Hanford Civic Park will transform into a bustling 16th century village this weekend for the Renaissance of Kings Cultural Arts Faire. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, is set in 1509 in the village of Hanfordshire.

Fairgoers will see sword-wielding knights in full body armor, nobles in regal attire, dancers, arts and crafts, juggling, cooking demonstrations, and a theatrical production of the marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon.

In addition to being the oldest continuously-running renaissance festival in California, Hanford's faire is also unique because it doesn't ask visitors to pay for parking or for the event itself, said Deidre Neal, volunteer coordinator of the event.

"We're the only faire in the Valley that doesn't charge the fees," she said.

Hired actors run the faire's activities and demonstrations. Each is a member of a "guild" with a specific skill-set.

One of the most popular guild demonstrations is the fighting presentation, where knights in full steel armor duel with swords. After the presentation, the actors invite children in the audience to dress in the armor, said co-coordinator Jesse Aragon.

Fairgoers can also arrange to have someone arrested, put into wooden stocks and doused with water.

Aragon said the actors interact with the spectators and that adds to the atmosphere of the faire.

"When you leave, I want you to feel like you've stepped back in time," Aragon said. "I want you to walk away from this faire with the experience that you've actually experienced it, not merely walked through it."

And you don't have to wear a costume to be included.

"Most of the people who come to the faire don't dress up," said Aragon. "They come because they want to experience the atmosphere of what we've done -- so by no means is a costume a requirement to attend."

But should you want to get in character a little bit, Neal said an easy and affordable costume for women could be a peasant shirt and skirt, which can be found in most thrift or department stores.

Aragon said that men could wear a pair of sweat pants and a simple shirt.

Clothing of the period will also be for sale at the faire's vendor booths. Other booths will sell jewelry, period weapons, leather goods and handmade soda in vintage bottles.

Food will be on sale as well, including turkey legs, meat pies, beer, Asian food and pizza.

(Oct. 2, 2009)