For the past few years, some good friends of mine and I have made it a tradition to visit the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. This year, 2016, it has been open each weekend since November 5th and every weekend up until December 11th. Now, let’s say you don’t know anything about this festival, which is a proper assumption. I am here to inform you of the marvelous experience I have had there.
Once you have completed your drive to the destination of the festival in Hammond, LA, you, depending on how early you arrived, will spend quite a bit of time just parking your vehicle. However, once that is done and you have paid your fee to enter the fair, you are greeted by costumed workers at a castle gate. Beyond this gate are many festivities and you have heard the music the moment you exited your car.
Next, you are welcomed to the sight of small stalls and buildings stuffed with whatever you can think of! The eccentric staff may try to drag you into their craft store, but it may just be worth it. Ladies, say you’d always been curious what a corset felt like to wear… Well, there’s a little shop where you can try one on and even buy every kind and style. Gentlemen, let’s assume you desire to be a knight. There’s a stall for that as well! Any kind of medieval clothing item or accessory you could possibly desire is there waiting for you, spread out over a trail encircling a sparkling lake.
So you aren’t looking for clothes to satisfy your Renaissance aesthetic? Well, I guess you can check out the many other stalls dedicated to the crafts, including apothecaries, gem shops, hair stylists, jewelry stalls, and more! There are so many things to look at and smell and try not to touch but, you know, it’s just so pretty. Honestly, I use these shops to Christmas shop for some family members because everything there is to buy isn’t always necessarily from the Renaissance era… There’s also Steampunk inspired items.
Even if you had absolutely no interest in buying anything, there are still so many activities. Spotted across the festival grounds are various performers for either musical or comical needs.
Jousting, bench swings over the lake, mini rides for kids, archery, and even axe throwing exists in this festival. Anyone could find even the slightest of entertainment for themselves. I, for one, always enjoy myself. Every member of the festival’s staff plays their part with accents and tricks and jokes that all associate to the Renaissance. They are always so cheerful and really seem to want everyone to have fun.
Now, to an important part of the day you’ll be spending at this festival… food! Oh, the food is so delicious, especially the desserts. From turkey legs to Jester Chips, from Butterfinger fudge and fried Oreos to cheesecake on a stick, there is so much food to choose from and a number of performers to watch while you enjoy your food. This is certainly one of my favorite parts of the day (when my stomach starts to growl). I never even have to worry that I’m a picky eater because there’s always someone on the grounds that has the simple foods like pizza or chicken tenders.
Something else that always brightens up my time at the festival are the kids! There are always so many kids wandering safely around the fair and they always have big smiles on their faces. The staff is so kind to them and even play with them. During my first year at the festival, I saw a worker dancing and jumping around with a very excited princess. There are so many knights, princes, princesses, wizards and witches that the adorableness is almost too much to handle! I suppose I find this experience for the children especially nice considering that they can not only laugh and be carefree, but they get to learn about history, traditions, and even some of the crafts.
I suppose the hardest part of the day is when the sun starts to set because then I realize that I will have to go home sometime soon. Though, for two years now, the last stop I have made before setting my sights on the exit is a tea shop. It is quite relaxing to have a cup of tea while watching the sun set over the lake.
All in all, the Louisiana Renaissance Festival is a great way to spend your time and money. I have loved the experience of going there and truly rely on the activity to give me a day to dress up, relax and laugh. This is especially true concerning that November and December are busy months for many people. The fact that the festival is placed in these months gives an opportunity to have a day for yourself before you have to carry on with any stressors.
I love this festival and hope that I can continue to visit for years to come, introducing new friends and family to it as I go and improving my costume each time. Thank you to all of the staff that make this festival possible.
