Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 3/27/16
Fairburn, GA – The 2016 Georgia Renaissance Festival opens for its 31st Season on the weekend of April 16 & 17, and runs for 8 consecutive weekends through June 5th, including Memorial Day Monday. Voted a Top 20 Southeast Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, a day spent inside the castle walls of this 32-acre 16th Century Kingdom will delight, amuse and amaze the entire family. Festival guests will be greeted by Queen Anne Boleyn and her Court, merry minstrels, fair maidens, gallant Knights in shining armor and a full-day of entertainment on 10 stages, food fit for kings, and a marketplace of over 150 master artisans displaying their time-honored artistry as they craft their one-of-a-kind treasures.
You’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat as you witness noble knights battling atop 4,000 pounds of equine fury in the Equus Maximus Extreme Joust Show. This epic show is filled with thrilling stunts, trick riding and chariot races!
The award-winning circus-style acrobatics of Barely Balanced defy reason as they perform unbelievable feats of skill mixed with hilarious comedy. A family-friendly audience pleaser.
Another entertainer who guarantees to keep your palms sweaty is Icabod Wainwright, performing in, not one, but TWO show s this year. See him on the Wheel of Death, a 30 foot tall human hamster wheel. This massive beast is his personal playground high above the audience – AND THERE’S NO NET! Assuming he survives this show, catch him again in his new show this year, BLADES OF DEATH. Watch as he hurls sharp blades of steel at his lovely assistant, WHILE BALANCING ON A SLACK ROPE! Who does that?!
New this year! The Geoff Marsh Fire Circus. All ages will love this highly accomplished
magician, clown, mime, juggler and fire manipulator as he mesmerizes audiences with this dazzling boyish charm and feats of wonder.
For the animal lovers, the Festival welcomes Lady Gail Mirabella and the Dynamo Dogs for a limited engagement, April 30 through May 15. This show opens on Kids Free Weekend, April 30th and May 1st. Kids will enjoy watching these highly trained dogs work as a team demonstrating their agility and acrobatic skills.
The Birds of Prey Show, a long-running Festival favorite returns, presented by Sky Kings Falconry and Earthquest. “The greatest free-flying bird show in America,” says Jim Fowler, of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and NBC’s Today Show. The whole family will enjoy seeing hawks, eagles, owls, vultures and falcons in this amazing show.
Music and laughter is a major part of the endless entertainment found each day at the
Renaissance Festival. The musicians of the realm include the vast repertoire of The Harper and the Minstrel (New this year) performing a variety of Spanish, English and Irish music. Landloch’d returns with their Celtic and Pirate music for the masses. The Festival pubs are always filled with lively music and sing-a-longs to please any audience.
Side-splitting laughter is the fare at the audience-participation shows of The Tortuga Twins, 3 pirates that put a slightly different spin on classic fairy tales.
The Splatter Time Players (The Mud Show) – A “dirty” show that’s good, clean fun for all ages.
Hey Nunnie, Nunnie will crack you up! Laughter rings out louder than the convent bells at this show. These “sisters” hold counseling sessions with unsuspecting audience members, sing songs and crack jokes that will send some straight to the confessional.
Rick Stratton, a certified hypnotherapist, stage hypnotist and comedian performs his comedy hypnosis show with a stage full of audience volunteers, yes volunteers. Wait ‘til you see 10+ people under his hypnotic spell. It’s a recipe for hilarious comedy!
The Festival runs April 16 – June 5, 2016, including Memorial Day, 10:30am to 6:00pm.
Admission at the Gate: $22/Adult; $10/Child ages 6-12; Children 5 and under are FREE.
Discount Tickets available at Walgreens or online at www.GArenfest.com. FREE PARKING!
