The 38th Annual Texas Renaissance Festival will open the gates to the public on October 6, 2012 and run through November 25, 2012. Each weekend brings with it a new theme while still providing quality entertainment, food, games, rides, and unique shopping from hundreds of vendors across the 55-acre village.
The season will kick off with the Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, October 6th and Sunday, October 7th. The German themed activities will also include contests throughout the day. Couples dance to victory in the Polka Dancing Contest, all ages prove their stamina in the Bavarian Stein Holding Contest, and no Oktoberfest is complete without food featuring a Bratwurst Eating Contest.
The second weekend features Queen Titania and her Fairy Court for the 1001 Dreams Celebration Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th. Magical Contests for the weekend include a Fairy Scavenger Hunt, a Fantasy Costume Contest, and only the bravest are up to the Dragon Wing Eating Contest.
Pirates take over the village for the third weekend’s Pirate Adventure, Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st. Basil Drake and the crew of the Pride of Bedlam invite the public to search for their treasure in a Pirate Scavenger Hunt, don their finest for the Pirate Costume Contest, test their skills in the Talk Like a Pirate Contest, and eat their way to glory in the Fish and Chips Eating Contest.
Ghouls, goblins, and spooks of all types and styles come out to celebrate the All Hallow’s Eve on Saturday, October 27th and Sunday, October 28th. Traditional Halloween activities include the Pumpkin Carving Contest and Trick-or-Treating across the festival site for children of all ages. Let loose the best blood-curdling scream in the Banshee Screaming Contest, race against the clock in the Kettle Corn Eating Contest, or enter the Costume Contest.
Celebrate the glory of and splendor of Rome on Saturday, November 3rd and Sunday, November 4th at the Roman Bacchanal. Dress in the best Toga for the Toga Contest, try your hand at a traditional Italian game of Bocce Ball, and get your fill in the Spaghetti Eating Contest.
Saturday, November 10th and Sunday, November 11th find your inner warrior with the Barbarian Invasion. The most famous Festival food is featured in the Turkey Leg Eating Contest, and the Barbarian Horde looks for new recruits at the Barbarian Costume Contest and the Battle Cry Contest.
Bagpipes and plaid kilts take the village to Scotland for the Highland Fling on Saturday, November 17th and Sunday, November 18th. Queen of Scots Margaret and her son Prince James invite the public to help search for their lost sheep in the Great Sheep Hunt, dance a jig in the Highland Dance Contest, show off their legs in the Bonnie Knees Costume Contest, and enjoy the unique traditional dish of Scotland in the Haggis Eating Contest.
The Festival draws to a close with a three day celebration from Friday, November 23rd through Sunday, November 25th with a Celtic Christmas. Find merriment for the whole family in the Guess the Present Contest, Candy Cane Hunt, and Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest. All are invited to visit Father Christmas, shop for unique presents, and join in singing Christmas Carols.
The Themes for each weekend was first introduced in 2005 and every contest winner will receive Season Tickets to the 2013 Festival. The 2012 Season slightly alters the theme line up from the previous year, switching the Highland Fling and Barbarian Invasion weekends.
The 8th Annual School Days, will be held on November 6 & 7, 2012. The unique educational event is open only to public, private and home school kids from grades K through 12, their teachers, and chaperones. Students are invited to participate in music, theatre, English, art, history & science competitions as part of the festival’s events. These two days, a Tuesday and Wednesday, features only school age appropriate entertainment to provide students the opportunity to see history come to life and experience the art, science, theater, history, music and culture of the 16th century. .
From the day the gates closed following the record attendance setting 2011 Season crews went to work making site improvements for the following year. Campground construction and improvement plans are currently underway with the final development phase coming in 2013. Stages and shops are being updated and repaired as well as landscaping, fencing, and general site upkeep.
“We received a lot of compliments on the new Tower Stage and the site improvements we made for the 2011 Season,” stated General Manager Terre Albert. “Our hope is to continue to improve the Festival each year so there is always something new to see.”
The Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF) is the Nation’s largest and most acclaimed Renaissance theme park where the sights, sounds, tastes and beauty of the 16th Century come alive for eight magically-themed weekends. TRF welcomes nearly half a million guests annually and features nearly 500 costumed performers on 17 stages; 340 shoppes including international food purveyors, unique artisans, merchants and craft vendors; human-powered rides; an abundance of strolling performers and the Royal Finale at dusk. The Festival is held Saturdays, Sundays and Thanksgiving Friday. TRF is located 50 miles Northwest of Houston on more than 55 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds on FM 1774, between Magnolia and Plantersville, Texas. For more information, visit www.texrenfest.com.