SHAKOPEE, Minn., (July 26, 2012) Welcome patrons to the 2012 Minnesota Renaissance Festival! This year we have added a number of exciting events and attractions to look forward to and make this our best season yet!

Get rewarded for supporting your favorite shoppes the first two weekends of the Festival, Aug. 18 & 19 and Aug. 25 & 26. Spend $250 at any of the artisan booths during Artisan Appreciation Weekends and receive a free admission ticket to return any remaining weekends of the Festival!

On opening weekend, Pet Fest returns and is featuring new Wiener Dog Races! Those little legs will be testing their speed and the fastest pups will win prizes so register your dachshund today!

For the first time ever, crafters, gardeners and fairy fans can submit a house in the Fairy House Competition! Create and share your unique fairy house at the Festival on Sept. 1-3 during the Silk Road Weekend. The cost is $15 per house and every patron that submits a fairy house will receive a free admission ticket. The top three houses for the adult and kids competition will be rewarded with prizes!

Do you enjoy a nice cold pint of beer? Join us for Oktoberfest and indulge in German culture on September 22 and 23. There will be German artisans, restaurants, musicians and fun Oktoberfest games such as Hammerschlagen, Bier Pong, Keg Toss, and more!

Playing chess may not be for all but come watch Human Combat Chess Matches this year at the Festival. Live entertainers will fight to the death right in front of your eyes until one is left standing as the victor. No longer only known to lost sailors, visitors to the festival can now see Live Mermaids up close! Watch as they dive, twirl, and swim majestically through the water. If youre lucky, they may share a piece of their magic with you.

All the ladies get a chance to sip and shop at the Ladies Shopping Day on Festival Friday, September 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets to the event include Festival admission, a free glass of wine, a gift bag and exclusive artisan discounts. After shopping, check out the new Princess Court where only the most beautiful and enchanted princesses will be available for greetings and pictures.

Calling all patrons who love to drink, in 2012 we welcome a Pub Crawl! For just $20, each participant gets a guided tour, three beers and a commemorative mug. And with two tours every day, there is no excuse to miss one. Join in on the trivia, sing-a-longs and games from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

After guzzling down some good beer, receive some medieval cooking tips from Alice the Cook! The Historic Cooking Demos inform guests about cooking techniques and Renaissance recipes during daily demonstrations. If you dont feel up to the task of making your own Renaissance meal, check out the Feast of Fantasy. In its 30th year anniversary were offering a brand new menu and new Featured Feasts!

This year the Renaissance Festival is offering a chance for a lucky patron to win a prize in the Photography Contest. Snap a shot of a great moment at the Festival and enter for your chance to win great prizes worth over $1,000!

The Festival is now partners with Sutter Home Wines and City of Hope to help fundraise for breast cancer research. Each glass of Sutter Home wine purchased will benefit City of Hope.

More information on the new events for 2012 and a full list of events and attractions can be found on the Festivals website.

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a first-class experience whose 42nd season begins on Saturday, August 18 and runs till September 30, 2012. The Festival is open weekends, Labor Day and a special day for schools and seniors on Festival Friday, Sept. 28th, 2012 open from 9 a.m. 7 p.m., rain or shine. The Festival is located three miles south of Shakopee on Hwy 169. Price of admission is $21.95 for adults; $12.95 for children 5 12; $19.95 for seniors; four and under is free; dogs $10.00 with registration. Discount tickets are sold at participating Walgreens, Menards, Whole Foods Market and Super America stores. Discount coupons are available at participating Subway and Dunn Brothers locations. For more information, visit www.renaissancefest.com or call 952-445-7361.

Laura McCormick

Marketing & Events Intern

marketing@renaissancefest.com

952-445-7361

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