After more than a year of trial events and bated anticipation, it’s time for the first-ever Richmond Renaissance Faire this weekend, Saturday, April 18 + Sunday, 19, at Dorey Park. FYI: It’s very sold out.
The event has taken off in popularity since its city-central launch last March. Now, with well over 100 vendors and performers in tow, we got to wondering — just how local will this Ren Faire feel? If the faire means to transport Richmond to an entirely new realm, will the neighborhood dive bars be there too?
If GWARbar is home-sweet-home to you, you can count on a familiar face, as well as a turkey leg.
Introducing The Guilds
To capture and fortify the spirit of the Richmond community, Virago Alley organized The Founding Guilds — twelve fictionalized categories representing different trades and skills, each with its a list of local contributors.
- For example: Local bicycle co-operative Rag & Bones was knighted into the Dragon Bones Guild as a representative of our city’s finest messengers, engineers, and fixer-uppers. See what complementary demonstrations the crew has in store.
What other familiar names join The Guilds?
- Local comedy troop Coalition Theater will riddle the realm with immersive improv. (Thespain Guild)
- The festival’s central food area is deemed “The Pump House” in honor of the River City’s landmark vampire house. (Feast + Ferment Guild)
- Scuffletown Federfechters, a grassroots fencing club here in Richmond, will help dignify the art of sparring. (Combat Guild)
- Find more local contributors among the 12 Founding Guilds and the official list of vendors.
Ticketing reminder
Tickets for the Richmond Renaissance Faire are sold out, and folks seeking resale tickets should be wary of online scams.
