Every once in a while, a weekend event comes along that makes you forget what century you are living in. Knights on horseback, roasted turkey legs the size of your forearm, jesters cracking jokes, and hundreds of people dressed in full period costume wandering through a forest-like fairground.
That is exactly what you get at a beloved Florida festival that has been drawing crowds year after year with its wild mix of history, performance, and pure fun. I visited on a sunny Saturday and left with sawdust on my boots, a full stomach, and a serious urge to buy a velvet cape.
Keep reading, because this place is worth every word.
Where the Magic Happens: Location and Getting There
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is held at 12838 Auton Rd, Dade City, nestled in the rolling landscape of Pasco County, about an hour northeast of Tampa. The grounds have a natural, wooded feel that immediately sets the mood the moment you step through the gates…