Thou art most welcome! The 43rd annual KING RICHARD’S FAIRE, New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance festival will open on Saturday, August 31, 2024. Nestled on a beautiful 80-acre wooded site off Rt. 58 in Carver, MA, this enchanting event features tree-lined paths leading to a magical village ruled by King Richard XI, Queen Anne III, and their royal court. Visitors can enjoy a day filled with colorful performances by acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, fire-eaters, musicians, dancers, and puppeteers, all celebrating the spirit of the Renaissance.
King Richard’s Faire runs weekends and Monday holidays through October 20th. Faire hours are 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.
This season, King Richard’s Faire provides the region’s finest live entertainment with eight stages showcasing hundreds of performers from near and far. Visitors can enjoy a full day of shopping, tantalizing foods and drink, thrilling rides, and games, making it the perfect escape from everyday life. The excitement includes daily jousting tournaments where daring knights clash, and bawdy beggars compete in the Mud Pit. Dancing fairies frolic through the forest, children can take a ride on a real live unicorn and royal dogs perform tricks on stage. Throughout the village, friendly inhabitants guide guests into a whimsical world filled with engaging performers, puppets, pirates, pipers, and princesses. Unlike traditional stage shows or films, King Richard’s Faire offers a uniquely personal, immersive experience, creating an unparalleled day of live entertainment.
New Entertainment in 2024:
Broadway Style Musical Comedy
This annual favorite returns with a brand-new show, featuring the main cast of King Richard’s Faire’s characters. It is sure to delight young and old with comedic spoofs of songs we know and love. Stop by to see the King, Queen and their Court, as they dance their way out of this year’s precarious predicament and into some of the very best memories of the day!
The Rogue Piper– Aaron Lindo- Warwick, RI
Whether outside the front gate or around the Tournament field, this strapping piper provides a classic soundtrack to the festival day. With rogue-ish good looks and blaring talent you are sure to follow this piper anywhere. 2024 marks Arron’s debut at the helm of this musical masterpiece. Bagpipes.
Bards of Gungywamp– Jeff Butler- New London, CT
Jeff Butler takes the lead as this boisterous group supplies a strong beat that will course throughout the realm in 2024. The Bards of Gungywamp deliver the sound of another world and a time gone by. Music fans will revel in their rhythmic radiance which can feature anything from sea shanties to punk rock delivered in the form of Celtic chaos that is the Bards of Gungywamp. Violin, guitars, banjo, percussion, recorder/flutes.
Hey Nunnie Nunnie! – Dana McCain & Shannon O’Brien- NY (Weekends 1-5)
We confess!… Sister Philomenia Claire and Mother Redempta will have audiences coming back for more in 2024. This “Sister” act has been traveling worldwide for more than 30 years and easily blends their musical talents with side splitting comedy. These two nonsense filled nuns make laughter a religious movement that you’ll pray never ends!
Thunder ’s POWER Show– Etienne McGinley- WA
As a student of the Ringling Brothers Clown College and Ecole Internationale du Theatre Jacques Lecoq, this performer learned what it means to entertain. With powerful witty banter and stunts featuring flaming torches, battle axes, or balancing high atop tubes of death, this show will leave you in awe. When life’s choices lead you to the King’s Stage the suspense will be real, as you watch Thunder make a trampoline out of the line between bravery and lunacy.
El Zappo- John Lepiarz- NJ
Time tested and audience approved this veteran of performance will show you what it means to be entertained. El Zappo leads you through an experience complete with wacky noises, belly laughs, and performative skills that have been perfected over the course of his long and incredible career. The real-life father of TikTok sensation Jacques Ze Whippeur, El Zappo will showcase the whipping skills that were his son’s inspiration, along with other impressive classic sideshow skills like knife throwing. This season catch him on the Queen’s Stage.
Cirque Us– Charles Keidel, Brandon Beall, Clara Duffy- Boston/ Southshore Canton, MA
Contortion, aerial grace, and acrobatic excellence await all who come to the Faire. With modern twists on classic stunts you’ll see a wide array of cultivated skills that have been masterfully perfected. With over 50 years of circus skills combined, this show has something for everyone. Whether it’s balancing upside down or flying high in the canopy of the trees, the wonder of the circus will take center stage as this trio showcase their impressive works in Cirque Us.
Leaping Leopard- Brian Koenig- Canton, MA (Weekend 1)
A leopard never changes its spots, and this performer never disappoints. Families will be leaping with joy after watching this show. Juggling, slack rope walking and feats of silly combined with high energy enthusiasm for the dangerous. Make sure to catch this leopard before he escapes. Opening weekend only!
Loud Mime– Will Flederman- New Orleans, LA (Weekends 5-8)
Shout it from the rooftops the Loud Mime will be at King Richard’s Faire the last 3 weekends of the 2024 season. Coming all the way from New Orleans, LA this performer screams talent. With a less than subtle sarcasm and a skill set that cannot be contained inside a box, Will’s mime persona is vibrant, flamboyant, and loud. There’s no escaping it, he’s one you’ll be talking about for a long time!
Returning Favorites in 2024:
Hanlon Lees Action Theater – Jousting Knights and Steeds- OK
Catch these talented horsemen…and women, three times daily on the Tournament Field. Each performance allows the audience to witness epic battles complete with sword fights and four magnificent horses. Revel in your adrenaline rush as you watch these brave knights compete to become the King’s Champion.
Muttville Comix – Jonny Peers- FL
These high energy canines will have you captivated with their agility. Jonny …and his Peers will leave you with your tail wagging and mouth agape, applauding their tricks of the trade with absolute pleasure!
Washing Well Wenches – Emily Asbury & Stephanie Ward- NY
Wet, dirty women…Good, clean FUN! These two laundresses of the realm will have you rolling in the aisles as they give away prizes of love. If you like men, beer, and laughing… or all of the above, these gals are for you! Hysterical comedy is the stain on the shirt that these wacky wenches wear with pride!
The Mud Show – Sturdy Beggars- NY, TX
The “Greatest Show in Earth” is back to make you laugh. A favorite of more than 40 years… these guys will do anything for a buck, and you’ll be begging to see them do it. Comedy is a competition for these guys, and both aim to prove neither one is a stick in the mud!
Unicycling Unicorn –Jamey Mossengren- CA (Weekends 2-8)
This show climbs into the absurd while showcasing tom foolery. It’s the ultimate, “look Ma no hands”- 14 feet in the air, riding on a unicorn, juggling knives. Laughs, followed by applause, followed by more laughs and ultimately amazement. Unicorns are a rare find and so is this show!
Miracle Fish Puppet Theater – Vinny Lovegrove- Marion, MA
Vinny and his larger-than-life sized magical puppets return to King Richard’s Faire once again this fall. Visitors can expect to see puppets whose attributes are quirky, approachable, and something to love. Much like the man himself. Vinny met his wife Cynthia, an artisan, while working at the festival and they continue to bring joy to so many with their talents each Fall.
Hammlyn Hyper Piper – Jack Garvey- Newbury, MA
Jack’s quick-witted comments and ferociously fast pipe playing make it easy to understand why they call him the hyper piper. He hails from Newbury, MA and is a familiar face in the lanes of the Faire, popping up here and there as you go about the day.
Mystickals – Varied artists- MA, RI
Tree creatures, elves, faeries and all things mythical. These artists create a web of wishes for all to join in on. With colorful yarn they weave good intentions into the universe and our realm.
EPICUREAN DELIGHTS: In between the magical entertainment and shopping, guests can feast like royalty on two-pound spit-roasted turkey legs, succulent ears of corn, dragon wings, boules of chowder or stew, ringlets of fryes, giant onion blossoms, and many more delicacies. The King’s Cook enjoys providing gluten-free, vegetarian and lactose-free options for those who require it. Thirst may be quenched with champagne, specialty cocktails, wine, hard cider, mead, or beer at many locations throughout the realm. For those princes or princesses with a sweet tooth, the kitchens offer delectable cakes, cookies, baked apple desserts, a variety of ice creamy concoctions, and many other sweet treats.
THE GAMING GLEN IS OPEN! Test thy strength, skill and stomach on any of 18 glorious and exciting rides and games in our Gaming Glen. Throw an authentic axe or knife, shoot an arrow like a brave hunter, test thy strength on the Giant Stryker and ring a bell on Jacob’s ladder, or simply enjoy the breeze on our man-powered Hurlinator, Pirate Ships, Flying Gryffin. Play hide and seek in M’Lady’s Shady Maze or conquer your foe on the Dragon Joust… and in the magical Gaming Glen, heroic winners are rewarded with prizes and lauded publicly!
HANDCRAFTED WARES FROM ARTISANS NEAR AND FAR: Our talented artisans create one-of-a-kind treasures. Discover beautiful handspun pottery, sparkling crystals and jewelry, artistic face painting, Renaissance-style hair adornments including metal wraps to weave in thy braids and floral garland wreaths to place on thy head. Delight in period clothing, leather and moccasins, armor, dancing wings, and musical instruments of all kinds. Watch as our blacksmiths demonstrate the forging of weaponry and revel in handmade scented oils, perfumes and apothecary goods. Lastly, psychic readers are ready to forecast your future. These talented artisans help make memories that you can take home, and that last long after the final drum jam.
MUSICIANS AND MERRIMENT: Stroll between stages and shoppes and there’s magical moments unscripted at every turn. The Faire’s cast of roving musicians, Villagers and other clever characters may interact with guests, pose for pictures, and make memories that last a lifetime. Sometimes magic is performed on stage and sometimes it just appears while you are eating a giant turkey leg or in line buying a brew.
TICKETS/TIPS: Guests are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets online at kingrichardsfaire.net, so they may choose and secure the date of their visit. When purchasing tickets online, print out tickets or download on your mobile device. Note: pet animals are not allowed unless they are legally identified service animals, and no outside food or beverages are allowed into the Fairgrounds. Cosplayers and costumes are welcome! See our website for more FAQs and details.
And to celebrate the 43rd season of King Richard’s Faire, we’re giving away six pairs of tickets for Forces of Geek readers!
To enter, send an email with the subject header “KING RICHARD” to geekcontest @ gmail dot com and answer the following question:
Where in Massachusetts is King Richard’s Faire located?
Please include your name and email address (New England area only. Contest does not include travel or lodging. You must be 18 years old).
Only one entry per person and a winner will be chosen at random.
Contest ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 6th, 024
