16th Century Sensations in the Modern World
by Rebekah Ingerick
When the weather begins to cool down and leaves begin to change, what comes to your mind? Perhaps you think of school beginning again or getting out your winter jackets and putting away your flip-flops. If you’re a coffee person, you’ve probably gotten your first pumpkin spice latte. If you’re excited for Halloween, you’ve probably begun planning your costume.
When I think of early fall, one of the first fun activities that comes to my mind is the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival.
For over twenty years, the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival has been a place of magic, medievalism, and fun for many people of western Pennsylvania and the surrounding area, myself included. This year’s Renaissance Festival (or Ren Fest for short!) took place every weekend from August 24th through September 19th from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM in West Newton, PA. It is affordable and sponsored by several beloved Pittsburgh companies, including Eat’nPark, Caliente Pizza and Draft House, and Shop & Save.
Every weekend the Ren Fest is open, there is a different theme. For the opening weekend of August 24th, Celtic weekend was the theme, with traditional bagpipes, Celtic musicians, and a dancing contest! For Labor Day weekend, kids under 12 went for free to celebrate all the young lads and lasses! Then there was Mead and Whiskey Weekend; Pirate Invasion Weekend; Wine Revelry and Romance Weekend; and for the final two days, an Oktoberfest celebration complete with bratwurst (German sausage) and pretzels!
There are many different shows at the Ren Fest, some comedic, others dramatic. Here two jousters fight in a duel to the last while the crowd anxiously watched to see who will be victorious!
I had the pleasure of experiencing the Ren Fest for the fourth time on the weekend of September 7th, which was Mead and Whiskey Weekend. Being under 21, I couldn’t sample the alcohol, but I still had an amazing time with a couple of my friends! I took the opportunity to cosplay by wearing a black cape, skirt, and feathery barrette with a sideways ponytail and heavy makeup. The weather was perfect, and the outdoor environment was refreshing and inspiring after a long week of work!
My friends and I walked past many little stands and shops lined up all along the paths of the festival. There were people at stands selling sparkly crystals that were perfectly round; real swords, daggers, and other knives that I could never really find anywhere else; real renaissance clothing that you can try on in store instead of taking a leap of faith shopping online; and beautiful necklaces or mugs.
I went to many of these stands, and I just couldn’t pass up buying the cutest 3-D printed spider. He was a little yellow creature with a black heart on its abdomen and when I held him in my hand and moved my fingers, he looked almost alive! They also sold huge dragons, cute frogs, and many other creatures!
After that, my friends and I went to a Duelist show, a comedic contest packed with swords, daggers, and other weapons! I also had the opportunity to take part in archery! Anyone can participate in this, regardless of experience, and there are many people who can offer help if you need it! I hit the target multiple times! There was so much to do, and we left with memories in our heads and smiles on our faces!
The Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival is a magical experience that will keep you coming year after year! As the weather cools down and students go back to school, it is a great activity for friends and family! Catch them in the same place during late August to September 2025!
Citations:
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival. (2024). Now open weekends and Labor Day August 24th-September 29th. https://www.pittsburghrenfest.com/
