Lets know about History of Texas Renaissance Festival

[markste]

Hi All,

I want to introduced about Texas renaissance festival's history culture and more. It's very interesting and i found this interesting information through my oldies.

Texas Renaissance Festival was commenced in the year 1974 in the 15 acres of land, which was an old strip-mining site. George Coulam was the founder of this fest, who began it with a few vendors selling their goods on blankets under the tree, a small group of entertainers who presented the improved style performances, and some dedicated patrons in wonderful renaissance clothing, who had a keen interest in spending a few moments the renaissance era.

With the passage of time, a number of changes were made, and the Texas Renaissance festival became one of the major fares. Various new things had been introduced to the fest. King's Fest hall was introduced in the year 1998 in the festival. It offered seat and the dining options to the patron. Moreover, festivals finest entertainers were continued to showcase, in the feast. Hearty multi-course meals, bottomless beverages and take-home chalice, were also rendered. On the other hand, king's wine testing was also started.

After two years of the abovementioned new introductions, The Odean, a wonderful Greceo Roman revival stage, was included in the year 2000. This new addition was the result of growing participations of the performers in the festival. In 2003, The Arena, which is acclaimed jousting troupe, the Hanlon-Lees Action Theater, could also be seen in the festival. Jousting is one of the major activities of the festival. Medieval costumes of the jousters also remain a special allure.

The year 2004 was special for the festivals, as the 30th anniversary had been celebrated. Moreover, some new additions were included, such as Cloister Stage to place the Carillion of Cast in Bronze and Sherwood Bridge.

The festival acquired the status of major tourist destination in the year 2005. The fare was expended to eight themed weekends, in which different cultures from the period were showcased, started celebrating. Moreover, Royal gate was also opened during the same year for welcoming the students on inaugural School Days event.

In the previous year (2011), improvements had been made to several facilities as well as buildings.  Series of new rides and games were commenced. The new Tower Stage in the German Village featured a wonderful area for new performance. Seating space for the patrons was also increased.

The festival is going to be held gain in the year 2012. It will begin on 6th October and end on 25th November. Today, this festival is celebrated in 60 acres of land, and it features eight themed villages. Staff and participants can be seen in flamboyant renaissance costumes. I have some memorable pics...

[Breandan]

got a lot of stuff to add in there, but dates are foggy. When I first started working there in 1990, there was a round table with Arthurian themed actors and court over near what is now the pirate shop in the Industrial section. There was a medieval crane- which is still on site back in the boneyard, but I have no idea what condition it is in structurally (cause I would LOVE to see that thing brought back out for the educational factor)- that was in a rock quarry and stone-wall-construction demo area where the Odeon is now. There were several statues carved out of dead tree trunks, including a knight defending against a dragon attacking from above, that are now gone. The jousting arena used to be a track that went completely around the lake, and held chariot races as well as jousts. The rose garden used to be the battle mound, where the SCA would do their fighting, the Highlanders would do their games, and the various actors took part in a live chess match, later moved to the falconry stage for a time. Sherwood used to be a quarter of the size it is now, and was filled with Robin and his Merry Men. Robin, however, took up music and discovered his talents as lead for the band Tartanic ;-)

Memories.... bah, now I'm all nostalgic

[markste]

Seems You don't like it. But i try to something different and interesting and you have share nice information. 

[DonaCatalina]

I can remember when one stage on the eastern side was a blank wall where a painter portrayed as Michelangelo repainted the Lord's Supper during the run of the fair. I wish I still had some photos of that.

[batninja]

I remember the Oriental Gardens, the first year I attended in 1985.  They sold rubber nunchuks.    I think that area became the Beer Gardens...

I also remember the Last Supper exhibit.

[PollyPoPo]

Just curious, Markste, but are you using a translation program?  I'm not sure if I understand some of what you are saying.

I've only been going to TRF for about 15 years.  There is a concrete water culvert now to help with drainage (about where Sherwood start), but about 12 years back that used to flood with any little rainstorm.  Water went up and then down fast, but made for a memorable event.  One such time a rather scrawny lower noble was caught on the wrong side, wringing his hands at not being able to get across without damaging his fine shoes and garters.  My mundanely dressed, not scrawny, Son strode to the unfortunate, smartly picked him up, and waded through the water, and deposited the dry footed nobleman on the other side.  

[RenStarr]

First time I attended was mid to late 80's time frame.  Don't remember the exact year, but I'll never forget the Ogre!  Tasteless and disgusting, but always very very entertaining and always a crowd surrounding him where ever he was.  I really missed seeing him once he retired that act.

[Gwen aka Punstergal]

My little bit of TRF history:

In approximately 1989, TRF acquired a beat-up old merry-go-round and renovated it. They purchased it from my parents, who were at the time managing the almost defunct Kiddie Wonderland (many of our older members will remember having taken their children there to ride the ponies, or even remember being TAKEN there as children themselves). The carousel, once it had been cleaned up, was a work of pure beauty, a fantasy realm of unicorns and other mythical creatures. It even had benches for people to sit and ride (never would a park today give up such valuable real estate!). My family was so excited to see it saved from the destiny that befell the rest of our amusement park, and we came out that next season to see it in action (leading inevitably to me eventually starting to work at faire). The carousel was stunning, and everyone seemed to love the new attraction (which wasn't really new at all, the thing was a veritable antique!)

.. I wonder where she is now?

[Tudor-Diva]

Unfortunately, none of the pictures that Markste has posted are from TRF.

[PollyPoPo]

Unfortunately, none of the pictures that Markste has posted are from TRF.

The jousting knights came from the Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace,  Huntersville, NC, website, photos page.  The court picture is from Door County Renaissance-Faire in Wisconsin.  Not sure where the parade pic was actually taken. 

All are on one blog site and on another ren-themed web site, which features prominently an on-line retailer of renaissance, medieval, and re-enactment clothing.  According to their website the clothing is made mostly in India.   

The phrasing in Markste's posts seem to be translations.  Might be somebody trying to enjoy TRF but not able to get here.

For what it's worth ...


(and, yeah, I have way too much time on my hands, lots of chores to do, but, dang it, I'm retired)

[dbaldock]

I'd heard that George Coulam was involved as one of the partners who started the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, before moving to Texas to create TRF.  A search found a 12-SEP-2011 StarTribune article, looking back 40 years to this article - Sept. 11, 1971: Ye Olde Renaissance Festival.  There's a photo of George, as the King on opening day of MNRF.


Doing more searching, it's interesting to see that both 1974 & 1975 are listed in different printed articles as the first year of TRF.

In this article, Renaissance festivals bring history, tourists to Texas towns, from 2005 or 2006, Melba Tucker, TRF's director of marketing is quoted as saying, "George Coulam, formerly of Utah, created TRF in 1975 and now lives across the road from the festival grounds..."

The TRF web site History page says, "The Texas Renaissance Festival opened in 1974..."

[Sir Martin]

Good question, David, and it has been asked by many.

The company, Texas Renaissance Festival, was incorporated in 1974. The first festival was held in 1975 after the land was purchased. From a corporation standpoint, the TRF site is correct. From a festival standpoint, 1975 is the correct date.

When asked, I always go with 1975 because most people are interested when TRF first opened to the public.