If your ideal summer getaway consists of breathtaking natural surroundings, great accommodations and a plethora of fun things to do, Anchorage, Alaska, is the perfect destination for you. The history of Anchorage dates back to the 1910’s when the city was established as a railway port. The city’s population didn’t see a major increase until around WWII, when railways, air travel and military bases brought new residents to the area. As a tourist destination, Anchorage has always been a top spot thanks to its distinct natural beauty. Major infrastructure was constructed during the 1960’s and 70’s due to the Alaskan oil boom, further advancing Anchorage as a destination. The added revenue helped build the park service, construct attractions, and attract many new businesses to the area.
Today, Anchorage has a population of over 300,000 and is the Capital of Alaska. From excursions into the vast wilderness to visiting the hottest local nightlife spots, Anchorage has it all. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, Anchorage and the surrounding area are perfect for you. You’ll encounter numerous opportunities for fishing, hunting, photography, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing and more. Anchorage is also home to some great shopping opportunities, dining options and ample chances to catch live entertainment. The culture here is rich and on display at great local museums, shows and exhibits. A great way to get to know the community and its friendly people is during one of the fun local events like 3 Barons Renaissance Fair.
Almost half way through its third decade, 3 Barons Renaissance Fair has established itself as one of the best family events in Anchorage. The event is quite large, last year attracting more than 12,000 people to the fair. Attendees can expect to find a multitude of live performances that all follow the guidelines of the 3 Barons festival theme. There is a great selection of interactive games for all ages to enjoy, as well as plenty of food and drink options to choose from. Take your next Anchorage excursion to another level of enjoyment and head to the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair for an experience you won't soon forget. ResortsandLodges.com got the opportuntity to speak to Kevin Hall, Representative for the 3 Barons Rensicance Fair, to talk about this fun family event.
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RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event. KH: The 3 Barons Renaissance Fair was formed 24 years ago. In 2015, we had 12,000 patrons attend and 400 cast members. We draw a lot of families with younger children, cosplayers and LARPers, but we also get a lot of grandparents. Surprisingly, we had over 1,500 current and former military members attend last year. RAL: What makes this event unique? KH: What we lack in size compared to the larger Renaissance Fairs in the lower 48, we try to make up for with more interactive and intimate performances. Each day the actors follow a storyline that weaves the story of the three Barons, and why they have visited our village of Hillshire. They interact with the patrons and patrons can earn Hillshire wooden coins, which are are used to vote for their favorite Baron. They also interact with the Baron’s courts and the citizen’s of Hillshire by using our map and questing to become a knight or a citizen. RAL: Take me through a day at the event, what can I expect as an attendee? KH: There are over 20 different performances throughout the day, many of which run two times before the end of the fair. Some of the most popular ones are our live chess game known as the Game of Steal and our always popular Tomato Show, where you can lob rotten tomatoes at the actors. Two patron-centric activities are the Peasant Dancing and the always growing Costume Contest. If you’re old enough (21), you won’t want to miss our Naughty Bawdy Tavern Show at the Crooked Toad. Local beers and meads are served. For dining options, we have fair favorite foods from our wonderful vendors. Each year we gain new options that attendees seem to enjoy. RAL: What is the overall environment of the event like? KH: Though we are in Anchorage proper, the site we occupy is a wooded slice of land that can be an entry point into the foothills of the Chugach Mountain range during the winter. It is owned by the Anchorage Sled Dog Racing Association and in winter is home to their racing series. RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging? KH: We are adjacent to the UMED (University/Medical) district and there are lodging options there, but Anchorage is normally well booked up in the summer with Cruise Ship passengers. RAL: What does the event mean to the community? KH: As Anchorage’s longest running outdoor event/festival, we’ve become a local favorite and one of the first events of the summer season after school gets out. RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community? KH: As a non-profit organization ourselves, we strive to be inclusive and financially responsible in how we interact with our community. For many theater organizations, we provide a wonderful hands on acting experience for young actors and seasoned veterans alike. Some high school acting programs use our fair as a fundraiser for school year activities and groups. For example, the Boy Scouts have had booths in our vendor area in previous years.
RAL: Why should people come to your event? KH: We believe that our interactive storyline and intimate setting is our biggest strength. From our historical re-enactors to 14 different Courts and Guilds, we will entertain a broad spectrum of visitors. Some highlights are our the Mystical Court of Blue, the tyrannical Court of Green and the always honorable Court of Red. You can also lose yourself at the Crooked Toad Tavern or in our historic/ immersive medieval village. For more information about the 3 Barons Renaissance Fair, please visit their website. |