The ORF Blog

October 25, 2023

With Halloween fast approaching, and Trick or Treat Weekend at the Ohio Renaissance Festival just around the corner, all sorts of shrieks and screams are waiting for you to enjoy! As we participate in this modern season of the supernatural, do you ever wonder what the Elizabethans believed in? Did they have a love for […]

October 18, 2023

Wel folowing his maistre and doyng whatever he hym commandeth, he shuld be good and kyndly and clene, glad and joyful and playeng, wel willyng and goodly to all maner folkes save to the wild beestis. 14th century quote as to the mannerisms expected of dogs In the Elizabethan world as well as modern times, […]

October 11, 2023

When it comes to the myriad of musicians at renaissance festivals, the talent displayed is overwhelming. You have people who have dedicated their lives to the romanticized notion of a wandering bard bringing their music from town to town and spreading joy like a guitar strumming Johnny Appleseed. With all this skill, it’s strange to […]

October 4, 2023

Ask anyone you know about their first visit to the Ohio Renaissance Festival and you can see their eyes light up as they launch into their memories of what a wonderful time they had. The faire has changed a lot over the years, but something we have never given up is our dedication to making […]

September 27, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of the Laundress In the annals of history, the work of the average individual is overlooked in favor of the life-world-altering events that so often define our knowledge of the past. This is especially true of tasks that were considered ‘women’s work’. The drudgery of maintaining a household cannot possibly be […]

September 20, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of Mimes When it comes to mimes, (and clowns in general), we often see them portrayed in media with a sense of trepidation or even outright malice without any real explanation as to why. We tend to think of the mime in its French incarnation, with a monochromatic aesthetic a la […]

September 13, 2023

A (Very) Brief Look at the History of Performers People have always clamored for entertainment. Whether it be the rancorous singing of a crowded tavern or the elegant dance of a ballerina on stage, people long for the display of talent and skill that comes from those who have dedicated their lives to performance. There […]

September 6, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of Belly Dancing With a history that goes back thousands of years, belly dancing has seen a surge in popularity as a means of self-expression, body confidence, and entertainment. Its origins are traced to rural folk dancing in ancient Egypt (around 3100 BC), where these enticing shimmies and free-flowing movements were […]

August 23, 2023

For many Renaissance Festival enthusiasts, one of the first things to do every season is pick up a commemorative mug. Across the nation, these clay, stamped mugs have become synonymous with Ren Faires. But how does one come into existence? They are, after all, not an invention of the mass market, but instead a unique […]

August 16, 2023

Each season the Ohio Renaissance Festival searches far and wide to bring our guests untold merriment and adventure. Along with a myriad of musicians, singers, acrobats, and performers, our faire proudly brings out specialty entertainers like Birds of Prey, Cincinnati Barbarians, and the jousters of Combatant’s Keep. This year, we add an all-new experience to […]