Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Last weekend my family and I went to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and as usual, it was an interesting time. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is one of those events you should really only go to once every three years in order to appreciate it fully. While the food is exceptional and the shows are fun, the real attraction is the people watching. From the people who get fully into Medieval character to those people you know are very far out of their comfort zone. The weekend we attended was Irish Heritage weekend and it included free beer tasting, parades, and special shows.

Here are a few hot spots to make sure you hit while at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival:

• Turkey Drumsticks – These Renaissance Fair favorite are the perfect Medieval food to chow down on while walking around the festival. The skin is deliciously roasted and the meat is absolutely tender. A must have.
• The Tortuga Brothers Show – These guys are a riot. While a bit crude at times, the show is fairly family friendly and it is something the whole family will enjoy. The show lasts about 45 minutes and is well worth it. From stunts and jokes to audience participation required skits, the show is fast-paced and overall one of the most enjoyable shows at the festival.
• Soup in a Bread Bowl – Although this may not sound like anything special, believe me, on a cold day in September in Minnesota, the hot beer-cheese soup in a bread bowl is one of the most coveted items at the festival. The line often stretches the farthest back, even though it is available at multiple locations throughout the festival. A great choice for people of all ages and tastebuds.

So if you’re in Minnesota during September and October, a trip to the Renaissance Festival is a fun Saturday or Sunday day out with the family. And although it can get fairly expensive if you decide to eat and shop there (there are hundreds of store fronts that sell artisan crafts of all kinds includind swords and authentic chain mail), you can also have an inexpensive day out as well – it’s all up to you!