Here’s a fun fact you may not — oh, who are we kidding? You probably do if you read le blog — know about me: I’m a huge nerd when it comes to history, literature, arts, and the like. I just am. I like watching the History Channel and reading works by authors-slash-playwrights like Shakespeare (and Christopher Marlowe, who partially inspired my daughter Marlow’s name). And I’d probably trade my eye-teeth to be in the presence of Gutenberg’s original printing press. All of this leads me to believe I have been totally remiss in never attending the Georgia Renaissance Festival!
A family-friendly event, this “rollicking good time” allows you to journey back to the days of olde . . . as in 16th-century England old. The 32-acre village is packed to the proverbial brim with hundreds of costumed characters — including the Queen and her Court — along with endless circus-style entertainment on 10 stages, shopping in over 130 artisan shoppes, games and rides for kids of all ages, and the spectacular Jousting Knights on horseback.
You know what else we need to talk about? THE FOOD. Quite literally fit for royalty, we’re talking giant roasted turkey legs, fish and chips, hearty ales, mead, and more. It’s Renaissance nirvana.
The Dates
The 32nd Annual Georgia Renaissance Festival takes place every weekend and Memorial Day, so that puts it running April 15 though June 4, 2017. That timing works out well, because it won’t be quite as sweltering and humid as we all know the South can get late June through August. We’re thinking we will make this trip part of our daughter’s birthday celebration — she turns six in mid May. Not gonna lie, I might be even more excited than her about the idea. I mean, there’s jousting, y’all. Not to mention the mead.
I did happen upon some interesting intel for my homeschool parenting friends, in that the Festival will actually have a Homeschool/Student Day on May 9. The whole idea is to give children a chance to see history come to life, so students will meet and interact with unique characters and historical figures from the Renaissance period, participate in fun and educational workshops, see artisan demonstrations, and learn what life was like during the 1500s. The entire day has been designed to directly support a homeschool curriculum in the areas of History, Math, Science, Language, Theatre and Art.
That’s pretty great, right?
The Deets
Find more information on that (or if you are an educator and want to book your field trip for your students), click here. Alternately, you can give Norma Pope a call at 770-964-8575 x103 and she’ll get you hooked up.
If, like me, you couldn’t possibly pass up a getaway that sounds so magical, enter the promo code “castle” when purchasing tickets to get 25% off General Admission Adult (Age 13+) and 30% off General Admission Child (6-12) tickets. This is an online discount only, so don’t go trying to redeem it at the door. Also, just an FYI, the discount code isn’t good for Homeschool/Student Day. To get tickets, click here.
As for me, I can’t wait to hear The Harper and the Minstrel play a beautiful Ayre, watch my kids faces light up when they ride a camel or go a round of “Drench-A-Wench,” and see how happy my husband it makes my husband to walk around in public chomping a giant turkey leg.
*In full disclosure, I may be compensated for this post via tickets or discounts. This obviously costs you nothing, but it might lead to me being able to cobble together enough cash to fulfill my husband’s dream of eating a giant turkey leg like it’s NBD. Plus, I would never link out to anything I don’t personally believe in — Bible.
