HUNTERSVILLE, NC – Just north of Charlotte, NC, in the realm of Huntersville, an enchanted village emerges as if from the pages of a fairy tale. And for eight continuous weekends in October and November, guests of all ages immerse themselves in the splendor of the annual Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace. Visitors arrive dressed in daily attire and many, by the thousands, join the fun by visiting the village in costumes. It’s an alluring mix of one must see and come be seen as medieval marvels, fantasy fashions, and modern masquerades are all on display to celebrate what organizers call “the greatest party since Camelot”. Each Festival weekend has unique themed activities including costume contests with prizes and discount admission opportunities. Returning popular special events include Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights, A Pirate’s Christmas, and Time Travelers’ Weekend. Each weekend, attendees often arrive in family friendly costumes dressed as their favorite characters, often inspired by the rise of popular nerdy culture. In addition to those in renaissance attire, there will be characters from space, superheroes, villains, anime, tabletop games, and video games – all welcomed as “time travelers” to the renaissance. New themed weekends this festival season include: • Opening Weekend Invasion Celebration – Kick off the festival season on October 5 & 6 with Vikings, barbarians, crusaders, orcs, raiders, and more! The village gates open for an invasion celebration! Adults receive discounted admission, with conditions detailed on the festival website. • Wizards & Revels Weekend – October 12 & 13. Level up by winning prizes in the Sorcerers & Spell Casters contest. Children ages 12 and under receive free admission with conditions detailed on the festival website. You don’t have to be in a costume to enjoy the magic. Inside the village, artists of all mediums weave a living tapestry of imagination, fantasy, and history in celebration of the joys of yesteryear. Fantasy and history collide as performers embody fanciful fairies, dragons, mermaids, nymphs, and more – residing amongst historically authentic portrayals of renaissance life, all presented as a cornucopia of scheduled entertainments. Sixteen stages offer an abundance of continuous music, dance, comedy, and circus entertainments. Many of the shows are spontaneous with performances on stage and off. All last year’s fan favorite acts are returning including armored Knights on horseback jousting three times daily in the Queen’s Tournament Arena. Must see new entertainments include: • Witch Trials! – Famed tragedian Ned Alleyn makes fun of horrible history by having the audience persecute an innocent volunteer to roars and howls of laughter. • Princess Sofia & Princess Catalina – The daughters of the village’s reigning monarch, Queen Isabella, have returned from their worldly travels to charm children young and old with great tales of their regal adventures and displays of manners of courtship. In addition to meeting and interacting with all the colorful characters, part of the festival experience is shopping the wares of over 140 merchants in the artisan marketplace and watching as arts and crafts are made right before your eyes. There are time-honored demonstrations of weaving, glass blowing, blacksmithing, jewelry, pottery, candle making, and so much more. There is also an endless array of food for feasting, including the legendary giant smoked turkey leg, and a bevy of beverages that include coffee, wine, honey mead, craft ales, and Pepsi. And parents love the endless activities for children that include people-powered amusement rides and country fair games such as axe throwing, archery, and tomato tossing at a fool. So, bust out your sense of good cheer, escape to a realm of imagination, fantasy, and history, chomp a giant turkey leg, toast your favorite Knight, and leave your cares behind. Time travel to the 31st annual Carolina Renaissance Festival! Tickets are sold online and are date specific, while they last, at carolina.renfestinfo.com. It takes a village to host the region’s largest costume party.  GENERAL INFORMATION What: The 31st Carolina Renaissance Festival & Artisan Marketplace. Where: North of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville. The Festival is located on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). When: Eight consecutive weekends (Saturday and Sunday) from October 5th to November 24th. The Festival runs from 9:30 AM until 5:30 PM, rain or shine. Arrive early! Tickets: $34 for adults, $20 for kids ages 5-12, (tax and fee apply). Available only online at Carolna.RenFestInfo.com. Children 4 and under always free. Parking is free courtesy of Harris Teeter. Information: Online at Carolina.RenFestInfo.com or call (704) 896-5555. Restriction Free Photos: High-resolution photos are available online at Carolina.RenFestInfo.com/photo-gallery