Pennsylvania Has One of the Best Renaissance Fairs in the U.S.
Renaissance fairs and festivals are celebrated all over Pennsylvania, the United States and world, really, and for good reason. Going to a Renaissance festival is just plain fun. They offer a great chance to wear your favorite period costumes, take part in interactive events and pretend you’re living in a totally different era. Now, one Pennsylvania renaissance festival has been named one of the best in the country.
Best Renaissance Fairs and Festivals, Including in Pennsylvania
The experts at USA Today have released their roster of the best renaissance festivals in America, as part of their 10 Best series. This series has experts picking spots for which to vote, and then readers voting for their favorites. Of these fests, they note, “Renaissance fairs and festivals across the United States offer unique and immersive experiences that transport visitors back to the enchanting days of knights, jousting, and lively marketplaces.” The 10 fairs they highlight “provide a delightful blend of historical reenactments, entertaining performances, and an array of artisanal crafts and delicious food.”
For Pennsylvania, they picked the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at No. 5 on the tally, in Manheim, Pennsylvania. Of the spot, they say that this special event “recreates a 16th-century village with 35 acres of the Mount Hope Winery and Estate” and that “faire-goers can expect all kinds of historically-inspired merriment, like Disasterpiece Theater where Shakespearean parodies abound, Music with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Tournament of Arms, and Renaissance Bingo — it’s fun for the whole family.” They also highlight the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival in West Newton, Pennsylvania, as No. 8 on the tally.
So, how did renaissance festivals and fairs get started? According to Smithsonian Magazine, “The first of these festivals debuted in the early 1960s, serving as a prime example of the United States’ burgeoning counterculture.” They add, “United by their raucous entertainment, elaborate costumes and setting in the distant past, these outdoor events boast a surprising backstory.”
If you’re wondering about the very first renaissance fair or festival, “The first Renaissance Fair is widely credited to have been the “Renaissance Pleasure Faire” in California, USA, in 1963,” notes Whidbey Ren Faire. ” Originating in the 20th century, these fairs have grown into vibrant events that bring the spirit of the Renaissance era to life,” they add.
