Art Faire & Renaissance Festival – Ishpeming, Michigan

Michigan’s Upper Penisula is beautiful when summer, short as it is, is in full swing and this weekend Ishpeming Michigan (West on US 41 from Marquette) is hosting thier 15th Annual Art Faire & Renaissance Festival for one day only this Saturday August 2, 2014.

The Festival is open from 10AM to 7PM. Being in a lesser populated area of the country makes this a smaller more intimate affair yet it grows each year and an estimated 2500 visitors are expected this Saturday.

There will be a Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Fight demostration at 10:30AM and 1PM. Each performance will be immediately followed by a Samurai Fight Demostration.

There will also be a Kids Parade at 12:45, story telling at noon, a live Theatre Troupe at 3PM, and a costume judging at 5:30PM shortly before the festival ends.

There a several free children’s activites scheduled to keep the younger generation entertained and engaged.

Naturally there will be plenty of medieval period food and last year’s event brought over 75 vendors displaying thier various crafts and wares.

For a true feeling of festival time in a small medieval town this event is a must see. Sunday would be an excellent day to take a day trip to the beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore near Munising, Michigan.

The festival website does not cover their weapons policy so it would be a good idea to contact them but as always if you have a sword or knife as part of your costume it should always be sheathed and peace-tied for safety.