Sword fights and turkey legs: Okanagan’s first renaissance fair this weekend

Find your knight in shining armour, or just eat an old-timey turkey leg at the inaugural South Okanagan Renaissance Fair.

Penticton’s Gyro Park is going back in time from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, May 30. There have been some small renaissance events in the past, but one of the event’s lead organizers Janell Rashke said this will be the first fair of its kind in the area.

“We saw miniature events that took place, but this one’s actually enveloping everything,” she said.

There’s going to be a cosplay contest, sword fighting displays, a Dungeons and Dragons tournament, a fortune teller, mermaid and of course some turkey legs.

“I’m really excited to see everybody’s costumes,” Rashke said.

The event in the park is free to attend and it’s family-friendly, but Cannery Brewing has a coordinated event and a new beer in collaboration with the fair and the city’s own medieval content creator PentictoKnight.

For some activities and stations like the photo booth people can buy shillings to spend.

Rashke said the event has been in the works since January and a lot of people have been getting involved since the nearest renaissance fairs are in the Lower Mainland.

“There was such a huge excitement and a lot of feedback in regards to the community actually wanting something like this as well as the surrounding area,” she said.

While this event is going to have more than 50 vendors and activities, Rashke said if it goes well there’s more to come.

“I like to say that this is Renaissance Fair light, so it’s just a taste of what could be expected in the hopes that we grow this event to a multi-day event in the future,” she said.

People are encouraged to dress up in something medieval and get into the renaissance spirit. The fair will be alongside the Penticton Farmers’ Market and Downtown Penticton Market.

“We encourage families to come out and have some fun and learn a little bit more about the Renaissance times,” Rashke said.

For more information check out the South Okanagan Renaissance Fair Facebook event page and Instagram.