By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
More than 800 people attended the first Del Rio Renaissance festival during the weekend at the
Whitehead Memorial Museum.
The Del Rio Renaissance Faire was a two-day event on Saturday, Oct. 12, and Sunday, Oct.
the Del Rio Renaissance Faire on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Whitehead Memorial Museum.
Jakubowski held presentations at the fair, talking about the history of spinning wheels and the
different fibers people used for spinning throughout the years. (Photo by Louis Zylka)
13. Guests were invited to dress in costumes and enjoy festive activities in the style of the
European renaissance time periods from the 1500s – 1800s.
The fair was put together by Nathan Villarreal, Haven Mancha, Marcus Costilla and
Kasandra Alfaro. Villarreal said his team had an amazing turnout because of the volunteers and
vendors who attended and helped.
“(The fair) was obviously a risk – the first Del Rio Renaissance Faire, but I think we hit it right,”
Villarreal said.
The fair took place inside the open area of the Whitehead Museum, which helped give the
feeling and atmosphere of a Renaissance-themed festival.
Tickets were sold at the front gate for people to play games held around the fair. The various
games and activities included dunking the jester, tossing gold rings and fishing toy ducks. A
small castle jump was also set up for jousting with toy swords.
Rio Renaissance Faire on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Whitehead Memorial Museum. Nathan
Villarreal, event organizer, said he wanted to bring a version of a Renaissance fair to Del Rio,
adding, “Del Rio could use another amazing event.” (Photo by Louis Zylka)
The majority of attendees were dressed in medieval attire and/or fantasy-styled costumes.
Adrian Garcia, a volunteer at the fair, dressed as a king and said the festival was
“something new for Del Rio to have.”
Throughout the two days, classical and Celtic music played around the fair grounds, and a
knighting ceremony was held on the opening day to honor and “knight” the sponsors of the
event.
Other workshops and activities at the fair included presentations on the history of spinning
wheels by a local wood worker, Myles Kent Jakubowski, from Wood Troll Studios. A costume
and beard contest was also held on Saturday and Sunday.
The Upstagers’ theater group also performed a rehearsal scene from their production,
“Barbecuing Hamlet.” Gloria Culpepper, president of the Upstagers, said the cast of the play had
fun participating at the fair.
Vendors from out of town were also at the fair. Scott Rector and Lauren Rector traveled from
Austin, Texas, to sell and weld custom-made jewelry, and Santos Polendo traveled from Eagle
Pass, Texas, to bring his booth, Night Owls Artwork & Studio, for people to make arts and crafts.
