Well, it’s the end of May and 2018 is almost halfway over. If you’ve stuck with me this long with my attempt at blogging – thank you! If this is your first glance at Kayla Says What – welcome! No matter who you are, I hope you enjoy the site and I promise to try and be more consistent with my posts.

The end of May also marks the end of another Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire here in Southern California. Since 1963, the Faire has taken millions of visitors back in time to an era of artistic and cultural revolution. This year was my third visit and it was so much fun! Lots of interesting characters, food and drink (one year I will do the infamous pub crawl!), and great entertainment. My friends and I saw a few performances, including a falconry show and live jousting. Our knight won…I think? Or maybe it was a tie. I honestly don’t remember but it was fun to watch!

One of my favorite things about the Renaissance Faire is checking out the vendors and their wares. You can find costumes, jewelry, rare stones and crystals, pewter mugs, pottery, and more. Many of the items are handmade and one of a kind, which also tends to make them pretty expensive. I recommend to do a lap before buying anything – or I guess if you have cash to burn you can buy whatever your heart desires.

Another great thing about the Renaissance Faire is that so many people choose to dress up – it’s like Halloween! I’ve seen members of royalty, pirates, pilgrims, fairies, mythical creatures, wenches, and warriors. Some people even dress up as characters from film and TV such as Gandalf from Lord of the Rings and Khaleesi from Game of Thrones. It’s often hard to tell the Faire actors from the tourists. But don’t feel pressured to dress to the nines: costumes aren’t a requirement, although they definitely help with the experience. My outfit this year was just a flower crown, sundress, and leather boots. Next year, though, I might look into a proper corset.

This year’s Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire may be done, but it will be back in no time. I had fun and can’t wait for next year!

PRICE: Adults $29.95. Children $15 (4 and younger are free). Discounts for seniors, military, and groups.
WHEN & WHERE: Beginning of April through the end of May, weekends only. 10AM to 7PM. Located at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, CA.
TIP: Wear comfortable shoes, plenty of sunscreen, and bring cash (credit cards are accepted at some vendors but not all). Most importantly, have fun!

Have you been to a Renaissance Faire? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!