EDGEWOOD, N.M. (KRQE) — Kilts, shows, vendors, and maybe even fire. That’s some of what you’ll find at a Renaissance festival on the outskirts of Albuquerque. And this year, there’s some new offerings – like a massive dragon, acrobats on horses, and more. To the organizers behind the fest, it’s all part of blending fun, culture, and community.
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“It’s the talent, the crafters, the vendors from around the country, the entertainment from all over the world,” said New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival CEO Eric Vigil. “Trying to get entertainment that hasn’t been in New Mexico ever… I wanted it to be something different and more immersive than what New Mexicans normally get.”
That was one of the goals when Vigil started designing the New Mexico Renaissance Celtic Festival back in 2018. It was slated to take off in March of 2020 when COVID-19 brought it to a halt. But when it finally came to fruition in 2022, a community surrounding the festival quickly began to build.
“It went from 4,000 people to 20,000. And every year, it’s increased about 25% to 30% in attendance,” Vigil said. “We have a tremendous amount of volunteers… They all want to help out and try to build this festival to make it bigger than it is. The first year, I had maybe a handful to 10 people that were helping me, and now we have close to 50…. They’re from the community, and they just love it.”
Cut to this year, organizers are bringing new shows and attractions to the festival site at Wildlife West Nature Park. One of the attractions is even working to raise money for the park in the form of an eight-foot-tall, 20-foot-long dragon named Zepher…