 Faire promoters chose to relocate the Festival to Tampa, Florida adjacent to the Museum of Science and Industry. After years of providing an aesthetic guests could immerse themselves in upon entering the show, careful consideration was needed to find a new location equal to the task. The Museum of Science and Industry with the leadership of Wit Ostrenko, President of MOSI, offered Mid America Festivals a location near the museum. Though much landscaping and attentiveness to environmental issues was required, the Festival site was erected, complimenting the educational and entertainment philosophy of its long standing neighbor. Hillsborough County and Tampa City officials have also been an integral part of the success of the show in its current location at 46th and Fowler, offering building guidance and codes compliance standards as the site develops. In total, this year marks the 30th season for this long time event. 

 

The Faire this year will focus more carefully than ever on the history of King Henry VIII and his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr. Catherine Parr married Henry VIII of England on July 12, 1543, and by all accounts was a patient, loving, and pious wife to him. The theme will be carried throughout the show in the story told by performers, the chess match, fight show choreography and in Living History demonstrations.

 

Friday, March 28th the Faire will once again host the special school day, with added emphasis on educating the youth of west central Florida. Each year thousands of children and young adults visit the Faire as part of their spring history curriculum. The outing gives teachers an opportunity to bring history to life and generate enthusiasm for this fascinating period. Faire promoters provide complimentary learning materials for educators including trivia, games and puzzles related to the era. These tools are also available online at www.renaissancefest.com.

 

The food at the Faire is surly one of the most popular stops in any guest’s journey back in time. Over these many years, the menu has developed to include favorites including the now famous turkey legs, fish and chips, chicken kabobs and cheesecake on a stick. Additionally, the Faire will offer a wide variety of sandwiches, pork chops on a stick, kettle corn, roasted almonds, and desserts including strawberry shortcake and homemade ice cream as well as a variety of adult beverages, soft drinks and gourmet coffee.

 

In addition to the a la carte dining throughout the Faire, there are three popular events held each day of the show hosted by the entertainment department. The Queen’s Tea is held each afternoon and is hosted by the Queen of the Festival, Catherine Parr. This charming private party with Her Majesty includes not only a delicious three course afternoon tea service, but performers hailed especially for the event for only guests of this gathering. The Royal Smoker has quite another flavor in its early evening presentation. This “adults only” party offers a variety of hearty snacks, cigars and libations as well as belly dancing, limericks, comedy and music. And the Feaste of Fantasy offers a full six course indulgence of appetizers, salads, main course offerings and dessert. Tickets to these events can be purchased at the Festival gates. In addition, the Festival falls on Easter Sunday, March 23rd and the show will host an Easter buffet for guests unlike any other featuring Baked Ham, Herb Roasted Chicken, Baby Squash with Roasted Grape Tomatoes, Garlic Green Beans, Roasted Mixed Potatoes, White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Citrus Cole Slaw, Orzo Spinach & Feta Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad, Assorted Bread & Rolls with Butter, Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese, Banana Pudding and Chocolate Raspberry Fudge Cake. Seating is limited and tickets can be ordered by calling 800-779-4910 or at www.renaissancefest.com.

 

Each weekend the Festival offers a unique slant on the period with special events and activities for guests. This year is no exception with the following added attractions scheduled to enhance the events that are held each day of the show. The following is a list by weekend:

 

February 23 & 24 – Arabian Knights

Florida State Belly Dancing Competition

March 1 & 2 – Chocolate Extravaganza

Chocolate Festival

King Henry’s Birthday

Red Hat Ladies

Men in Tights Competition

Largo Days!

Longbow Competition  

March 8 & 9 – Wine & Romance

Wine Festival

Free Vow Renewals

Fantasy Wedding (WSJT)

March 15 & 16 – Shamrocks & Kilts

Florida State Highland Heavy Games Championship

Largest St. Patrick’s Day Party

Perfect Proposal (WQYK)

March 22 & 23 – Wonders of the World

Easter Activities

Juggling Competition

Pet Fest

March 29 & 30 – Italian Carnivale

Flower Festival

April 5 & 6 – Buccaneer Beer Fest

Homebrew Competition

Bike Rally with the Bone!

 

The enchanting shire of Fittlesworth will be host to national and local entertainment acts featuring comedy, music, juggling and stage combat, including: Washing Well Wenches (bawdy clean fun), Johnny Phoenix (comedy, fire and whips!), Demzarah Gypsies (gypsies, music and dance), Dragon Scales and Faerie Tales (life size dragon hatching up good fun for all ages), Manolete’  (Bolas and fire), Ralphie the Ratcatcher, Empty Hats (Great Music!), Jim Hancock Music (The Master Minstrel), The Mudskippers (Shakespeare in the Mud), Buccaneer Blades (comedy pirates and swords) Pony Rides, a Petting Zoo, Games & Rides and of course full contact armored jousting from War Horse Productions.

 

The New Riders of the Golden Age from War Horse Farm will again join the cast of The 30th Annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival.  Based in Sarasota, War Horse Farm has been the training center for one of the premier jousting troupes in the country since 1982.  Under the direction of Kelly Bailey, Knights are schooled in horsemanship following the discipline of western reining and the sport of joust. 

 

The use of period designed tilting armor differentiates the New Riders from their staged theatrical medieval joust counterparts by allowing them to engage in an authentic full contact joust.  The lance passes are real.  Lances are made of genuine solid pin and neither cut nor scored to assist in their breaking.  When the lance meets its target and splinters into pieces; that is when the New Riders and the audience truly find out what it means to be a knight.

War Horse Farm is home to an armory and workshop where the period designed armor, equipment and costumes are kept and maintained. 

 

The artisans provide an added authenticity through the colorful shoppes that line the lanes of this renaissance setting. Only the finest craftspeople are selected following an extensive artisan jury process. products include the mediums of glass, metal, leather, stone, pottery, fabric and wood. From these materials are created extraordinary jewelry, toys, weapons, clothing, house wares and adornments.

 

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival at MOSI is located at 11315 N. 46th St. in Tampa, Fl., Off of I-75, exit 265/FL-582, on the corner of Fowler and 46th St., next to MOSI. The Festival runs weekends February 23, 2008 – April 6, 2008 10am - 6pm, plus Friday, March 28, 10am - 4pm. The Bay Area Renaissance Festival at MOSI is open rain or shine. Daily Admission rates at the gate are $16.95 for adults, children ages 5-12 are $8.95 and ages 4 and under are free. Discount offers can be found online for each weekend. Promoters can be reached at 800-779-4910 Advanced tickets are available at Albertson’s, MOSI and ClicknPrint Tickets or at www.renaissancefest.com. Parking is free.