Des Moines Renaissance Faire - Press Release 2011
-For Immediate News Release-
"Iowa's Time-Travel Festival"
DES MOINES - The 9th annual DES MOINES RENAISSANCE FAIRE is designed to take families and re-enactment fans on a journey through time, this September 3-5th, 10-11th and 17-18th (10am to 6pm), bringing to life the theatrics and pageantry of 16th century Europe.
This is accomplished primarily by the full-scale olde English castle town built behind the wooded grove at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park. Named Canterbury-on-Sherwood it is gaining wide attention as one of the most unique theme parks in Iowa, and was recently featured in a national magazine.
Village lanes lined with food shops, merchant cottages, performance stages and demonstration yards are only out-sized by the 'Tournament Arena' jousting stadium at which hundreds of on-lookers can watch the equestrian stunt spectacle. The 15 landscaped acres include a long entry bridge, a fairy realm tree-house, a children's realm play field, a living history encampment glen, a waterfront pirate cove, and a tree enshrouded Sherwood Forest. Marrick Castle is one of the largest in the Midwest and it houses a Medieval torture chamber tour.
The highlight of the event will be the literally hundreds of performers and stage acts from all over the country. It takes eleven stages and performance realms to handle the schedule of some 60 shows per day. Along with the numerous popular acting troupes and solo performers who return each year, this season introduces yet another roster of new shows to the Des Moines region: Crazy Boy Coy from the Kansas City Renaissance Faire who amazes with his extreme physical stunts and fire act; Jeff McLane from the Bristol Renaissance Faire whose "Comedy Hamlet" has been a hit in Chicago; Guardians of the Black Forest from the Iowa Renaissance Festival with their Medieval live-steel combat; Crazy Celts in Kilts from Minneapolis with their audience inter-action stage show; the Traveling Knights of Evengard from the Nebraska Renaissance Faire with their comedy improv; Friendly Fire from Des Moines with a new pirate comedy fire show; the Scottish Country Dance Society of Central Iowa with the highland bagpipes; the Flying Eagles Acrobalance show; and the Abridged Shakespeare Trio.
Some of the returning performance troupes have new acts to show off, such as the Wild Wench's Mud Show and the Three Musketeers Show.
The headliner show, Joust Evolution, has completely re-built their equestrian extravaganza by adding veteran knights, more valuable horses and unusual comedy stunts. This jousting troupe has become on-demand at other events in the region and will also be appearing at the Kansas City Renaissance Faire.
Indeed, the Des Moines Renaissance Faire has become a showcasing for what could be seen at the other big regional Renaissance festivals without having to travel to them.
The wide variety of activities and living-history demonstrations from glass-blowing to chain maille making can easily keep family members of various ages attentive all day. Add to this the many hands-on experiences, from long-bow archery to real sword fighting, and even modern teenagers become active students of history.
The Des Moines Renaissance Faire features a beer garden tavern, a wine villa operated by Iowa's Summerset Winery, plus 14 food and novelty beverage shops which have been drawing crowds back, each year. Most all of these experienced food merchants offer fresh-made cuisine that isn't typical to county or state fairs.
Another distinct aspect of the festival is the hand-made products offered by the forty village merchants. Many of these artisan goods can only be found at a regional Renaissance faire. Some of the crafters and artists travel to Des Moines from other states.
Gate admission to the Des Moines Renaissance Faire is $16 for adults, $8 for kids 5 to 12 years old with tots free. Two-day passes are $25 and season passes (seven day) are $35. Hy-Vee stores in the metro area will have $2-off tickets sold in advance and Casey's General Stores will have $2-off coupons available. Secured and patrolled parking is only $1 per car.
Directions and location information can be found at www.shspdm.com. Festival details and all other information can be found at www.dmrenfaire.com or by contacting greg@festint.com or tel. #641-357-5177.
*Photos and video available upon request.
CONTACT:
Festivals International Sleepy Hollow Sports Park
Greg Schmidt Max Kenkel
641-357-5177 515.262.4100
greg@festint.com mxknkl@yahoo.com
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