Expect the revelry to be turned up a notch as the Arizona Renaissance Festival celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.

Over the years, the festival has grown from a small event held on 9 acres near Apache Junction to more than 30 acres with 13 stages for performers and more than 200 artisans and other vendors.

In addition to the traditional favorites such jousting, medieval costumes and the chance to gnaw on giant turkey legs, there will be fresh additions to the lineup.

Among the new events this year is a Brewfest on March 24 and 25. Craft beers will be available from noon to 4 p.m. both days in the Village Green.

Arizona Renaissance Festival highlights

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a favorite that draws thousands of visitors each year. Here are  highlights for first timers as well as returning fans.

The Pleasure Feast

There will be some risqué humor, but this experience is mostly about food and drink. The Pleasure Feast includes a five-course meal (prime rib, stuffed quail or grilled eggplant rolls are the entrees), 90 minutes of rowdy entertainment and a special-edition Pleasure Feast goblet.

Buy your $73.95 ticket in advance. The price includes admission to the renaissance festival.

Visitors who prefer to graze through their favorite festival foods will find all the popular options throughout the fairgrounds —steak and chicken skewers, sausage, bangers and mash, roasted corn and, of course, turkey legs.

Themed days

As if the whole Renaissance thing isn’t theme enough, the festival will host several themed weekends.

• Dr. Who fans will want to mark March 3 on their calendars as the Tardis from the BBC television series is scheduled to make an appearance during Time Traveler Weekend. Fair goers are encouraged to dress as their favorite time traveler that Sunday.
• Regardless of what they had to do with renaissance revelry, pirates will invade the land-locked festival on March 10 and 11.
• On St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Irish culture takes center stage with a “wearin’ of the green” contest on March 17 and a visit from the Arizona Colleens on the 18th.
• Student Days are offered for elementary kids on March 6 and middle and high schoolers on March 8. Visit the festival’s website for more information.

Performers

Many of the favorites from years past will be on hand, along with some new faces.

Shamus the Insulter will once again be there to let folks know how you feel about them (for tips).

Other favorite acts include shows of falconry, Cirque du Sewer (acrobatic performer with cats and rats), Thom Selectomy (comedy sword swallowing) along with a host of singers, dancers and other performers.

A truly impressive part of the show is the four tons of bronze bells that make up a rare travelling carillon. Check out Cast in Bronze online to see that historic instrument played in a new way.

Among the new performances is the comedic storytelling of the Gwendolyn Show. Gwendolyn will do two shows a day on the Royal Pavillion stage. Check her out on Facebook to get a feel for this family-friendly act.

Rides, games and crafts

Try your luck on games of skill with a renaissance twist or simply buy your souvenirs rather than trying to win them.

Festival games include target shooting with a long bow or crossbow, storming a castle in a paintball battle or throwing a battle ax.

Rides include the Assault Catapult, the Piccolo Pony (a giant rocking horse), Da Vinci’s Flying Machine and the Voyage to the New World.

There are more than 200 vendors with a wide variety of arts and crafts. Shop for costumes (for purchase or rent) and other clothing, housewares, musical instruments, pottery, leather work, woodwork and weapons.

Jousting

With the possible exception of wolfing a turkey leg, what’s more synonymous with a medieval fair than jousting?

The 5,000-seat Arena of Champions hosts three shows a day. Jousting takes place at noon (the Lord Mayor’s joust), 2:30 p.m. (Crown Prince’s joust) and the 5:30 p.m. Joust to the Death. We hope that’s just hyperbole.

Arizona Renaissance Festival

When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Feb. 10 through April 1, plus Presidents Day, Feb. 19.

Where: 12601 U.S. 60 (just east of Gold Canyon Golf Resort).

Admission: In advance: Fry’s Food Stores sells adult tickets for $24 and children’s tickets (ages 5-12) for $14. Online: $25 and $15. At the box office: $26, $23 for age 60 and older and active and retired military members and their spouses (ID required), $16 for ages 5-12. Children younger than 5 get in free. Season passes also available.

Details: 520-463-2700, RenFestInfo.com.

 

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