The 31st Annual Florida Renaissance Festival

February 4 -

March 26

The Annual Florida Renaissance Festival returns with a one-of-a-kind familyfriendly event that takes lords and ladies of the realm back to a time when tunics, tabards, slashed sleeves, and bodices were the fashion. Beginning February 4, and running for eight consecutive weekends until March 26, all roads lead to Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach to celebrate the 31st edition of the Florida Renaissance Festival with an added bonus eighth weekend of festivities.

The festival is for all ages, and it's one of the most anticipated major events of the year because it's a memorable, magical, mystical experience for the entire family. This special event features multiple new attractions, as well as popular older ones to guarantee non- stop fun and excitement in this magical kingdom.

Jousting knights, royalty, wenches, magicians, and more awaits as festival goers will be treated to delectable foods, fabulous drinks, numerous unique craft shops, live music, and more. The kingdom is a wonderful place for fun, but it's also a great environment where participants can take selfies of themselves in era garb. PLUS there is an all-new eighth weekend introduced for this year – the Mad Hatter's Circus embarks on an “Alice in Wonderland-themed” adventure that brings fairytales to reality!

While costumes are not necessary for admittance, thousands of people enhance their experience each year by donning outfits from the Renaissance era or participating in one of the festival's special themed weekends.

“For more than three decades we've provided South Floridians a Renaissance experience unlike any other,” said Bobby Rodriguez, founder, and producer of the Florida Renaissance Festival. “It's a special storybook event unlike any other, and we invite patrons to dress up and rejoice as we celebrate culture and history, because it promises to be a fun-filled memorable time for the entire family.”

Also returning for the 2023 season are a variety of fanfavorite acts and performances:

Bard & Minstrels; Bells to Go (Carillon); Blue Muse; Brothers Blackwell; Broon; Buckle & Swash; Celtic Mayhem; Debracey Productions (joust); Faire Wynds; Harper & the Minstrel; History of Chivalry; Historical Demonstrations: Cannons; Kamikaze Fireflies; Kelly Irish Dancers; Les S. Moore (pickpocket); Masala Music & Dance; MooNiE; Music the Gathering; NEW – Nightwings (a new exotic bird and falconry show in the joust area); Pirates of Tortuga Bay; Rota Temporis; Reelin' Rogues; Splatter Time Players (mud show); Tales of Robin Hood; The Adventure Quest; The Commedia Madrigal Singers; The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told; Trebuchet; Washing Well Wenches

There will also be The Court, Encampments, Promenade, Street Characters, Wandering Musicians, and dozens of characters from Gabriel Q.

The Florida Renaissance Festival is produced by nationally acclaimed Bobby Rodriguez Production and strives to create an entertaining and cultural experience for adults and children alike. The current sponsors of the 2023 Florida Renaissance Festival include Sapporo, Unibroue, Anchor Brewing, 1911 Cider, Llanos Leather, Pelican's View, and JMlovelaw.

Prices range from $32 for adults and $14 for children (ages 6 to 11 years of age). Children 5 and younger are free. Special seasonal passes are available for $199 (adults) and $79.50 (children). For tickets and more information visit: www.ren-fest.com; If you prefer the ancient method, call 954-776-1642.

Florida Renaissance Festival 2023 Themed Weekends

Feb. 4 & 5

The Wizarding World's Faire, A Magical Grand Opening!

Feb. 11 & 12

Barbarians & Dragons

A Roaring Battle!

Feb. 18 & 19

Steampunk & Time Travelers, Age of Automation!

Feb. 25 & 26

Maidens, Wenches, and Goddesses! A Beautiful Empowerment!

March 4 & 5 Days of Cosplay, Heroes, villains, and everything in between!

March 11 & 12

Pirate Invasion, Swashbucklers & Scallywags!

March 18 & 19

Highland Fling, A Celtic Celebration

March 25 & 26

A Mad Hatter's Circus

A Fairytale Finale!

NEW Weekend

By Romeo San Vicente

is under wraps. It's early in the process, so look toward 2024 for this one to arrive in front of audiences, and more information here as casting continues.

Titus Burgess Wants “The Preacher’s Wife” on Broadway ASAP

Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, the Emmy-nominated heart and soul of “Pose,” is about to make her mark on the big screen. Of course, she's appeared in theatrically released films already, but with “Wildfire,” she'll be a lead, playing a transgender character. With a producer in “American Idol” vet Randy Jackson, and a script by rising screenwriter Chaya

Doswell, “Wildfire” is the story of an unlikely friendship. A 7-year-old girl named Lu, who is mute and living with abusive family, accidentally starts a wildfire, and then maneuvers Rodriguez's character into unwittingly kidnapping her. Why? Well, that's what second and third acts in scripts are for, so the rest of the plot

Noah Schnapp stalks 'The Tutor' It used to be that if a movie had the word “tutor” in the title, that film was inevitably a slightly naughty '80s teen-sex comedy one would consume at a drive-in theater. But that was long ago and far away. Here comes “The Tutor,” and the teenagers are out for blood. “Stranger Things” star Noah Schnapp – who recently came out as gay – stars as an obsessive, disturbed young man determined to wreck the life of a professional tutor (Garrett Hedlund) and expose his secrets. The thriller directed by Jordan Ross (“Thumper”) has a script by Ryan King, and the film costars Victoria Justice (“Victorious”) and Jonny

Weston (“Benjamin”). Looking forward to this one, if for no other reason than to watch Schnapp stretch his acting wings, get maniacal and aggressive, and leave the sweet and soulful Will Byers behind.

South by Southwest: home of the queer documentary

From “Portrait of Jason” and “The Queen” in the late 1960s, to the landmark '70s film “Word Is Out,” the documentary is where real queer stories usually get told first. It's a tradition that continues to the present day, and film festivals like South by Southwest that showcase independent cinema are where they often make their bow. This year's SXSW is no exception, and two international documentaries danger. These two films will probably make the film festival rounds, so keep your eyes peeled for other dates and locations.

Indya Moore dives deeply into DC premiering there have the potential to capture American audiences' attention. “Who I Am Not,” from Romanian filmmaker Tünde Skovrán, focuses on a young intersex activist and the resistance met by people who don't fit neatly within a gender binary. Meanwhile

Agniia Galdanova's film

“Queendom” follows queer Russian artist Gena as they protest the government with provocative performance, acts that often put their life in

Indya Moore is moving into the watery world of Aquaman. The “Pose” star will next be seen in 2023's “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” from director James Wan, alongside fellow cast Jason Momoa, Ben Affleck, Patrick Wilson and Nicole Kidman. Of course, how much of Moore we see will depend on a variety of special effects elements, since she's playing a radiationmutated humanoid shark. Karshon the Tiger Shark

(whose origins go back to “Green Lantern” comics, fyi) will be part of the next chapter of Aqua-lore, and Moore will at least give voice to the character. Will Karshon be a villain? We're hoping so, really, because wicked characters are always more fun, and they never actually go away for good, sometimes returning even after they've been killed off in an earlier story. And besides, Aquaman can handle another nemesis; he's a superhero and that's his job. Settle in and wait, though, because the movie opens in 11 months from now in December.