Return to Days of Olde

eat, drink & be merry

On July 16 & 17, El Chorro Regional Park will be transformed into an Elizabethan-era village at the 27th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Festival. The park is located off Highway 1, between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay.
Festival spokesman Rick Smith says, “We invite the public to come out and enjoy this unique experience. We have over 800 costumed vendors, actors and historical re-enactors from all over California who come here to create an English village during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.”
“We have plays, music, comedy and dance shows, juggling, comedy shows and much more on two stages,” says entertainment coordinator Trey Cromwell. “There are strolling musicians, peasants, merchants, rogues, street characters and lots of improvisation,” he adds. “The highlight of the day for many people is the full contact joust. This is the real thing, and it is held twice daily. We’re talking real jousting on horseback with knights in full armor. Even the horses wear armor.”
Vendor coordinator Justin LeCavalier spends months carefully selecting food, craft and game vendors to give the festival an authentic character. According to LeCavalier, over 70 vendors offer everything from swords to complete costumes, hats, leather goods, jewelry, pottery, wooden toys; basically anything that looks like it could have existed around the year 1585. “Our vendors have to wear costumes and create authentic looking booths to display period looking displays,” he adds.
Hours are 10 AM - 6 PM on Saturday and until 5 PM on Sunday. Adult tickets are $17, seniors and ages 6-15 are $10. Advance ticket sales and discount coupons are available online. Under age 6 are free. Parking at Cuesta College is $1.00 per car. Pets are not allowed.
Visit CCRenFaire.com for more information and to purchase advance tickets online