Charlotte, NC

Hear ye, hear ye, Folk of the Town Crown’d (Now, was that corny or what?? Let’s start again):
Hey, Crown Towners and vicinity:
The Carolina Renaissance Festival — a medieval European style art and entertainment festival — is underway up in Huntersville, and it’s brimming with wonderful old-time (I mean realllllly “old-time”) activities and experiences! You have an outdoor theater, circus entertainment, arts and crafts marketplace, a jousting tournament, a feast fit for royalty, and lots more!
This 14th annual season of the Festival (located in Huntersville. I’ll give ya directions in a moment) is open on Saturdays and Sundays until November 18th. It was introduced in 1994 with six acres of things-to-see-do-and-hear. But it’s grown into a twenty acre theme park, and it’s now filled with cottages and castles, kitchens and pubs, and an unusual collection of people powered rides and games of skill.

The event has grown to be one of the largest of the Renaissance fairs anywhere in the U. S.! You have tree-lined areas with 100 purveyors of crafts and food, and non-stop music and comedy shows are presented on 10 stages every event day.

This is one of the most interactive entertainment shows ever created with wonderful amusements and antics ongoing all around you! You can sit back and watch, or you can become a part of the action, surrounded by over 500 costumed characters roaming the festival village. The village lanes are full of peasants singing sea-faring songs and street entertainers surprising you with tall tales and tricks, each with a role to play.
You can experience the clashing of armor and the thundering of hooves daily with full combat jousts at the King’s Tournament Arena.

Now, does that sound like a great way to spend a weekend? Of course it does … as thousands of folks have already found out! It’s fun and educational; there’s a lot of outside activity, and it’s relaxing as all get-out!

Now, I mentioned directions: The Festival is going on now at 16445 Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville, just up the road apiece. Here’s the directions for you newbies:
“Take Interstate 85 North to Exit 52 West (Poplar Tent Road). Follow Poplar Tent Road about 5 miles to the Festival entry on the left. The entrance road will be just before the intersection of Highway 73.
Or take Interstate 77 North to Exit 25 east (NC 73). Follow the signs 5 miles to Poplar Tent Road. Turn right onto Poplar Tent Road. The Festival entry road will be on your right.”
Either way, you’re gonna have fun … and learn somethin’ … so, with cooler temps ahead, get thee a way to traverse and enjoy thou the goodies!