Jules Schrader will return as Queen Elizabeth to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
Michael Ulrich
Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Celebrates 45 Years of Joy, Tradition, and Community
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Asia Tabb
Michael Ulrich
Jules Schrader will return as Queen Elizabeth to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
AIRED; October 22, 2025
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After 45 years of jousts, jesters, and joyful reunions, the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is celebrating more than just a milestone — it’s celebrating community, creativity, and an enduring sense of fun.
“What stands out to me the most is the enduring joy that comes from the fair,” said Candace Smith, who has been part of the event for 32 years. “So many people come and just fall in love with it, and they come back and they come back, and it becomes an annual tradition.”
Smith said one of the best parts of her job is hearing from first-time visitors who write back to say how much they enjoyed the experience — and that they plan to return next year.
That lasting connection is part of what drew Smith to the fair in the first place. “I was a season pass holder and genuinely loved the fair,” she said. “I saw a tiny little ad in the paper that they needed someone to work in the box office… so I thought, hey, why not?”
Three decades later, Smith has done nearly every job imaginable — from ticket sales to operations director. “It is never boring,” she said. “We’re always trying to grow and learn. I’ve been able to learn so much about the business, and it’s really kept me engaged all these years.”
For those who’ve never been, Smith describes the atmosphere as “a playground in your own backyard.” “It’s a place where people can go and be themselves,” she said. “Years ago, it was strictly Renaissance-era costumes. Now you see Comic-Con and anime — you name it. It’s fun, and it’s very welcoming.”
The fair offers everything from live jousting and music to falconry, magic, and aerial performances. “It’s very interactive,” Smith said. “The cast of characters on the Shire streets will interact with you, no matter what you’re wearing — they’ll find a way to make it part of their world.”
Over the years, the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire has grown both in size and sophistication. “We laugh about when we made the leap from being a porta-potty fair to having our own flush toilets,” Smith joked. “That was a big deal for us!”
She said the fair continues to evolve, with constant improvements to its stages, grounds, and infrastructure — including a major rebuild of the joust dais, the large stage used for the fair’s climactic jousting tournaments.
Despite those upgrades, Smith said the spirit of the event has stayed the same. “The consistency is that we want to entertain people,” she said. “We try not to lose that high-touch interaction with our guests. Once you step on the Shire, get ready to be immersed. It’s playful, it’s engaging, and it’s for everyone.”
This 45th anniversary season was especially meaningful, with sold-out weekends and an influx of new visitors curious about how the fair has managed to endure for nearly half a century. “People want to know what we’re doing that’s kept us going for 45 years,” Smith said. “And for our longtime guests, it’s about coming back to celebrate what they already know — that it’s just a fun event every year.”
The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire continues to welcome visitors of all ages each fall
