A half hour before the Joust of Champions begins, a curious mix of people trickle into the arena: Cowboys and college students sit next to families decked in jeweled Renaissance costumes. One boy, dressed like a black knight, adjusts his belt while a little girl twirls the ribbons in her newly braided hair.

At the entrance, Denise Nantais and Georgio Cocchetto pause and check out the stands. "We're talking about getting our own costumes and making it a yearly adventure," Nantais says.

Forty-two-year-old Cocchetto looks lordly in his dark, feathered cap and robe that he rented from a costume shop inside the gate. It's hard to believe the visiting Canadian is a first-time festival-goer. He seems perfectly at ease in his finery.

Located just east of Apache Junction, the Arizona Renaissance Festival is one of the largest in the country, drawing about 15,000 visitors each Saturday and Sunday it's open.

Sprawling across 30 acres, the theme park looks like a medieval village, complete with cottages, castles, kitchens, pubs and shops selling handcrafted items — from swords and staffs to pottery, clothing and jewelry. It's sometimes hard to tell which costumed characters strolling down the village lanes are part of the festival's 1,000-member entertainment staff, and those who, like Cocchetto and Nantais, are paying customers.

That spirit of audience participation is part of what makes the festival so much fun. With more than 200 vendors to browse, interactive rides and games, and non-stop entertainment presented on 12 stages from open till close, it's hard not to have a good time. But if you want to experience it all — the shops, shows, rides, fortune tellers and games — plan on making a day of it. And don't pass on the guides handed out at the main gate — that map/ entertainment schedule is an invaluable tool to planning your day's entertainment. Without it, the festival's sheer size can be overwhelming.

"It's different — very different. I've never seen people dressed up. It's interesting," says first-timer Jennifer Buchanan of Peoria. She and her family — husband Larry and daughters, Taylor (age 10) and Melissa (10 months) — are waiting for the jousting to begin.

The day is half over and the Buchanans have already sampled spinach artichoke dip and Steak on a Stick. "The food is actually pretty reasonable compared to the (State) Fair," Jennifer says.

Taylor tried rock climbing — her favorite activity so far. And what did the parents like best?

"The Ded Bob Sho," Larry says.

"Oh yeah. The Ded Bob Sho is funny," Jennifer laughs. "They talk about boobs." And zombies, Larry adds.

So will the Buchanans return to the festival?

Larry nods and pulls out his video camera as the jousting begins. "We'll come back," he says.

Win free fest tickets
Want free tickets to the Renaissance Festival? Send your name, address and phone number to or 227 E. Baseline Road, Suite J-3, Tempe, AZ 85283. Six lucky readers will be drawn at random and given a pair of tickets.

New attractions
Looking for something new at the Arizona Renaissance Festival? Take a ride on the Pirate's Assault Catapult — a human sling-shot amusement ride. Or make reservations for the Pleasure Feast (see page 27). Two seatings will be offered Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. through March 28. Reservations are required. Cost, including festival admission, is $79.95.

What: Arizona Renaissance Festival
Where: East of Apache Junction on US Highway 60
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine, through March 28.
Cost: $6-$18 festival admission; $79.95 Pleasure Feast
Info: or www.renfestinfo.com