Renaissance faires in Nebraska

Nebraska's longest-running renaissance event is the Nebraska Renaissance Faire, established in 2003 in Ashland and described by RenFest.org as "the longest running weekend Renaissance festival in Nebraska"; it was formerly held at Bellevue Berry Farm and River City Star Landing and is now based in Elkhorn. A family farm anchors much of the state's scene: Bellevue Berry Farm, owned by the Schaefer family, which notes it has operated as a pick-your-own berry and pumpkin ranch for 30 years and is marking 43 years at its current location. The farm hosts the Renaissance Festival of Nebraska over the first three full weekends in May and the Midwest Pirate Fest in August, events it says "have grown into the biggest of its kind in the Omaha Metro area." The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska features six performing stages with equestrian jousting, costumed characters, and artisans, and runs each of its weekends as a separately themed adventure; it has been billed in the Omaha press as "Nebraska's Largest Renaissance Festival." The season here skews to spring, with the Elkhorn faire typically running in April and the Papillion festival filling May weekends. The state's festival calendar also has a Celtic wing: Greeley's annual Irish heritage celebration is held on the third Saturday in September — halfway to St. Patrick's Day — and features Celtic music performed by national and international musicians.

Sources: RenFest.org — Nebraska Renaissance Faire · Bellevue Berry Farm — How It All Started · The Reader — The Renaissance Festival of Nebraska at Bellevue Berry Farm · Strictly Business Omaha — Nebraska's Largest Renaissance Festival · Nebraska Public Media — Half-Way to St. Pat's