QUAD CITIES RENAISSANCE FAIRE REGIONAL FESTIVAL TO RETURN

 The Greater QUAD CITIES RENAISSANCE FAIRE is being revived for a return to the QC metro area. It will take place at the Illiniwek Forest Preserve campgrounds, just north of Hampton, IL., on October 7th & 8th from 11am to 6pm. It will showcase regional touring stage acts and historical re-enactors from through-out the Upper Midwest. The festival features Joust Evolution, the region’s premiere equestrian stunt show, and Fandazzi Fire Circus, the most popular act at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Other top headliners will be Shattock Schoole of Defense, Stulto Mori Royal Court, Guardians of the Black Forest, Clan MacSwade, ELIL Recorder Quartet, the Society for Creative Anachronisms, Lord Drake’s Mystical Magic, minstrel Albrecht von Aachen, Evengard Improv, Olskipan Viking Village, Faery Queen Titania, the Forking Queen, Pope Malarky & Sister Shamrock. This gathering of such unique types of performers can only be found at such “renaissance" events. This rendition of the festival will be enhanced in the form of a rare co-production by two of the Midwest’s most active event entrepreneurs. That will be Gregory Schmidt of Festivals International, who is also on the production team of the up-coming Davenport-based comedy movie series CASTLE SIEGE with Folker Films, and Mike Amos of Midwest Festivals, who also produces the popular Iowa Renaissance Festival at the Amana Colonies. Together, they plan to bring back the area’s Renaissance faire to establish it as both a Spring and Fall presentation. Additional hi-lights of this unusual form of edutainment will include an artisan crafters merchant village, selling a wide variety of hand-made goods from jewelry to collector swords. There will be a food court and beer garden with numerous delectables and libations. Most all of the foods will be cooked fresh on-site. The focus of the faire will be for the enjoyment of all age groups. Children’s entertainment will hold many options with a faerie court, magic show, lawn games, kiddie archery, costume contests, comedy shows, strolling theatricals, pony rides, face-painters and treasure hunts. Historical demonstrations and hands-on activities will involve various components such as two outdoor living history museum encampments, archery, knife & axe tossing, coin-making, fiber weaving, wood working, and henna body art. Admission to the Greater QUAD CITIES RENAISSANCE FAIRE is $10 for adults, $5 for kids from 5 to 15, with tots free. A two-day pass for adults will be $15, and parking will be free. To review the entire entertainment and merchant roster go to www.quadcitiesrenfaire.com or for site directions go to www.ricfpd.org. *The festival will be held along a scenic stretch of the mighty Mississippi on the west side of Hwy. #84.                                                               -30-