I can't help it. I LOVE the RenFest.\n\nToday was my third time there. I took my 12-yo son and a friend of his, and we met up with a friend and her son. We sent the boys off with some spending money and had a great day shopping and window-shopping. For lunch, we had fish & shrimp (me) and a turkey bone (her). The prices are still very reasonable. A bottle of water is just $2. For comparison, last time I bought a bottle of water was at a Harkin's and it was $6.\n\nEveryone at the RenFest is so nice, including visitors. We squeezed in with strangers at a shaded lunch table, chatted with the vendors, I flirted with a cute elf boy (hey, he let me play with his ears), and we watched all costumed performers and visitors. I wanted to get something different for my BF and found a cool, twisty candlestick holder at the blacksmith's. I treated myself to a bar of handmade soap and honey straws.\n\nWe found the boys not once, but twice, watching the tomato-throwing and we all learned some new insults. We could have bought a few, but these were freely shouted out.\n\nYeah, it's a little hot (I usually go on the last weekend when it can be really hot there) and it's dusty but it's just so much fun looking at all the medieval enthusiasts roaming around, drinking good beer (Guinness) for just $4, and some really amazing artisans. We were told to expect large crowds as it was King's (Presidents) Day and there were all these discounts, which we used. It didn't feel very crowded, though, probably because it's such a huge venue and like I said before, it's just such a friendly event. Even the ninjas were nice.