The Arkansas Renaissance Festival hosted its inaugural weekend at Dragonstone Springs in Mount Vernon from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. Offering entertainment, food and vendors inspired by the days of yore, the festival will be open every Saturday and Sunday through September.
“There will never be another first year of the Arkansas Renaissance Festival,” said Patrick Taft, owner and director. “The experiences that we are planning on creating will be lifelong memories, and the opportunity to be there and see it from the very beginning is something people will be able to share with their friends and family decades from now.”
It is the latest of many enterprises for Taft, who landed his first job at McDonald’s when he was 16 and went on to own an ice cream truck, work as a commercial fisherman, own an appliance repair business, own a Subway franchise and run a grocery store. He has spent the past 22 years as an accountant.
Over the years, he said, he and his family have enjoyed attending Renaissance festivals.
“Some of my daughter’s early memories are performing dances around the maypole at the Castle of Muskogee,” he said. “I have always loved the fact that people can be whoever they want to be and, many times, truly be themselves at the Renaissance festival. My wife and I wanted to create that environment for our grandkids and for the community as a whole.”
Two years ago, the family sold its retail holdings and purchased the land for Dragonstone Springs, an 80-acre dedicated Renaissance community with more than 30 permanent structures, including six stages and a 200-foot jousting arena.
“The world around you is the culmination of the hard work, vision and time put in this last year by a team of dreamers,” he said. “We have come together to create a place in Arkansas where people can experience the magic of another realm, fantasy and imagination.”
Colton Holder, event director, said he and the entire festival staff are excited to bring the project to life.
“This is something on a scale that has never been done in Arkansas before, so there has been quite a learning curve to navigate,” he added. “That being said, the outpouring of support that we have received has been incredible. We have been able to accomplish so much in such a short time and build a community around us that will keep us growing.”
He added that the soft opening in April for the one-day Highland Games had about 2,300 attendees, and he expects about 4,000 attendees every day the Arkansas Renaissance Festival is open.
Guests can fight a knight with Brother Yeoman, join the royal archery tournament, visit with petting zoo animals and meet knights, fairies, pirates, Vikings and other costumed characters. Guests can also complete various riddle-based quests that, upon completion, qualify participants to be knighted by the queen or enter a Viking raiding group with the jarl.
“It is always amazing to see the kids and even grown adults light up upon being knighted,” said Colton Holder, event director. “If you grew up on Tales of King Arthur like I did, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.”
The entertainment lineup includes magic by Brian Pollock, a murder mystery with the Camptown Capers, pirate humor with the Bawdy Buccaneers of Des Moines, Iowa, and full-contact jousting by the Knights of Mayhem, who were featured on the History Channel. Thirteen stage performers will perform more than 40 stage acts during each day of the festival, Taft said.
“Arkansas Renaissance Festival will truly be a unique experience,” he said. “Being a first-year festival, we had a blank canvas to paint and create a whole new world. We have embraced the natural beauty of Arkansas and maintained a forest-like environment. We have collaborated with people throughout the circuit, including vendors and performers from all over the U.S., and have been able to take feedback from them to draw the best from other shows.”
In addition, guests can add two limited-seating events to their trip. Three times a day, the half-hour Queen’s Tea will provide tea and pastries in the Queen’s Garden with Queen Marianna. Twice a day, the 1.5-hour Champion’s Feast will provide a five-course meal in the Champion’s Box overlooking the jousting area, where guests can take in a variety of acts and leave with a commemorative tankard mug.
The festival also offers its own realm currency, which Taft said was crafted by Shire Mint, which created the coins for “Game of Thrones” and “The Lord of the Rings.”
Festival fare includes turkey legs, pressed sandwiches, burgers, chicken strips, ice cream and more. Fresh-baked bread, the freeze-dried eye of newt candies and other delicacies are available, and guests can also visit the Jerusalem Café, which serves falafel, hummus and other Mediterranean cuisine.
Shopping abounds, and guests can purchase period-inspired clothing, hand-forged silverware, wood carvings, blade work and more. In total, there are about 100 vendors on the festival grounds, Holder said.
“It is truly filled with things you will see nowhere else, many of which are 100 percent handmade by the people you speak to in the shop,” Holder said. “It’s an amazing chance to speak with people with talents and skills that you won’t see anywhere else.”
Guests may choose to don Renaissance or Medieval garb, but costumes are not required, Holder said.
“Come in what makes you comfortable, whether that is full plate or jeans and a T-shirt,” he said. “As long as you dress for a family-friendly environment, that is all that we require. With our amazing clothing vendors, you might leave with a whole different outfit anyway.”
He advised visitors to the Arkansas Renaissance Festival to drink plenty of water and come with an open mind, ready to experience something new.
“I am the most excited about people getting to experience the Arkansas Renaissance Festival for the first time,” Taft said. “The work done over the last year and all of the preparations have truly been remarkable, and I am excited for people to be able to come and experience the world we have created.”
He said he expects Dragonstone Springs to continue developing. Current plans include a tavern near the Viking settlement that will provide storytelling dinners throughout the year, as well as wedding receptions and full-service dining.
Festival organizers are also working to build a 16th-century-style church that can host Sunday services during festival season, as well as weddings throughout the year. He added that he hopes to one day build a grand castle to host balls and other events.
The opportunities are boundless, and the festival has unlimited potential, he said.
“As long as the patrons of the festival, the surrounding community and the Renaissance circuit continue to come out and support us, we will continue to grow and make this village up to everything it can be,” he said. “We want to make dreams become reality and create a place to escape the troubles you face today and join us where there are no limits but imagination and hope.”
Each weekend will have a theme. Pirate/Fairy Weekend is Sept. 7 and 8, Viking/Celtic Invasion is Sept. 14 and 15, High Fantasy Weekend is Sept. 21 and 22, and Scottish Weekend is Sept. 28 and 29. Tickets are available at arrenfest.com.
READ ALSO: Smoke on the Water Barbecue Competition Returns to Pine Bluff
