Forsooth! The Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire Is Upon Us!

I couldn't help but smile as I drove by the Main Street Park today. The tents were going up, vendor booths were being assembled, flags had been placed around the park and that can only mean one thing. The 2023 Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire is upon us.

The festivities kick off Wednesday, July 12^th and go through Saturday the 15^th. The Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire has been been a part of our community for over 40 years.

If you've never heard of an event like this, renaissance faires are festivals that recreate the atmosphere of the Renaissance era, which spanned from the 14th to the 17th century. These faires typically feature a variety of entertainment options, including live music, theatrical performances, jousting tournaments, and interactive demonstrations. Attendees often dress up in period costumes and immerse themselves in the festivities. And you'll see all that and more this year on Cedar City.

There is a wide variety of entertainment line up for this year.

You can check out Manis O’Toole and his Imperial Tibetan yak show. O'Toole is a true renaissance man. He is a comedian, strolling minstrel, and a yak trainer. He's also said to be a bit of a thief, so watch out for your stuff!

Belly dancers? Yes, the Desert Nomads will be here this year. Based in St. George, the Nomads mission is to promote and support empowerment, self love and unity through dance. And if that is not enough, the Ra Kumba Belly Dancing Troupe will perform twice daily during the faire.

Returning for a second year, Joshua the Ventriloquist and his pint sized puppet partners produce a pageant of pirates, puppets and puns.

Aaron Stokes, also know as the Mad Harpist is returning to this year's Renaissance Faire. He will be on stage and through out the village area playing Celtic, Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern folk music with a bit of a modern touch.

The Utah Pirate company will also be here complete with a pirate ship, a mermaid and a Kraken to fight off! You can get a full run down of the entertainment and list of all the vendors and activities by going to the Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire website.

If this is your first year in our area, this is an event not to miss. Admission to the faire is free. Dress appropriately for what is forecast to be warm days with temperatures in the mid 90's.