RenFest Brings Entertainment and Artisans to Town

By Misty Cryer

Stepping through the gates, Cavern City Renaissance Festival visitors truly leave the modern world behind and walk through history, experiencing the adventure and wonder that the event brings to life. From armored combat to wizardry, the festival offers original entertainment, bountiful food and drink, and the opportunity to shop with unique vendors and artisans.

The fourth annual festival returns to the beach area of Carlsbad on Friday and Saturday, September 26 -27. The hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

The festival will feature both known and new entertainers and vendors in its fourth year in Carlsbad. Introducing the newest things this year, Shay Gregory, founder of Cavern City Renaissance Festival, said, “We added a lot of roaming people.”

New performers include a guy who will be walking around playing flute instruments, a one-man band, and an acrobat. “She is planning to bring a 15-foot A-frame,” he said about the acrobat, explaining that she will use the frame to perform twirls and aerial acrobatics.

Shannon Newton, the artist, performer, and author who previously presented the fire show, will be performing at the festival. She provided information about her new show, “Wheel of ShannonOgons,” an interactive performance where six audience members will compete on stage using “the giant wheel made of glitter, foil, rhinestones, and destiny.” She also plans to launch her newest business, ShannonOgon’s Snail Rides, at the event, where she will host tours of the festival.

“We are bringing in some new vendors,” said Gregory. “Last year, we had about 85. This year, we have 100. It keeps getting bigger and better,” he said.

Food and beverage vendors will offer a diverse selection of options. “We were able to bring meat pies this year, so that’s going to be super exciting,” Gregory said. “This year, we have a Cajun vendor that will be selling crab legs, lobster, and things like that,” he said.

According to Gregory, other choices include turkey legs, meat on a stick, wood fire pizza, pretzels, ice cream, lemonade, shaved ice, and popcorn, along with beverages provided by meaderies, breweries, and wineries. The 2025 Festival Mug, hand-crafted by The Painted Pony, will also be available at the festival while supplies last.

Newcomers to the artisan market include a map vendor and a blacksmith. About the map vendor, Gregory said, “He is going to be selling hand-crafted maps of the area: New Mexico and Carlsbad.” About the blacksmith, he said, “He will be there with a forge and an anvil, crafting swords for us.

“We have a new costume contest this year,” Gregory added. “It’s going to be fun.”

The Society for Creative Anachronism plans to have a larger village this year. “I think they said they want to increase the size by at least 20-30%,” he said.

The Medieval Recreation Village is put on by the Society for Creative Anachronism. “They basically are a group of craftsmen and individuals who like to recreate how life was in the 1400s and 1500s,” Gregory said. In that section, he said visitors will see them cooking chicken on a roast, or milling grain into bread, and things like that.

At the Pirate Stage, Gregory said there will be shows all day on both days of the festival. “You can actually have pictures with the mermaids. They have pirate groups there talking and hanging out,” he said, adding that the aerial acrobat will also be in that area.

The Main Stage will have seating and feature entertainment on both days, according to Gregory. The Fighting Arena will feature armored combat fights throughout the festival, approximately every hour on the hour, with the last fight scheduled to start around 6 p.m. on Saturday, he said, adding that the schedule will be posted at the arena.

“We’ll be having about 40 fighters. They will be coming from Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico,” said Gregory.

He said that people who enjoy martial arts will enjoy the fights, and that there will be live music and entertainment. Additionally, he noted that kids always have a good time watching the fights, as well as the mermaids and the pirates. “There really is something for everyone at the festival; I truly believe that,” he said.

Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting the website: https://caverncityrenfest.com. Tickets are $20 each day for adults. Entry will be $10 on Saturday for ages 5-17. On Friday, admittance is free for anyone under the age of 18.