The Contraband

Issue date: 10/9/06 Section: Entertainment

Lets go back to a time when things were a lot simpler. Where there was no electricity, no cars, a time where the world was experiencing a rebirth, or Renaissance. Imagine yourself in a place where the world echoed with Alpine yodeling, ghosts and ghouls came out for Hallow's Eve, wizards and faries came out to meddle, Scottish dancing and drinking filled your day, pirates invade the shire, the glories of Spain and the New World were in plain view for all to see, toga parties brought you close to Rome, and when it was all over you could meet Father Christmas. Does a place like this exist? In Plantersville, TX it does.

The Texas Renaissance Festival is open for eight weekends every October and November starting the first weekend of October. It is open from 9am everyday until dusk. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the great achievements of the world that were discovered in the time periods and cultures that they occurred. There is also a mystical aspect of the festival that includes faries, wizards, sorcerers and more.

What is there to do at this festival? The Texas Renaissance festival is filled with stage shows that feature jousting Knights and Steeds, The Dead Bob Show, The Washing Well Wenches and much more. Furthermore, enjoy musical acts that include the Texas Brass Ensemble that plays in the New Market Gazebo. There are over 200 shows a day presented on 20 stages. Mix and mingle with characters from the English Court, The Conquistadors, The Pirates, The Executioners, and many more. Feast like a King on fire roasted turkey legs, steak on a stake, and melt in your mouth pastries.

With all of this excitement, why wouldn't you want to make the drive down to Texas to celebrate this wonderful rebirth of culture and art? Its like a Halloween party every weekend, thanks to the themed weekends. The breakdown of the themed weekends are as follows October 14: Pirate Adventure, October 21: Roman Bacchanal, October 28: All Hallows Eve, November 4: Highland Fling, November 11: Fiesta de Espana, and November 18: Celtic Christmas.

Tickets are $21.00 at the gate for adults and $10.00 for children. You can find them at Market Basket for the discount price of $18.00 for adults and $8.00 for children. Tickets can be ordered online at www.texrenfest.com/tickets06.htm, by mail (address on website), or by phone at 1-800-458-3435. As mentioned before, the festival takes place in Plantersville, TX. Directions from Beaumont are as follows: Highway 105W through Dayton, Cleveland and Conroe to the town of Plantersville, turn left on FM 1774 and follow it south approximately 6 miles to the Festival entrance. There will be signs and officers in Plantersville and the Festival entrance directing traffic.

For more information on directions, call 1-800-458-3435. See you at the festival!

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