Thousands go medieval at Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park — PHOTOS

Las Vegas resident David Smith has always had a fascination with knights and dragons.

On Saturday afternoon, he roamed the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park in a doublet and musketeers hat with his wife, Kevyn, in search of more medieval costume pieces and accessories.

"I love dressing up because it makes you forget about real life," he said.

Smith, who estimates that he has spent about $2,500 on Renaissance era costumes, recently joined a Las Vegas Renaissance guild, Kingdom Of OurRenLand, with his wife.

The guild celebrates various Renaissance fairs together and camps out at events.

"It lets you meet more people who are into dressing up," Smith said.

The 22nd annual Renaissance Festival, which boasts shows, attractions, re-enactments, food, drink and more than 200 artisan vendors, attracted nearly 30,000 people last year. Clark County Parks and Recreation is expecting a similar amount this year.

Renaissance, which means rebirth, refers to a time period in Europe, approximately from the 14th to the 17th century, that is considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history. It began in Italy as a cultural movement before spreading to the remainder of Europe.

Jerry Braer, a sales associate for Southern California-based Pendragon Costumes, sought shade under the vendor's tent as temperatures hit a high of 95 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

Braer said festival attendees aren't just dressing in medieval garb.

"This is more of a fantasy fair so you'll see all time periods including Vikings and Roman gladiators walking around," he said. "People are able to express themselves and create a life that they would have wanted if they lived in another time period."

He said dressing up is a way for people to escape their daily lives.

"Everyday life can be drab and if you change your clothes, you can be anyone you want to be," Braer said. "These people are fulfilling inner needs and it's a way to restore themselves. Dressing funny is just an extra piece."

Las Vegas residents Paige Falstrom and Setsuna Mitzukai's Age of Chivalry outfits included handmade items as well as dresses, corsets and accessories they bought from past Renaissance festivals.

"When you dress up you're more immersed in the experience and it gives it a little something more," Mitzukai said.

Falstrom said she has been attending Renaissance festivals for at least the past 10 years.

"I don't think I would come if I wasn't dressed up because I'd feel out of place," she said.

According to Virgil Jones, owner of Crimson Chain Leatherworks, a Toledo, Ohio-based costume company, Renaissance festivals provide ample opportunities to dress up.

"The great thing is you can cover a lot of time periods," he said. "Video games and movies have a huge influence on Renaissance fairs and a lot of people have begun designing their own characters."

Jones said he has seen customers at the Age of Chivalry in search of layering options.

"They want to add multiple layers to give their costumes depth," he said. "People want durable costumes and one-of-a-kind options."

As Renaissance fairs continue to pop up across the country, Jones said he is seeing them morph into more realistic events.

"They're less old school and corny than they once were," he said. "Pretty much everybody is into video games now so the medieval world is everywhere. They're only going to get bigger and better."

The Renaissance Festival will continue on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sunset Park, 2601 E Sunset Road.

Admission is $13 in advance for adults and $8 in advance for seniors, ages 60 and older, and children age 6 to 12. Ages 5 and younger are free. Onsite tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children.

Parking is available for free at Sunset Park and overflow parking with a free shuttle service is available at Del Sol High School, 3100 E. Patrick Lane, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Advance tickets and more information are available at www.lvrenfair.com.

Contact Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Find her on Twitter: @AnnFriedmanRJ.