FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

One Final Weekend of Celebration Left at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival

SHAKOPEE, Minn., (August 1, 2014) Hear ye, hear ye, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is entering its final 2014 weekend! This September 27 & 28, travel back in time as you step into the beautifully wooded, 16^th century village. Stroll through the 250 artisan shops for unique crafts and goods as well as experience daily jousts, the royal court, 16 stages of entertainment, and food fit for a king!

The final theme weekend of the year, Shamrocks and Shenanigans, is sure to bring out your Irish spirit! Be transported to Ireland by visiting the Irish Village with artisans inspired by the isles. Then kick up your heels to do an Irish jig! Performing authentic Irish Dances daily, see Green Fire Dancers at 12:00 and 3:30 p.m. on the Shepherds Green Stage and the St. Paul Irish Dancers at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on the Pavilion Stage.

Need a break from the festivities? Enjoy guided Free Guinness Beer Tastings on the Pavilion Stage at 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Or cheer loud for your favorite contestant in our Kilt Competition and enjoy the unique traditional dress on the Special Events Field Stage at 1:00 p.m. Looking to show off your strength, join in our Keg Toss competition! The individuals with the longest throws of an empty keg win great prizes from the Festival.

Celebrate Shakespeares 450^th Birthday! Join us on the Pavilion at 2:00 p.m. for free cake and merriment in honor of one of the Renaissances greatest minds. At the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, we are honored to have some of the top talent in the country take to our stages and streets, including many acts with Shakespearean influence. See performances from SkyVault Theatre and Merely Players on the Witchwood and Pavilion Stages for scenes from the Bards most famous plays, or catch Zilch the Torystellers production of Romeo and Juliet at his 3:00 p.m. show on Treetop Stage. Think you dont know much about Shakespeare? Let Hangin with the Bard use the game of hangman to reveal common phrases that we still use today that originated within the lines of Shakespeares greatest plays.

In addition to our special theme weekend events, stop by this final weekend to enjoy all of our new experiences and attractions at the Festival. Children young and old will delight in the magical Fairy Wing Forest, with its twisting paths of magical fairy houses and, if youre lucky, you might just meet a fairy or two! And dont forget about the live mermaids! Watch as Captain Maxwell Drake recounts his tales of finding the beautiful Mermaid Ambrosia during daily appearances in the Mermaid Cove. If youre lucky, she may even share a piece of her magic with you.

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival 44^th season begins on Saturday, August 16 and ends on September 28, 2014. The Festival is open weekends; Labor Day and Festival Friday, September 26, 2014 open from 9 a.m. 7 p.m., rain or shine. The Festival is located seven miles south of Shakopee on Hwy 169. Festival patrons can enjoy 16 stages of live entertainment, 250 artisan vendors and 7 theme weekends, full combat jousting and food fit for a king. Admission at the gate: Adults $22.95; Children 5 12 $13.95; seniors $20.95; four and under are free! Discount tickets are available at participating Menards, Super America, Whole Foods and Walgreens. Coupons towards admission are available at participating Subway and Papa Murphys locations. Visit www.renaissancefest.com or call 952.445.7361 for more information.