The inaugural Chico Renaissance and Fantasy Faire, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Patrick Ranch Museum, will also highlight fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, steampunk and more, according to event organizer Samantha Zangrilli.
“Anything that your wonderful minds can come up with,” Zangrilli said. “We’re not restricting ourselves to one period.”
At the same time the fair is going broad on theme, it is taking a hyperlocal approach.
The event features more than 200 performers, vendors and organizations entirely from Butte County and the surrounding North State region.
For Zangrilli, this aspect was extremely important. She wants attendees to leave having contributed to their own community and discovered more local talent.
“I hope people get a sense of place and home,” said Zangrilli, who is also the creator of Your Local Marketplace and the nonprofit Sound Source.
“Community to me is what is right outside your door,” Zangrilli explained. “Who is your neighbor? What are the small businesses that are close to you, and how can you better support them?”
Zangrilli promises activities for everyone that accomplish this while meeting expectations of a typical so-called “Renfair.”
There will be blacksmithing demonstrations by The Blacksmith Guild, a drag show titled “Dungeons, Dragons, and Drag” and, of course, turkey legs by NorthCal Grill.
“So many cool people have so many things to share, so hosting a Renaissance fair just gives them that access point and that safe space to be and express who they want to be,” Zangrilli said.
Accessibility was another major priority for the event organizers.
Zangrilli said she and her team worked to create a space that is safe, inclusive and affordable. The event will be free and will offer craft activities at no-cost to attendees. These include dragon decorating with Chico Creative Reuse and flower crown making with DeDe Jackson from Studio Milan.
The push to keep the event low-cost is more than just words. Zangrilli said she made all her decorations from repurposed or recycled materials.
“I have been collecting toilet paper rolls for almost over a year now to make bunting flags out of,” Zangrilli said. “I saw it on Instagram, got really inspired and now I have probably 1,000 toilet paper rolls.”
Here’s what else to expect for the Chico Renaissance and Fantasy Faire:
- When and where? 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Patrick Ranch Museum.
Here's a schedule of activities
All ages welcome
- Costumes. Patrons are encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters or use their creative minds. There will be a costume contest.
Donations. Proceeds from cider, mead, and beer will support Sound Source, a nonprofit that puts on free and low-cost concerts in Chico.
- Transportation. Guests are encouraged to ride their bikes or carpool, as there is a small parking fee for groups of fewer than four people.
