- Sir William from New Riders of the Golden Age - New Riders of the Golden Age
Huzzah and welcome to the annual Siouxland Renaissance Festival held in Sioux Falls, SD. The Festival is usually held the first full weekend in June. As a volunteer for the festival, I can tell you that the Festival has been in existence since 2001. Initially, the Festival was held beside a local water park. Our current location is the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds.
Costumes and Characters
Guests attending the Festival are encouraged to wear period costumes. In fact, guests wearing costumes receive a discount on admission. For those wondering what to wear, the Siouxland Renaissance Festival focuses on sixteenth century England. Costume choices for females include royalty, wench, or washerwoman. Males may dress as royalty, wear chainmail, or dress as a pirate.
Attending the Festival truly does make guests feel as if they have stepped back in time. Guests are asked to hide cell phones, purses, or any other modern gadgets. However, members of the royal court will stop for photographs with guests of the Festival. The royalty is not sure what those little boxes (cameras) are. Guests can expect to be harassed by traveling minstrels, wenches, tradespeople, and vendors. It is all part of the Renaissance experience.
Food and Drink
Traditional food and drink is offered such as gigantic turkey legs to eat and meade to drink. Modern day food is available such as root beer floats, fruit smoothies, and hamburgers. On hot days, homemade lemonade is a welcome refreshment.
Jousting and Other Entertainment
The Siouxland Renaissance Festival is proud to host jousting each year. Hay bales are set up around the jousting ring for guests to sit on. Guests are seated close to the jousting ring so they get the full effect of hearing the horse’s hooves as they gallop by. Sitting so close allows guests to get a great view of the gorgeous horses and handsome knights. The horses kick up a lot of dust so be sure to keep your allergy medicine handy. After the jousting, the knights ask for tips and pose for photographs. Guests are allowed to pet the horses at this time. The knights wear full armor and work hard to entertain the audience. The knights are covered in sweat after the joust. The full armor is real as are the lances and the falls the knights take. Jousting is a favorite with guests. Since jousting takes a toll on both horses and knights alike, jousting is only held twice a day.
Additional entertainment at the Festival usually includes a storyteller, wandering musicians, minstrel singers, fire breathers, and traditional dance demonstrations. For additional fees, guests can lock up one of their friends in the stocks, take their turn at sword fighting, or ride elephants and camels.
Artisans perform demonstrations of various skills such as glass blowing and armor making. The artisans are happy to answer any questions guests may have. Vendors usually sell period costumes, handmade soaps, and jewelry.
So, get dressed up in your favorite Renaissance Costume and bring the whole family to the Siouxland Renaissance Festival. I will see you there.
