Are you ready to dress up in your favorite period costume, feast on a turkey leg, and step back in time to the Renaissance? Then, hear ye, hear ye! Let’s go on an adventure and discover how The Texas Renaissance Festival, which just kicked off its 50th season, became one of the most beloved traditions in Texas.
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The Start of Texas RenFest
The festival’s founder, George Coulam, originally fell in love with attending Renaissance festivals in California. That sparked an interest in creating his own festival, but it took him time to find the right location. His first forays in the festival world began in both Utah and Minnesota. After successfully running a festival in Minnesota for five years, he sold the event for $350,000 because of issues with the landowners and other problems. In his search for the next perfect location, Coulam settled on Texas because of the climate and landscape. So in 1974, the Texas RenFest was born in a small town called Todd Mission about 50 miles northwest of Houston. In only its first year, 30,000 people attended.
👑 RenFest Continues to Grow in Popularity
In 1982, Coulam became the mayor of Todd Mission, enabling him to protect the land where he founded his festival. As the years passed, the Renaissance Festival continued to grow. During the late 1990s, nearly 300,000 people attended the festival each year. Now, the multi-weekend festival draws more than half a million people every year. The pop-up medieval village features live performances, over 400 vendors, and tasty food and drink. A recent three-part documentary “Ren Faire” gave a behind-the-scenes look at the successes and controversies of the Texas Renaissance Festival.
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What To Expect This Year
The Texas Renaissance Festival runs every weekend from Oct. 12 until Dec. 1st, including the Friday after Thanksgiving. There are several themed weekends, including fairies and fantasy, Halloween, pirates, heroes and villains, and a Celtic Christmas. Shop from hundreds of vendors, including handcrafted candles, custom-made moccasins, leather goods, and other items. And, of course, a trip to the Texas RenFest is not complete without indulging in their drinks, from their selection of King’s Brews, to hot chocolate, and spiced mulled wine.
