Renaissance Festival Is Almost History

Want to go to the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, an annual tradition that offers games, rides, shows, shopping and jousting in a village setting?

You'd better hurry. This is the final weekend.

That means it's your last chance to catch the 2012 version of the festival, including favorites such as the Mud Show, the Washing Well Wenches and a variety of music acts. There's also magic, juggling, tale-telling, games of skill and other events that entertained crowds 500 years ago. While you can certainly spend money there, the festival has enough free entertainment-- scheduled on different stages throughout the grounds-- to keep you busy for several hours. The performers remain in character, too, and many wander around greeting fair-goers and posing for photos. Many attendees dress up as well (though that's not required) so the atmosphere of the festival is about as authentic as you'll get in modern-day Tampa.

You can indulge your inner royalty with appropriate food and drink, as mead and turkey legs take their place alongside modern fare. Shopping is also popular, with rows of vendors selling everything from Renaissance-style clothing to leather goods, pottery, blown glass, jewelry and incense. Throw in face painting, Henna tattoos and Tarot card readings, and you have a full day ahead of you.

But there are only two of those days left; it all ends this weekend. The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is located at 11315 N. 46th St., on the grounds of the Museum of Science & Industry. It runs from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., rain or shine. Tickets are $18.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 5-12, and $14.95 for seniors 62 and older. For more information, visit www.bayarearenaissancefest.com.

Free Admission For Kids at Florida Strawberry Festival

If you want to go to the Florida Strawberry Festival with a child or young adult, today is the day to do it: As part of Kids' Day, all children through high school age get in free.

Not only does that save some serious money (the regular admission price is $5 for children ages 6-12 and $10 for anyone older than that) but it's a good excuse to take the family to the annual event, now in its 77th year. You'll get to enjoy the rides, midway, livestock, exhibits and shows that make the Strawberry Festival special. There's plenty of free things to enjoy, from music acts-- Air Supply performs tonight, for example-- to racing pigs.

Yes, the racing pigs have returned. With six shows a day and capacity crowds, they're in high demand.

In addition to all of that entertainment, of course, is the food. First on the list is strawberries, naturally: Make-your-own strawberry shortcake takes it place alongside strawberry milkshakes and strawberry ice cream, as well as flats of strawberries waiting to be eaten. If you like strawberries, it's not surprising that the Strawberry Festival is the place to go.

But they have a lot more than strawberries. The have fried cheese, fried candy, fried butter and fried...well, almost anything you can imagine. It might not be good for a diet, but it's always popular and part of the festival tradition for many attendees. And if you ever wondered what chocolate-covered bacon tastes like, here's your chance.

The Florida Strawberry Festival runs through March 11, and they have different specials everyday. But today is the only day members of the general public can attend for free (military, law enforcement and first-responders have their own American Heroes Day this Wednesday which also offers them free admission). Children love festivals, adults like saving money and everybody likes strawberries. All of it comes together today.

The festival is open each day from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com.