Renaissance Pleasure Faire Business Office — Local services in Irwindale

As a longtime fan of this faire, I am very sad to say that I will have noticed a serious decline over the last few years, and I will likely not be attending next year.

The event is oversold by hundreds, maybe even thousands. The car line to get in lasted 45 minutes. Then we had to walk 15-20 minutes from parking to the entrance. Then the line to get through the entrance was 20 minutes. Friends waited 30+. For any food or activities, expect at least a 10 minute wait but sometimes much longer.

$60 for tickets and parking. What’s included? Not much. $6 per water. $17 per mead. Meals $15-20. Activities range from $5 to $40. You’ll pay over $100 just to survive the day, never mind actually enjoy some of the activities. Shows are included but include lots of tip guilting. I want to support these artists but it’s tough when I’m already out over $150 just to survive the day.

You want free water? Good luck. You’ll walk 15 minutes to a 20 minute line for one of the 2 room temperature water fountains that barely function.

And most of the friendliness from staff has disappeared. I don’t blame them. They’re wearing huge hot costumes with no AC, probably making pennies, and dealing with hundreds or thousands of disgruntled customers.

When I attended this year, it was 99 degree day that really highlighted the failures of Faire management. Little to no sun cover. Hard to access water. Certainly no AC. I watched dozens of people on the brink of if not in the middle of heat stroke. It was a pretty inhumane and disturbing experience, not to mention an obvious legal liability for management. Obviously they can't control the weather, but I'm shocked they don't do anything to protect their employees, customers, or themselves.

I will not be returning next year, but I sincerely hope the Faire updates itself in the coming years for a modern audience, and I would be happy to come back in the...

I have always loved the renaissance pleasure fair, but this year was a little different. The security team inside of the tournament area was not as nice as they normally are. They had us push our stroller, which was a small stroller that when pushed against the front row seat did not even extend further than my legs. The security guard came and told us that we needed to fold it up or leave and we said OK well what about the other people that had their stroller out and he explained while they were up against the side wall so that was the compromise we asked well, is that an option for us? He said sure, and he walked away upset. We went along the side wall that was placed next to a trashcan and no overhead shade so basically they were having babies sit in the sun next to the trash cans, which I thought was really inappropriate. Another security guard came and told us we were not able to stand there either after we were already told that we could when we told him the other guard said he said that’s fine and let us stay however, without any sunshade it was too hot for my child and I who am pregnant and so we left early. The food is always delicious but the girls were premade and put into tissue paper so I ordered my Gyro and it is out took my first bite. The entire tissue paper fell apart in the bottom, and that was the...

This year’s Renaissance Faire was a soggy, unforgettable adventure. The weather may not have been on our side, but in true Ren Faire spirit, everyone embraced the mud, mist, and medieval madness with humor and heart.

From squelching through the fairegrounds in soaked boots to watching drenched performers deliver their lines with extra drama, the atmosphere was wild and woolly – quite literally. Cloaks clung, curls frizzed, and more than one knight looked like they’d taken a tumble in the pigsty. But somehow, it made the whole experience feel even more authentic – like we’d truly stepped into a gritty, rain-drenched 15th century village.

Highlights included the ever-committed jousters riding through puddles like pros, musicians playing on despite the drizzle, and vendors cheerfully slinging turkey legs and mead under dripping tents. The crowd? Damp, a little bedraggled, but absolutely undeterred.

Would I have preferred sunshine? Sure. But honestly, the mud added its own charm. If you came for pristine costumes and dry comfort, you probably left early. If you came for adventure, laughs, and a little chaos – this was your year. Note to self: Bring better...