Sometimes I just want to step out of the everyday world and remember what it feels like to play. To pretend. To believe, even for an afternoon, that fairies might be hiding in the trees and pirates could be waiting around the next corner. That is exactly what I found at the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California.
A Little Magic, a Lot of Imagination
I went to Pirates Weekend at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Irwindale, California, and it brought back memories I hadn’t realized I missed quite so much. Everywhere I looked, there were costumes, colorful ribbons, music, laughter, and people happily playing along with the fantasy. Some visitors arrived dressed for the occasion; others came as they were. Either way, everyone seemed to be part of the same story.
This visit was during the 2019 season at Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area. Each weekend had its own theme, giving regular visitors another reason to come back and dress up all over again.
Where Everyone Becomes Part of the Show
One of my favorite things about a Renaissance Faire is how difficult it can be to tell the performers from the guests. That’s the point. A hearty “Huzzah!” can come from a shopkeeper, a stranger passing by, or someone who has been waiting all year to wear their best pirate outfit. The booths, parades, and performances turn an ordinary afternoon into one big, wonderfully unpredictable play.
You don’t have to know anything about Renaissance history to enjoy it. Just wander, watch, laugh, and let yourself be surprised.
The Memories That Brought Me Back
Long before we moved to California, my husband and I went to the Bristol Renaissance Faire near Milwaukee. We went even before we had children. We loved dressing like pirates, shopping the little booths, and watching the shows. He always had to get a turkey leg, meat on a stick, and roasted cinnamon pecans. I was perfectly happy wearing a flower crown, ribbons, and bells. It was one of our favorite dates.
Later, it became a family tradition. And that’s when the real magic happened.
Finding Fairies in the Woods
I can still picture our girls searching the trees for fairies. It became a game: who could spot one first? The fairies never needed to say a word. They would make eye contact, offer a ribbon to play with, or hand over a tiny stone from the path. The girls would light up, giggling with the kind of excitement that can’t be planned or bought. Those are some of my favorite memories of their childhood.
When I discovered the Faire in Southern California, my daughter and I knew we had to go. I had chosen my youngest daughter’s name after finding a Celtic translation that meant “Queen of the Fairies.” How could we possibly resist?
Pirates, Pageantry, and a Chance to Be a Kid Again
We wandered beneath canopies of ribbons, waved at the Queen, cheered at the joust, and laughed at the jugglers. With musicians, singers, comedians, and performers appearing throughout the grounds, there was always something new to see. We didn’t need an elaborate itinerary. We just followed whatever caught our attention next.
For a few hours, my daughter and I got to forget about the grown-up world and enjoy the simple fun of pretending. That was the best part.
There Is More to Life Than the Everyday
This is what I mean when I talk about finding more to life. Adventure doesn’t always require a plane ticket or a long vacation. Sometimes it takes nothing more than a day outside, an open mind, and a flower crown.
For information about the Southern California Faire, visit the official Renaissance Pleasure Faire website.
Disclosure: WhereGalsWander attended as a guest of the Faire and did not receive compensation for attending.
#WhereFantasyRules #RenFaire
