Bristol Renaissance Faire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bristol Renaissance Faire |
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Jousting at the Bristol Renaissance Faire, 2006
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| Genre | Renaissance fair |
| Dates | July–September |
| Location(s) | Bristol, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States |
| Inaugurated | 1973 |
| Attendance | 198,000–400,000 (average) |
| Stages | 16 |
The Bristol Renaissance Faire is a super fun festival that takes you back in time to the year 1574 in England! It's like stepping into a living history book, right in Bristol, Wisconsin. This special park becomes a bustling English village, complete with knights, queens, and amazing shows. You can visit for nine weekends, from early July until Labor Day.
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A Trip Back in Time: The Bristol Renaissance Faire
The Bristol Renaissance Faire is a huge outdoor event. It's built like an old English town from the 1500s. The fair is located near the Wisconsin-Illinois state line. It recreates a special visit from Queen Elizabeth I to the port city of "Bristol" in 1574.
How the Faire Began
The Bristol Renaissance Faire started in 1972. It was created by Richard Shapiro and his wife, Bonnie. Back then, it was called "King Richard's Faire."
The first fair lasted for four weekends. About 10,000 people came to visit. It was a popular new event for the area.
In 1988, the Shapiros sold the fair. The new owners renamed it the "Bristol Renaissance Faire." They changed the story so that Queen Elizabeth I was visiting, not a fictional King Richard. The year was set as 1574.
At that time, the fair ran for seven weekends. Over 200,000 people visited each year. This made it one of the biggest fairs in the world! Fun activities like jousting tournaments, historical reenactments, and exciting stage shows continued to be popular.
In 2020, the fair had to be cancelled. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 48th fair was then held in 2021 instead.
Fun and Entertainment at the Faire
The Bristol Faire is close to Chicago. This helped them bring in great teachers. These teachers taught actors how to do improv comedy. They learned how to act out scenes with the audience.
Many shows at the Bristol Faire have won awards. Some famous shows include The Mud Show, Dirk & Guido: The Swordsmen, and Moonie the Magnificent. These shows are known for being very entertaining.
Images for kids
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Costumed performers from the 2006 Bristol Renaissance Faire
