Thy humble beginnings

The beloved Renaissance Faire returns to Sandpoint

By Ben Olson
Reader Staff

From its beginnings in a field in 2017, the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire has grown into one of the most popular local events of the year, drawing thousands of revelers, vendors, actors and spectators from around the region. 

The medieval gathering will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (4203 N. Boyer Road, in Sandpoint). A weekend pass is $35 for adults and $25 for seniors and youth. Day passes are $20 per adult and $15 for seniors and those under 18. Children 5 and under attend free.

While the event will offer all the usual fun and festive activities, this year marks a change, with former-Faire President Tanya Anderson stepping back from her role as Queen Elizabeth I.

“Tanya will definitely be missed as our queen,” said volunteer coordinator Cassandra Robinson. “She was such a good queen and president.”

Monica Thomas will take over the role as queen, using her experience playing Elizabeth I in other renaissance events around the region.

“She’s now the Royal Court director, too,” Robinson said.

Robinson told the Reader the Faire has come a long way in nine years.

“We look at photos from that first year and laugh so hard,” she said. “We had a hotel donate sheets and pillows to us, which we hand-dyed into stone colors like emerald, ruby and sapphires, but they ended up coming out in pastel colors.”

Robinson said the first Faire in 2017 started with a couple of small donations, and entertainers and vendors offering to work for tips. 

Thinking they’d draw only a few hundred people to that inaugural event, Robinson said the Faire Board was astonished to see more than 1,500 people turn out. Attendance has increased every year, now drawing thousands each day.

After a couple of venue changes, the Faire’s home continues to be at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, which transforms into a medieval village for two magical days in June every year.

Returning are all the usual fan favorite events, such as jousting, knights, live music, vendors serving turkey legs and other period food, birds of prey and live medieval artisan demonstrations including blacksmiths, fiber artists and more. Costumes are encouraged and, Robinson said, the majority of attendees show up in various types of period dress.

A slight change in this year’s schedule sees the popular jousting events by the Seattle Knights — yes, they really are jousting on real horses — moved to two performances each day at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“A lot of our previous entertainers, singers and bands are coming back this year,” Robinson said. “We also have the Lake Pend Oreille Repertory Theatre performing, too.”

There are four stages and an arena where there’s always something happening.

“If you don’t like one thing, you can always see a different show,” Robinson said. 

Other updates this year are some revamped decorations to the stages and entrances.

“It’s still hard to put money into decor when you don’t know if your venue is going to be permanent,” Robinson said. “Our vision is to buy a piece of property in the area and build standing structures, entry booths and stages. Then hopefully we could have the Faire open for a month in summer instead of just two days. … I float it to people every once in a while that if they know of any land, it would be so nice to build merchant storefronts and have things that are more permanent.”

Along with being a great source of entertainment, the Faire is also a great economic driver of the community. 

“We’re a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits,” Robinson said. “Each year we pick different nonprofits to donate to. We also partner with the Vietnam Veterans No. 890, which has done our beer and mead garden since it started. It’s one of their largest fundraisers of the year.”

Robinson said the veterans receive beer discounts from Sandpoint-based Matchwood Brewing Co. and mead discounts from Spokane’s Hierophant Meadery.

Of course, the Faire wouldn’t be possible without the sustained effort of dozens of volunteers who help with everything from setup to parking to breakdown.

“We probably get close to 100 volunteers every year,” she said. 

At heart, Robinson said the event is near and dear to so many people because it showcases the community at its finest.

“We’re so grateful for the turnout of the community every year,” Robinson said. “We always look at the line in the morning and we’re so amazed that this many people are made happy by this event we bring to town.”

For more information, including a detailed schedule of events, visit sandpointrenaissancefaire.com.