Mountain Kingdom Renaissance Festival???

Area News Last Updated: Apr 14th, 2005 - 23:16:23
Mountain Kingdom Renaissance Festival set to open here April 16

Apr 7, 2005, 19:41

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Joyce Bennett looks out over the construction site of her Mountain Kingdom Renaissance Festival along U Highway southeast of Mansfield.
A Mansfield's woman's dream of creating a Renaissance Fair is beginning to take shape on the rolling hills southeast of town.

Joyce Bennett is building a fairy tale realm of kings and queens and jousting knights - an idea that she has been pursuing for almost three years - on a 30-acre plot along U Highway.

It will be called Mountain Kingdom Renaissance Festival

"I have around 120 performers and 34 vendors coming," she said. "There will be artwork of jewelry, leatherwork, all type of artisans

The opening has been set for April 16, and we will be open 12 weekends this year. Theme for the first weekend will be Henry VII.

"I'm getting calls from all over the world," she said. "It's going to be fun."

She attended her first Renaissance festival about four years ago, and saw an opportunity to bring a similar experience to the Ozarks.

Eventually, the fairgrounds will include a combat ring for jousting and other demonstrations, a large stage and amphitheater, booths, fountains, and other features. Her long range plans include a castle with rooms to rent to guests.

She is putting in a large kitchen where the cooking will be done. The menu will include Turkey drum sticks, chicken strips, corn on the cob, huge pickles and soups.

"I've been advertising on TV, including the Oprah Winfrey Show which reaches over 500,000 people a night."

She said most of these types of events have only portable toilets, but she is putting in flush bathrooms.

She said a friend is working on several story lines for the fair, with will help guide scripted events each season.

Bennett is banking on the proximity of the Springfield and Branson markets as an advantage to be able to draw from these areas.

"I'm still looking for performers, vendors and volunteers," she said.

Bennett owns a secured storage facility and other real estate in the Mansfield area. She sold an insurance company last year, and that is helping providing the funds for the fair's construction.

Dates are weekends April 16 through May 8, weekends August 6 through 28, and weekends October 22 through 30.

Also planned is "A Celtic Christmas" the weekends November 5 through 13.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

Admission is $12 for adults;; $6 for children 11-17, and 11 and under free.

It will open rain or shine.

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