October 31, 2025
Annual Renaissance Faire Draws Fans of Merry ‘Ole England for a Worthy Cause
By Gina Horan
Annual Renaissance Faire Draws Fans of Merry ‘Ole England for a Worthy Cause
Beginning this weekend, the annual Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire returns to Tavares for two weekends of fun and fundraising for the Education Foundation of Lake County. What began as a small local gathering has grown into a regional tradition that draws visitors from across Central Florida and beyond.
Each year, thousands attend to experience the sights, sounds and flavors of Renaissance England. Costumes are encouraged, and many come dressed as jesters, knights and ladies of the court.
The quiet woods transform into a bustling 17th-century Shrewsbury village filled with queens, minstrels and merchants. Other popular themes include forest fairies, pirates of the high seas and village tradesmen.
Guests can explore more than fifty artisan booths offering handcrafted wares such as leather goods, candles, pottery and jewelry. Costumed performers roam the grounds, greeting guests in character and inviting them into interactive stories that bring history to life.
A special Education Day takes place on November 7 for local students.
Live entertainment remains central to the experience, with daily jousting tournaments, combat demonstrations and musical acts on multiple stages. Laughter fills the lanes as jesters perform, while the clash of steel echoes across the field as armored knights face off in battle. Families can also enjoy games, archery and exhibits celebrating craftsmanship and culture.
Food and drink add to the fun, with turkey legs, roasted nuts, hearty stews and sweet pastries alongside mead, ale and other traditional favorites. Local vendors such as Squealin’ Butts and Tap Truck keep crowds fed and refreshed.
More than just a festival, the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire serves as the largest fundraiser for the Education Foundation of Lake County. Proceeds support teachers, classrooms and student programs throughout the district. Whether you arrive as royalty, pirate or peasant, the faire offers a full day of entertainment, shopping and adventure in true Renaissance spirit.
The festival runs November 1- 2 and November 8-9 at 28598 Lady of the Lakes Ave. in Tavares. Gates open at 10 a.m. each day, rain or shine and close at 5pm.
For tickets and the full entertainment schedule, visit lakerenfaire.com.
Photos provided by the Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire
Gina moved to Central Florida in August 2021 from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in linguistics and worked as a fashion editor, photo stylist lifestyle columnist and food writer for the Knight Ridder Newspaper Group. She also covered and photographed music festivals, fashion shows and sports throughout Northern California. In 2000, she joined KSAN radio as a morning show co-host and produced the news and sports content there for four years. She later covered travel, events and the restaurant scene for KRON-Bay TV. A veteran bartender, Gina has worked in hospitality on and off since high school. She has been with Akers Media since 2022 and hosts the Healthy Living Central Florida podcast. Her passions include travel, road trips, baseball, history books and podcasts, tasting menus and arriving in a new city without a map or guidebook.
