If you have not been to the Valhalla Renaissance Faire, you are missing out on an exceptional, one of a kind experience! The fun kicked off this past weekend with events geared more towards family and kids with a theme of ‘Scottish Invasion.’ This upcoming weekend the Pirate and Barbarian Hordes will be invading the faire grounds. The fun starts early and continues all day long with jousting competitions, over 900 costumed actors, interactive immersion theater and 100 shops with unique costumes and artistic creations for display and for sale.
Last year was my first Renaissance Faire experience, and not knowing entirely what to expect – I was blown away by the participation and enthusiasm of both visitors and actors. While we were waiting in line to purchase our tickets, costumed comedians were walking up and down the line providing entertainment while we waited. Even the majority of visitors dressed up, and I felt out of place by wearing normal clothes! Upon entering the grounds, you are greeted with booths selling unique collections of clothes, jewelry, pottery, blacksmith and most importantly – beverages. Dispersed throughout the grounds are the aforementioned booths, theatrical stages, craft demonstration areas, face painting, games and food! Now, don’t expect anything too fancy when you order food. You will eat most things with your fingers, and the longest food line was for a turkey leg (delicious).
Most of the time we spent simply wandering around the booths, being entertained by the outfits and personalities. I highly recommend watching the jousting competition. These seasoned actors are skilled at entertaining both kids and adults, and you almost feel like you are back in Medieval times. Try to get a spot in the front, especially if you are there with kids. It is worth it. After walking around the booths, we headed to the food area, where we chose to enjoy turkey legs while watching a comedian/magician perform on one of the back stages. We were pleasantly surprised at how entertained we were, more at his jokes than the magic.
Parking for the Renaissance Faire: If you are expecting to get parking at Camp Richardson, make sure you arrive early in the morning. If you have been to the venue, you will know the parking mostly consists of finding a spot on the side of the road. Or, if you are coming from the Stateline area, park at the casinos and hop on the free shuttle that will take you directly to the gates! Here is an updated shuttle directory.
When: This weekend, Saturday and Sunday June 7-8
Where: Camp Richardson, South Lake Tahoe CA
Time: 10am – 6pm Saturday, 10am – 6pm Sunday
Click Here for the top ten reasons to attend the faire!
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