Medieval good times

Visitors will again be able to return to the medieval times as the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival is scheduled to return to Sunset Park Oct. 11-13 for the first time since the park’s two-year renovation project.

The festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 11 and 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct 13. Admission is $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for seniors and children.

Since 1995 the festival had encircled the lake at Sunset Park, 2601 E. Sunset Road. In 2011 the festival moved to a temporary home at Silver Bowl Park while Sunset Park underwent its $11.7 million renovations.

“The entire event will be much different from previous years,” said Brian Saliba, special events supervisor for Clark County Parks and Recreation. “There will be new performers, a new layout, new park amenities, more stages and most importantly, more vendors. We have almost doubled the amount of vendors seen over the last few years.”

Saliba said the festival started in 1993 as a one-day event at Paradise Park, 4775 McLeod Drive, with a few thousand people. Years later, the festival has transformed into a three-day event and moved to Sunset Park, where attendance grew dramatically.

“A 10-year average at Sunset Park has been more than 30,000 people each year,” Saliba said. “We are hopeful to see a significant increase from the last two years.”

Going on its 20th year, the festival is expected to fill the park with hundreds of artisans and craftsmen from around the country, shows and historical re-enactments.

Vendors are expected to include goldsmiths and silversmiths, stained glass designers, costumers, perfumers, potters and dagger and armor makers.

“Everyone that I know is excited to come back to Sunset Park,” said Cecil Hughes, a performer from the Dogs of War Guild. “It’s definitely one of the best locations. The ground is good and there’s plenty of shade. It just brings a whole different atmosphere to the festival.”

Hughes, who has been acting for 10 years at the festival, will be performing as a barbarian with Gladius, Inc., a company that does historical re-enactments themed around ancient Rome.

The Knights of Mayhem, a group self-described as “modern-day Lancelots” and featured on a National Geographic TV show, are scheduled to make their Las Vegas debut with a jousting contest.

Concerts are planned throughout the weekend varying from local artists to nationally known acts. Headlining the festival will be musical artists Wicked Tinkers, Seven Nations and Dread Crew of Oddwood, with music ranging from heavy metal to Celtic-influenced tunes.

Attendee Sue Woods said that she has been going to the festival for five years, but missed the last year’s festival because she did not like the location.

“I love seeing my friends at the festival and dressing up,” Woods said. “I just missed the fair last year because (at Silver Bowl Park) there wasn’t enough shade, so it got really hot and there wasn’t much greenery. I’ve been waiting for them to move the festival back to Sunset Park.”

For those looking for medieval food, vendors are expected to sell fish and chips, giant turkey legs and shepherd’s pie. English beers and ales will also be available to those 21 or older.

The Original Boars Head Feaste is also scheduled to return this year. The feast will feature a six-course carnivorous meal and an interactive theater performance. The performance is described on the Renaissance Fair’s website, lvrenfair.com, as being suggestive with immature humor.

Tickets for the dinner range from $25 to $32 and can be purchased on the website.

On Oct. 12 and 13, a royal parade with kings, queens, warriors and peasants is scheduled. In addition, the festival will include jugglers, jesters, magicians, storytellers, duelists and jousters.

Adam “Poncho” Nikkel has performed at the festival for the last 10 years. He said he has been practicing for months with The Pride, a performance troupe that specializes in stage combat and historical re-enactment scenes.

“The fair experience is all about having a good time and playing dress-up with friends,” Nikkel said. “Our camp this year is all about preparing for war. We’ve been practicing for months to perform as part of our Pride combat.”

The festival is scheduled to feature more than 50 shows per day and medieval pageantry.

Saliba said the public should arrive early because parking will be limited at Sunset Park. In order to help the flow of traffic, arrangements have been made to park and shuttle at Del Sol High School, 3100 E. Patrick Lane. A free shuttle service is scheduled to run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 12 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information or tickets, visit lvrenfair.com.

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686.