Renaissance Faire Made Epic Post-COVID Return to Auburndale Library
by James Coulter
Hear ye! Hear ye! After a long absence following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Auburndale Renaissance Faire made its glorious return to Auburndale Library last Thursday.
More than 500 attendees gathered throughout the day to enjoy some medieval fun. Attendees could make fairy wands, weave flower crowns, meet various storybook characters, and even go on a scavenger hunt as epic as the quest for the grail.
More adventurous attendees could test their might by scaling a rock wall, sparring on an inflatable arena, or tossing axes. They could even be “officially” knighted by a knight in shining armor and receive a signed certificate. Afterward, they could enjoy free treats such as peanuts and pickles.
The Renaissance Faire was initially started in 2017. Upon witnessing the attention received by the Tampa Renaissance Faire, Librarian Wayne McCarthy wanted to bring something similar to Auburndale, albeit on a much smaller scale.
“We saw what was happening in Tampa, and we want to give Auburndale a similar experience,” he said. “So we reached out to some of the vendors in Tampa from that festival and had them do it over here.”
This year’s event was their first post-COVID event. They had initially expected 500 attendees to turn out, but those expectations were quickly exceeded, as nearly 475 had turned out within the first two hours.
“You lean into the community, and the community will lean into you,” McCarthy said. “I enjoy seeing the families being taken care of and having a good time. We plan on doing it same time next year. We plan to triple the size.”
The Auburndale Public Library will be hosting various summer programs in the next few months. To learn more, visit their website at: https://www.auburndalefl.com/library/
