ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (WCAX) – A vermont tradition is back, and not even the rain could keep people away from going to this yearly event.
People shopping, sword-fighting, and dressing up like their favorite medieval characters. The 8th Annual Vermont Summer Renaissance Faire is back, and this year it’s at the Champlain Valley Expo.
“I am a little bummed we weren’t outside. I was going to have a big pool to be in. Honestly, though, I think it was a really good move. I mean, this is so much bigger than I thought it was going to be this summer,” said faire-goer Macy Keith.
Macy Kieth has been going to the Renaissance Faire as a mermaid for the past three years. She says she wishes the rain hadn’t moved the Faire inside, but she’s glad it didn’t stop her and everyone else from having a good time.
“I mean you don’t have a lot of opportunity to do that in the real world right? Going out, going to work every day. I mean, where else can you come and be able to dress up and be in the magic and play pretend,” said Keith.
With the new location and the rain, organizers say they weren’t sure if they were going to be able to pull off the event. The Summer Renaissance usually takes place in Stowe, but with its current growth over the past few years, it needed a new venue.
The Faire has over 150 vendors, and expo officials say by noon there were already over 7,000 people at the event versus the 5,000 a day.
Vermont Gatherings said they didn’t think an inside event would be this big.
“Outdoors sure, we had about ten thousand people last summer in Stowe. On a weekend like this, moving it indoors last minute, trying to get the word out. Not knowing what the weather was going to be, this is pretty incredible,” said Jeff Fold of Vermont Gatherings.
And visitors say they are having a great time.
“I thought it was a great idea, I love to support the Vermont Renaissance Festival, Faire. I went when they were in Stowe, was looking forward to seeing the Essex representation,” said Diane Daniels from Colchester.
“Oh there is a lot more space, I think there are more vendors this year too. It’s just fun, I get to dress up, play pretend like I’m a little kid,” said Susan Atwood from Proctor.