Northern California Renaissance Faire is a popular annual medieval festival held in Hollister, California, southeast of San Francisco. The Renaissance Faire runs during weekends only, from mid-September to late October. Festival-goers can travel back in time to the mid-late 16th century, when the English village of Willingtown in Derbyshire was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I.
Northern California Renaissance Faire attracts about 150,000 attendees every year. Held since 2004, the faire features a large Marketplace with over 200 artisans. Vendors offer leather goods, woodwork, handblown glass, blades, armor, clothing, jewelry, sculpture and much more. Six stages of entertainment, as well as over 1000 performers and costumed characters, provide an immersive and interactive experience for the public. Among the main highlights of the faire are the jousting matches, which take place twice a day. World Tournament of Champions, armed with lances, shields, and swords, engage in fighting and various games of skill.
Northern California Renaissance Faire features themed weekends and a massive program of shows, like Shakespeare’s comedies, The Queen’s Royal Reception, and The Merry Wives of Windsor. The shows run from 10 am to 6 pm.
