The ORF Blog

October 4, 2023

Ask anyone you know about their first visit to the Ohio Renaissance Festival and you can see their eyes light up as they launch into their memories of what a wonderful time they had. The faire has changed a lot over the years, but something we have never given up is our dedication to making […]

September 27, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of the Laundress In the annals of history, the work of the average individual is overlooked in favor of the life-world-altering events that so often define our knowledge of the past. This is especially true of tasks that were considered ‘women’s work’. The drudgery of maintaining a household cannot possibly be […]

September 20, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of Mimes When it comes to mimes, (and clowns in general), we often see them portrayed in media with a sense of trepidation or even outright malice without any real explanation as to why. We tend to think of the mime in its French incarnation, with a monochromatic aesthetic a la […]

September 13, 2023

A (Very) Brief Look at the History of Performers People have always clamored for entertainment. Whether it be the rancorous singing of a crowded tavern or the elegant dance of a ballerina on stage, people long for the display of talent and skill that comes from those who have dedicated their lives to performance. There […]

September 6, 2023

A (Very) Brief History of Belly Dancing With a history that goes back thousands of years, belly dancing has seen a surge in popularity as a means of self-expression, body confidence, and entertainment. Its origins are traced to rural folk dancing in ancient Egypt (around 3100 BC), where these enticing shimmies and free-flowing movements were […]

August 23, 2023

For many Renaissance Festival enthusiasts, one of the first things to do every season is pick up a commemorative mug. Across the nation, these clay, stamped mugs have become synonymous with Ren Faires. But how does one come into existence? They are, after all, not an invention of the mass market, but instead a unique […]

August 16, 2023

Each season the Ohio Renaissance Festival searches far and wide to bring our guests untold merriment and adventure. Along with a myriad of musicians, singers, acrobats, and performers, our faire proudly brings out specialty entertainers like Birds of Prey, Cincinnati Barbarians, and the jousters of Combatant’s Keep. This year, we add an all-new experience to […]

August 9, 2023

As the Ohio Renaissance Festival draws new visitors from all over, we continue to explore deeper into the world of history and fantasy created for our guests. Each year brings fresh possibilities, encouraging the imagination of our hard-working staff members. We listen to your suggestions and ideas about how to make our festival even better, […]

August 2, 2023

The Story of Mirth and Whimsy Once upon a time in the 16th century, in a quiet and peaceful monastery tucked away in the hills of England, there lived a monk named Brother Ignatius. He was a hardworking man, but even the most devoted of souls can grow bored of the same routine day after […]

July 26, 2023

Each day at the Ohio Renaissance Festival offers a wide array of magic and wonder for the whole family to enjoy. It’s no wonder that we see guests from all over the place coming to experience the village of Willy-Nilly. With so much to see and do, it can be difficult to narrow down the […]