36th year of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival

Spread the love

I remember a person seated behind us. On the bus going up to the castle. He said “It wouldn’t be May in Tennessee without thousands flocking here for the Renaissance Festival.”

After 2 years, the Renaissance Festival returns. I have witnessed it for the first time. Offering something special for everyone. I can say indulging in this special event is one of the meaningful ways we can think of kick starting the summer.

𝓐 𝓽𝓸𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻.

This time of year, as the weather warms up, many of us are trying to firm up summer travel plans. And this was a perfect choice for us. Though only for a day. Despite 90-some degrees weather, Renaissance-lovers showed up here bustling with excitement. The venue is about 45 minutes South of Nashville.

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 ;

Bring cash – food vendors, games, items, and rides require cash.

All ticket prices include free parking, festival events, and visits to the gardens and grounds of Castle Gwynn. Visits run between 11:00am – 3:00pm; you must be in the castle visit line before 3pm to be admitted.

Open May 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 plus Memorial Day 30.

Hours: 10am – 6:00pm

Free Parking and free admission for children 5 and under.

I think of this event as evoking memories from a lot of movies and some books about medieval times. Grateful for being here. Accepting solitude in a new shape and form. Feeling a lot of inspirational energy. Seeing diversity in many different forms.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓖𝔀𝔂𝓷𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮

From the moment I catch a glimpse of the castle. A white stone and brick structure from afar. I know there’s something special about it.

It is a replica of a 12th-century Welsh border castle. The charms of this place are too many to mention. It is unique and mystical. Here sharing with you the photographs of this beautiful site. But still, it’s a place you simply have to see to believe. I was so blown away.

There is an awesome story of this place best told by the owner. He is a Nashville-native Mike Freeman. It is his life-long mission to build his dream castle. The construction began in 1980 and is slowly building and renovating. Making it into reality, as authentic as possible.

While there are many exceptional places in Tennessee, not all can be considered a place of distinction. This is one of the most iconic spaces created in Tennessee.

Creations like these inspire me to appreciate someone else’s passion. Then learn and yield from someone else’s experience. For them allowing that creativity to become reality. It gave me a sense of accomplishment as well. Admirable. They keep everything in perspective here.

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮?

At some point, I was curious to find out more. Out of this wonder and marvelous feeling came a desire to know. Fired my enthusiasm. I need to understand again in a more deeper way how the term “Renaissance” itself came into being.

I know there’s a lot about the past and it’s impossible to learn everything. Circumstances like these bring more light from a bunch of what might be learned. Anyways, the term comes from the French for “rebirth”. Great virtues valued are reason, truth, art and beauty.

In medieval times, they had a sense of personal order. A quality wanting to address the world. A structure. An expression of identity. The shaping of one’s own identity is very important.

People of all ages dressed in Medieval costumes and accessories. All matters of that are under the sky here. They are in caps, hats, crowns, helmets, and shields. Those add a sense of style and extravagance to your outfit. Some dressed as maidens, pirates, pillagers, and rogues. Capes were draped over shoulders. I liked the fairies in particular. Some did it in grand style with a splash of bright and medieval colors.

Some draw looks and admiration to everyone. Some I still remember passing in front of me until now. Everyone is fabulous. I am impressed.

It gets you the feeling of traveling back to 16th century England. The bustle of Renaissance Marketplace gives it more fun and alive.

Artisans from all over the country display their items and treasures. The place is filled with historical artifacts, countless paintings and memorabilia.

A 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

𝓙𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓜𝓪𝓽𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼

Jousting is a medieval equestrian sport which was designed to demonstrate suitability and fitness for battle. It was a very popular sport throughout Europe.

𝓐𝓻𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓪𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮

Gemstones, jewelry and accessories

Renaissance truly shows a big transformation from years and years back.

The storytellers.

Lovely Festival Performers. The acts are very entertaining in an awesome old-time setting.

𝓣𝓾𝓻𝓴𝓮𝔂 𝓛𝓮𝓰 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝔂𝓹𝓮

I learned that turkey legs have always been a mainstay here. Its origin is in the medieval times. It is the Renaissance pleasure. The iconic treat. It looks so rich, juicy, smokey and huge. A feast not only to the fair-goer’s eyes but to the taste.

I think the best part of the Festival is the space it opens for people to be their authentic selves. This multi-weekend affair was set across the 68 acres of land.

What does this leave us? For me, I would have never thought the experience I had has quite frankly left me speechless. Visitors left with a feeling of renewed vigor after a hard day’s work and pandemic years. A feeling that life is evolving and is wonderful. I enjoyed it a lot. It is far more than I expected.