By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
The Whitehead Memorial Museum, 1308 S Main St., will host the second annual Del Rio
Renaissance Faire for two days starting Saturday.
Nathan Rey Villarreal Sanchez, event organizer, said the Renaissance Faire celebrates
aesthetics and styles from the eras of the 1500s to the 1700s. Sanchez put the event together in
2025 based on his experiences visiting renaissance-themed events in other towns.
The festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 12,
from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sanchez said both days will have the same activities and vendors
attending.
During last year’s Renaissance Faire, people came dressed in period-piece outfits depicting
various characters, including Vikings, knights, even fairy-tale creatures such as witches and
elves.
Sanchez mentioned how one of the biggest things happening at this year’s Renaissance Faire
is the new steel combat event. The Austin Blood Guard, a live steel combat team from Austin,
will put on performances using full steel armor and full steel swords.
Sanchez said the other groups performing at the event include a local belly-dancing group, and
area resident Myles Kent Jakubowski will also be returning with presentations on the history of
spinning thread.
A costume and beard contest will also be held on Saturday and Sunday. Sanchez said the
costume contest judges will grade renaissance attire worn by entrants. The beard contest
judges will grade entrants based on the length and grooming of their beards.
Sanchez said there will be 20 vendors, both new and returning, and all of them will be
celebrating styles and themes of the European Renaissance time periods. The vendors will be
selling various clothing, merchandise and foods, including turkey legs, barbecue and beer.
Family games will also be provided, including foam archery.
Sanchez encourages people to attend the Whitehead in costume, adding that the event will
have “a lot of family-friendly stuff.” Sanchez said he is looking forward to bringing the
Renaissance Faire back to the Del Rio community.
