History
The Bristol Renaissance Faire was founded in 1972 by Richard Shapiro, and his wife Bonnie, as "King Richard's Faire". The event was a four-weekend fair and drew approximately 10,000 people. Initially the faire was generically historic, but through the 1970s and 1980s non-historical fantasy-based elements increased, with trolls, satyrs, and many Tolkien-inspired features, such as a Hobbit hole, Sindarin-speaking elves, and wizard battles.
In 1989, the Shapiros sold the fair to Renaissance Entertainment Corporation, having created a second incarnation of the King Richard's Faire in Carver, Massachusetts. The original King Richard's Faire was re-opened that year as the "Bristol Renaissance Faire", employing a more historical approach. The fantasy elements were banished under the new ownership and a serious attempt at historicity was made. The reigning monarch became Queen Elizabeth I rather than the fictional "King Richard", and the year was set at 1574. Costumes became more authentic. At that time, the fair played seven weekends and drew over 200,000 visitors annually, thus placing it among the highest attended in the world. In recent years, fantasy elements have returned such as Shakespearean wood sprites patrolling the grounds. Renaissance faire staples such as jousting tournaments, historical reenactments, and stage shows continue.
Read more about this topic: Bristol Renaissance Faire
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—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)