Quiet Waters Park 10:00 AM
The year is 1587, and the peaceful woodlands of Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach are transformed once again into the buzzing village of Kimmendale. King Robert Rivera and his Royal Court have descended for the 34th annual Florida Renaissance Festival, and it's an especially joyous occasion as knights, nobles and townsfolk gather to witness the handfasting of Prince Aaron of Veridian and Princess Katla Svartulff of Stalgaard.
For the uninitiated, the Ren Fest is a portal to the fantastical 16th century, where for eight consecutive weekends you can party like they did in Game of Thrones, with giant turkey legs, endless goblets of mead and, of course, blood-pumping tournament jousting. From February through March, shaded nature trails fill with food stands and pubs, jewelry and crystal shoppes, performance stages, rides, games and a bustling Promenade that runs from 10am until sunset.
On Saturdays and Sundays, lace up your festive garb and make the pilgrimage to partake in the revelry. From one-man Shakespearean theater performances to cannon demonstrations, swashbuckling pirate performers, Celtic singers and wise-cracking wenches, no minute of daylight is wasted. Drinking-age adults will appreciate options like the Pub Crawl ticket, which includes a multi-stop tour of the festival's pubs with stories, jokes and toasts along the way. Families will likewise find merriment in kid-friendly activities like the raucous parade each day at 12:30, and the Puppies of Penance canine show. Each weekend's schedule is posted in advance, with fun themes around Valentine's, St. Patrick’s Day and more.
How much are tickets?
Admission to the festival is $39 for adults and $15 for children (kids under five are free). Season passes, VIP parking and Pub Crawl tickets are additional.