The Royal Treatment

With an expected 7,000-10,000 visitors this year, the second annual Shadow Renaissance Festival will again benefit Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center in Sulphur Springs.

Volunteers from around the state and both veteran Ren Faire folk and local people just becoming involved have been preparing their inviting costumed characters, lively entertainment and crafted wares for vending. Much of the family-friendly festival will be inside the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, where visitors can shop, eat, drink and enjoy themselves in air conditioned comfort. And the festival has grown so much only in its second year that even more will be set up outside and in the Civic Center arena.

The Royal Court will make appearances throughout the Civic Center grounds and will hold an audience to introduce King Henry and Queen Anne, portrayed by local residents Bruce and Laura Taylor, along with their courtiers on one of the many stages set up throughout festival. Also gracing Shadow Renaissance Festival this year will be Madeleine of Valois, Queen Consort of Scots, a visiting royal, portrayed by Morgan Brumfield, daughter of Sulphur Springs native Jason Brumfield, executive director of the Shadow Festival board of directors.

The main attraction will be visitors from the Dallas Warlords of the Armored Combat League, who will be clashing swords and brandishing shields in hand-to-hand combat. In it to win, these fighters will don full sets of medieval armor, complete with chain-mail and helmets, to battle it out to see who is the best warrior for what is sure to be a fully entertained crowd.

This year’s Shadow Renaissance Festival boasts a full line-up of entertainers, including: Wild Sky Tribal, a belly dancing troupe from Arlington, Texas; musical acts Drone and Tiskelion; and performances by comedy acts such as How to Scot, which will have audiences laughing out loud; along with many more characters, encouraging festival revelry. Fae Follies, a troupe of fully-winged fairies, will interact with and entertain the children this year. They have plenty of activities planned that will have the kids wanting to visit again and again.

One of the highlights this year will be the renowned escape artist Rondini. Last year’s festival-goers may remember his amazing talent, and this year is promised to really astound. Rondini will be performing an escape from various restraints — while hanging upside down from the inside of the Civic Center arena. This will be his final performance of this particular act, so visitors won’t want to miss out.

There will be more than 60 vendors from throughout Texas and surrounding states who will set out their hand-crafted wares from jewelry and candles to costumes and drinking horns to fun things for the kids.

For the adults, Sulphur Springs’ Phinesse Farms Winery has brewed some specially made meads and wines perfect for getting into the spirit of Shadow Renaissance Festival. Several types of popular beers will also be available, along with foods the whole family can enjoy while watching the arena battles or laughing with one of the many comedy acts.

Proceeds from Shadow Renaissance Festival, a non-profit organization, will benefit Shadow Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center in Sulphur Springs. Shadow Ranch is a non-profit organization “dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of kids and adults with disabilities and/or debilitating situations in their lives and to making a positive difference in the lives of their staff, volunteers and the community,” according to their website. For more information about the riding center, visit http://shadowranchtrc.blogspot.com/or their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Shadow-Ranch-Therapeutic-Riding-Cen ter-101478596563161/.

“We are so grateful for the support,” said Marion Cox, executive director of Shadow Ranch. “Last year we had around 3,500 attendees, and we’re expecting 7,000-10,000 this year, which is just incredible for a festival in its second year. We have participants, vendors and attendees coming in from all over Texas, as well as Norman [Oklahoma] and Little Rock [Arkansas]. And every single penny goes to help support Shadow Ranch.”

Shadow Renaissance Festival will be held 1-9 p.m. Friday, July 26; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, July 27; and 1-6 p.m. Sunday, July 28 at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center and arena, 1200 West Houston St. in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Individual tickets and ticket packages can be purchased at the gate or online at shadowrenfest.com. For more information, visit the Shadow Renaissance Festival website or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/shadowrenfest/.