Tampa Bay Area Renaissance Festival February 13th - March 28th

The Renaissance Festival has returned to the Tampa Bay area in all of its glory! Running every weekend from February 13^th through March 28^th, plus Friday, March 19^th, the festival is located off Fowler Avenue, behind MOSI. If you get your tickets at the gate, it will cost $17.95 for an adult and & 9.95 for a child. Advance discount tickets are available for online purchase. This will cost $14.95 plus a small fee ($1.25) for an adult and $6.95 (plus fee) for a child. Senior admission is $14.95.

There are some great promotions this year to take advantage of! If you visit on February 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, or 28 and bring 4 cans of food, you will receive one FREE admission with the purchase of one admission. These same dates, there will be a blood drive and you can receive FREE admission to the festival when you donate blood. If you wear green on March 13 or 14you can receive $3 off admission. On March 6 and 7, there is a Biker Discount of $5 off a regularly priced admission if you show your ID.

The theme weekends are always fun. This year, the themes are the Highland Fling, Italian Carnivale, Wine, Chocolate, & Romance, Buccaneer Beer Fest, Irish Weekend, Wonders of the World, and High Seas Adventure. The usual suspects are seen in terms of entertainment with favorites such as the Washing Well Wenches, Filthy Rotten Scoundrels, and the Royalty characters that wander throughout the festival.

For the romantics there is a vow renewal ceremony with the King on February 27^th and 28^th with a reception afterward. On the Buccaneer Beer Fest weekend, there is a microbrew tasting and BBQ competition. The Celtic games on Irish weekend are always fun, and the bellydancing during the Wonders of the World weekend is always something exciting to see!

My favorite part is always the food! Whatever your fancy, you can probably find it at the Renaissance Festival. Turkey drumsticks, fish & chips, pizza, veggie burgers, portabella burgers, gyros, fried veggies, shepherd's pie, bangers & mash, apple dumplings...it is all delicious! And don't forget the tasty beverages. Wine and beer are available (for those with proper ID).

You can find more information at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival's website at http://www.bayarearennaissancefest.com .