Black Hills Renaissance Fair draws crowds for weekend of medieval entertainment

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -Thousands of visitors attended the Black Hills Renaissance Fair this Saturday for an event featuring knights, live music, vendors, and medieval-themed entertainment.

The fair is being held at Kickstands Campground. Attendees can watch live demonstrations, including forging and blade work, as well as jousting and stage shows. Vendors selling hand-crafted goods and costumed performers are also part of the event.

Shareece Tatum, founder of the Black Hills Renaissance Festival, said the event provides significant income for local artists and small businesses.

“I know as a fact that our event is their biggest event, and a lot of times it’s a good chunk of their income for the year, so it’s really important that we keep going no matter what happens — if it’s rain or not — because it’s helping local artisans and the community thrive,” Tatum said.

Tatum said the appeal of the fair goes beyond the scheduled programming.

“I think it’s a lot about having fun, and living magic for a little bit,” Tatum said. “Just for two days, you get to feel like you stepped into a magical world, and live your favorite fantasy movie, and just have a good time.”

The Black Hills Renaissance Fair runs through Sunday, June 28. Visitors who did not attend on Saturday can still catch the event at Kickstands Campground.

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