I know it is physically near Shakopee, but where in 'history' is this faire - time and place?
MNRF doesn't have any specific story like some fairs do.
There's no official name for the village. It's an "England-like" fantasy kingdom roughly in the late 1500's. I know a few years ago the old king was actually trying to get court members to avoid names associated with the historic English court.
When I visited in 1996 they had a "Robin Hood" Show, so that would seem to indicate the time of Richard I and the Third Crusades (1190's).
Take Care,
David Baldock
But then we've also had 17th century musketeers on the cast. Our old original king was "Henry" but was NOT portraying Henry VIII, and the fashions among our royalty have leaned more towards Elizabethan most of the time.
Robin Hood being the wrong century thing was explained away by some participants that Elizabethan players could have performed the legend of Robin Hood. But again, there's never been a unified story for the show in the 20 years I've been a participant.