Latest News: Wednesday, August 6 2008 - Welcome, Hampton Inn (West DM)

Des Moines Renaissance Faire - Press Release (8/17/2007)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

Step Into the Past of Knights & Knaves!
The 2007 Des Moines Renaissance Faire

DES MOINES — Labor Day Weekend heralds the start of the annual Des Moines Renaissance Faire—and its second season in its permanent location at Festival Park. This new 20-acre village is nestled inside the 60-acre Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex, located five blocks east of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at 4051 Dean Avenue in Des Moines. The 2007 Des Moines Renaissance Faire takes place September 1–3 (including Labor Day), 8–9, and 15–16; hours are 10AM to 6PM every day, rain or shine. Admission is $15 for adults (ages 13 & older), $8 for children (ages 5–12), and free for tots (ages 4 & younger).

The village features a castle, jousting arena, feasting hall, and nearly 30 other structures built in an English Tudor style. Improvements new for 2007 include a merchants’ building with four shoppes, a two-story Faery Realm Treehouse (in dedication to the memory of festival performer Brad Nelson of Jefferson, Iowa), extensive landscaping, and—perhaps most important of all!—modern, flushable toilets in a privy building. Another scheduled attraction for this fall is a Medieval Torture Museum located inside Marick Castle. The Society for Creative Anachronism will present authentic hand-to-hand armored combat September 1–3. For those wanting to participate in safer swordplay, the Squire Boffer Tournament will be held daily.

The Des Moines Renaissance Faire features a different theme for each weekend. The first is “Pirates, Wenches, & Rogues” (September 1–3, including Labor Day). Rub shoulders with the scurviest dogs you’ve ever met this side of the High Seas. The second weekend’s theme is “Vikings, Knights, & Brave Hearts” (September 8–9). Partake in the pageantry of noble knights vying for fair damsels and compete in games of skill and chance to show off your own prowess. The third weekend’s theme is “Romance, Wine, & Revelry” (September 15–16). These are the days of wine, women, and song, so celebrate the best in wine-tasting, beer-guzzling, grape-stomping, and girl-nuzzling there is!

Well over 100 costumed entertainers and shopkeepers add to the ambience of the Des Moines Renaissance Faire. You’ll meet the likes of royals and rebels, pirates and peasants, ministers and merchants! Entertainment abounds, courtesy of nationally touring stage acts, musicians, singers, and more. Savory food and drink (including hard spirits for adults and homemade root beer for youngsters) will satisfy your hunger and thirst. Quaint shoppes will provide you with a bevy of handmade goods to purchase—from jewelry, pottery, clothing, and furniture to swords, toys, and even geodes and lingerie. There is something for everyone at the 2007 Des Moines Renaissance Faire!

FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR FOR ADDITIONAL IMAGES, CONTACT:

-30-