The Northern California Renaissance Faire

Fantasy and History Come Alive With Shops and Shows at Casa de Fruta

HOLLISTER — Journey back in time to the Northern California Renaissance Faire, which takes place each weekend from September 17 through October 16, 2016. The festivities take place at Casa de Fruta, near Hollister, CA, where the area is transformed into Willingtown, a village under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I. Join the merriment, get into character and explore a fantasy-world rife with exotic performances, activities and music.

Thousands of people travel to Casa de Fruta in Hollister to experience this immersive Renaissance experience. It is an incredible, unique experience, with a marketplace full of handcrafted works of art, fabulous food like huge turkey legs and delicious meat pies, and great ale. Not only that, but visitors can participate in sports and games like fencing, archery, axe throwing, fortune telling, and more! With an exotic petting zoo, and activities for children, the Nor Cal Ren Faire is guaranteed fun for faire-goers of all ages!

Attendees can capture the Renaissance aesthetic by donning costumes and dressing as a character of the time. The Belrose costume rental store offers the chance to dress as a person of any social status: peasants, gypsies, pirates, knights, merchants, nobility or even royalty! Be sure to complete the look with face painting and hair braiding.

The Renaissance Faire features themed weekends for a chance to feature special acting and performances. The first weekend offers a two-for-one deal, followed by a Pirate Invasion, the Royal Masquerade, Oktoberfest, and a Fantasy-themed weekend. In addition, every weekend a variety of delightful performances are available, including comedy shows, fortunetellers, sword fights and more.

Come and meander through the Marketplace to shop from a variety of master artisans offering old world designs, hand-crafted works of art, blown glass, knives and swords, leather, wood, jewelry and much more. Juicy turkey legs, ale, cider and all sorts of Renaissance-era food are available for hungry travelers as they journey through the streets of Willingtown.

Watch courageous knights engage in a battle of skill to please and entertain the Queen. Each afternoon, attendees are invited to cheer on the knight of their choice as they engage in a full contact joust in the World Tournament of Champions Arena.

Advance tickets are available now, and anyone who purchases online tickets before September 17 will receive $5 off admission. Children 12 and under will be admitted FREE entrance for all five weekends, and remember that during opening weekend, general ticket pricing is “Two-For-One!”

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Northern California Renaissance Faire
A Play Faire Production

Every Saturday and Sunday September 17 through October 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Celtic Rock Concert Series every Saturday night starting at 6pm FREE with general admission
Casa de Fruta, 10011 Pacheco Pass Highway, Hollister

COSTS:

• $28 at the gate, children 12 and under will be admitted FREE the entire run of the Faire. A weekend pass, which covers the admission for one weekend, is $40
• A ‘Fairever’ pass, which allows unlimited access all 10 Faire days, is $190
• Save $5 off adult tickets for groups of fifteen or more with the promotional code “group.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.norcalrenfaire.com or call 408.847.FAIR.

The Northern California Renaissance Faire is run by Play Faire Productions, a group of self-appointed actors and artisans who took ownership as a collective in 2004. Many Faire participants have been exciting crowds with their performances for over 40 years, never failing to entertain the masses with their pranks and mischievous behavior. They are proud to be the only Faire of its kind that is managed by their own performers, presenting an incomparable way to experience the magic of the time period. Whether you attend for an all-encompassing history lesson, or wish to play in the original adult playground, there is no doubt that everyone will have the chance to stretch his or her imagination … and Find Your Fantasy!