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Several regions of the country have
Renaissance festivals, but as many connoisseurs will tell you, the
Bay Area Renaissance Festival at the Museum of Science and Industry
(MOSI) is the real thing.
For 28 years the Bay Area
Renaissance Festival has been delighting Tampa Bay area residents
with an authentic taste of the 16th century. After 25 years in
Largo, the festival relocated to the MOSI grounds where parking is
ample and the festival has room for its village to grow.
Everything involving the cast is truly
time-period bona fide, down to the intricate costumes and
impeccable dialect. There is a royal court that includes the mighty
King Henry VIII and elegant Queen Catherine Parr, who stroll the
grounds mingling with guests and awing children. The actors aren't
the only ones in costume. This is a festival where everyone gets in
the spirit of the 16th century. Many patrons also arrive
enthusiastically in their own renaissance attire.
There are numerous things that come to
mind when thinking of the Bay Area Renaissance Festival at MOSI.
The armored knights racing across joust field, clashing into each
other in the thrilling full-contact joust competition. A brawl may
ensue, making it difficult for spectators to predict which knight
will be the victor of the intense battle. Visitors devour enormous,
smoked turkey legs right off the bone. The meat is lightly seasoned
and cooked over an open flame, making it a mouth-watering,
satisfying choice. It is something that visitors try just to be
able to say they did it, while enjoying every bite.
The festival is set in a 16th
century village, complete with more than 125 merchants selling
authentic Renaissance period merchandise, as well as hand-crafted
jewelry and other unique goods that can not be found elsewhere.
There is a variety of continuous entertainment that the festival
features on its seven stages and all throughout the walkways. There
are dancers, jugglers, comedians, musicians, jugglers,
ventriloquists and tons more.
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival at
MOSI is a truly unique festival for Floridians of all ages.
Children are able to escape into their vast imagination into a time
of queens, knights, princesses, elves, fairies, dragons and magic.
Adults are exposed to a large variety of choices, including the
Feast of Fantasy, an exquisite six-course meal complete with
entertainment and souvenirs. There is also the Royal High Tea and
the Renaissance Smoker.
Upcoming theme weekends include: Buccaneer
Beer Fest, Mar. 10-11; Shamrocks and Shenanigans, Mar. 17-18; High
Seas Adventure, Mar. 24-25; and The Last Hazzah, Mar. 31-Apr.
1.
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The Bay Area Renaissance Festival at
MOSI is located in Tampa off I-75, exit number 265/FL-582, on
Fowler Ave & 46th St, next to MOSI. It takes place every
weekend through April 1. The village gates open at 10 a.m. and
close at 6 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $15.95 for adults,
$7.95 for children 5-12 years old, free for children four years and
younger.
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