For the next two weekends, a new world will be just a drive away as the Wild Mountain Fantasy Festival and Time Travelers Market takes over the Venango County Fairgrounds.
“My husband and I have been in the renaissance faire business for almost 30 years. We’ve produced events and worked on staff but we always knew we wanted to do our own,” Janene Michael, of Cranberry, said.
Michael said she and her husband, Eric, moved to Venango County 10 years ago, and from the beginning they knew the fairgrounds would make a picturesque venue for a renaissance faire.
“We’re fans of different genres so we wanted there to be something for everyone,” said Janene Michael.
To pull this off, the festival will be held in separate barns with four distinct themes – renaissance fantasy, comic book and science fiction, myths and monsters and Steampunk.
The main events will take place in Phillips Arena. A food court and pub will take up residence in the beef barn, and a market place and activities will flank the arena at the pig and horse barns.
“There’s a lot to do, so it’s big for our company,” Janene Michael said of the production company that has been in business since 2012.
The company has already taken on smaller projects such as madrigal dinners and a children’s summer camp called Camp-a-Doodle.
“Initially we wanted it to be a lot larger,” Michael said.
Michael said the community has been quite receptive to the idea of a fantasy world in their backyard. Some have even gone so far as to embrace the $5 ticket discount deal for individuals in costume.
“My husband’s co-worker said to me the other day that he bought his wife a costume and a puffy shirt for himself. People are really getting in the spirit,” Michael said.
She said it hasn’t surprised her at all that people in the Venango County area seem open to something traditionally thought of as geek culture, and she said the Venango County Fair Board of Directors were “very receptive” to the idea of the fair.
“It’s new and different and close to home. There’s nothing really like this anywhere so there’s something for everyone,” Michael said.
“Sorry, the Rocky Grove Fire Department was out here filling the mermaid’s tank, that’s them saying good-bye,” Michael said.
Michael explained that “we have a mermaid who dives for pearls. Don’t worry, her tank is heated.”
Guests to the festival will also have the chance to witness a live joust, panels on cosplay – the art of building a costume for conventions or fun – and live entertainment.
Kids will also have the opportunity to go to war with foam weapons while adults browse through assorted vendors.
The festival will take place the next two Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
