Louisiana Renaissance Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louisiana Renaissance Festival |
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An actress (Kimberly Stockton), playing Queen Elizabeth I, knights a young visitor
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| Genre | Renaissance fair |
| Dates | November - December |
| Location(s) | Robert, Louisiana |
| Inaugurated | 2000 |
| Attendance | 25,000 (average) |
| Stages | 7 |
The Louisiana Renaissance Festival (LARF) is a super fun event near Hammond, Louisiana. It's like stepping back in time to a 16th-century English village! Imagine a lively harvest festival from the year 1565. This festival brings history to life with amazing art, crafts, music, and theater. It's a place where everyone dresses up and has a great time!
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What is the Louisiana Renaissance Festival?
The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is a special event that started in 2000. It's a "renaissance fair," which means it recreates a historical time period. Here, you can explore different parts of Renaissance culture. This includes old-style art, handmade crafts, beautiful music, and exciting plays.
Step Back in Time
The festival grounds look just like a village from the 1560s. All the people working there, called cast members, dress up in amazing historical clothes. They wear outfits that people would have worn during that time.
The cast members are local people from Louisiana. They love to interact with visitors! They might try to get you to dance, or even pull you into one of their fun shows. It's all part of the playful atmosphere.
The female cast members wear long underskirts and outer skirts. They also add cool accessories like fancy collars. Male cast members wear knee-length pants, stockings, and a shirt.
Fun Activities and Shows
LARF has seven different stages with entertainment happening all day long. You can watch plays, listen to music, and see amazing performances. The shows are interactive, meaning the performers might even talk to you!
There are also over 100 merchants at the festival. They sell unique handmade items. You can find Renaissance-style clothing, perfumes, ceramic horns, and beautiful jewelry. These are perfect for finding a special gift from the 16th century.
Food and Shopping
The festival offers lots of delicious food and drinks. You can try both modern treats and historical foods. Some popular choices include "jester chips," bread bowls, huge turkey legs, and gourmet mushrooms.
There's also a large "living village" area. Here, cast members show you what life was like before modern machines. It's a great way to see how people lived long ago.
History and Awards
The Louisiana Renaissance Festival opens on the first weekend of November. It runs for six weekends after that, including the Friday after Thanksgiving. It's usually the last renaissance festival of the year. The season ends with a big closing party and fireworks over the lake!
LARF has received some special recognition. In 2002, it won an award for "Best New Event of the Year." It has also been chosen twice as one of the "TOP 20 Events in the Southeast" by the Southeast Tourism Society.
Since 2020, the festival has taken extra steps to keep everyone safe. This includes encouraging good health practices for all visitors.
LARF also helps support the Renaissance Living History Center. This center helps teach people about history through hands-on experiences.
