dpWith temperatures soaring into the mid-90s, it would be a miserable time to be a knight in shining armor or a costumed Renaissance reenactor sweating in the Florida sun.
That’s why husband-and-wife team Adam DeLancett and Whitney Hayes dreamt up their own indoor Renaissance fair, the Magik and Mythk Festival, which returns to Osceola Heritage Park this weekend for its second year. The event, which kicks off at 11 a.m. Saturday, utilizes 56,000 square feet of indoor space to host more than 200 vendors, sword-fighting, costume contests, live musicians, mermaids, fairies and photo ops.
The event gives Renaissance fair fans a chance to get dressed up and experience the magic of a festival without suffering in the summer heat.
“Unfortunately, in the very hot and humid state of Florida, 12 shows happen in January and the rest of the year nothing is going on,” said DeLancett, who owns Winter Park-based oddities shop Prometheus Esoterica with his wife. “People invest a lot of money into these kits and outfits, the armor and costumes and dresses. We wanted to give folks an opportunity to be able to wear those things or maybe even wear things that they’d never tried to wear outdoors in Florida.”
Guests who dress for the occasion will have a chance to compete in the costume contest broken up into categories: historical, fantasy and group costumes. Each segment accepts 20 entries per category (first come, first served) and carries a $100 cash prize, except the children’s contest where everyone gets a prize.
Throughout the day, visitors can see Birds and Exotics of the World, Pirates Dinner Adventure, Wild Garden Bellydance, MacSilver’s Irish Pirates and, finally, the costume contest on the main stage. Interactive experiences include a fairy garden meet-and-greet, a mermaid encounter, a dragon encounter and a live owl photo op.
The show’s exhibitors will also have a wide variety of items to browse and buy.
“We’ve got over 200 vendors with a great variety of tabletop game stuff, handmade leather goods, costume accessories, a lot of local artists, potters, beekeepers with artisan honey and a great selection of all different kinds of grassroots stuff,” DeLancett said.
The festival also features two clubs showcasing combat and storytelling: Crossroad Swords, which demonstrates Medieval fencing and armored sword combat, and Mythic Adventures Live Action Role Playing (LARP).
In the food and beverage category, visitors can enjoy turkey legs and adults of drinking age can explore locally brewed ales from Mythk Brewing and mead from Zymarium Meadery.
While working with an indoor environment presents a different kind of ambiance, DeLancett said the show’s participants make the most of it.
“I can’t bring the trees inside, but I think we’ve done a pretty good job of bringing the spirit of what the Renaissance festival is about into an air-conditioned place where you’re not going to die of heat stroke,” he said. “It’s really nice when you hear the room full of people, especially when they start showing up in costume. It really adds to it.”
The event aims to provide something for visitors of all ages and interests.
“We want to make it an accessible, affordable event for families and the community,” DeLancett said. “As our millennial Lord of the Rings and Magic: The Gathering fans age into parenthood, we wanted to make sure that this was something that people could do to bring their kids to immerse them into that world, to connect with them and also not really break the bank.”
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If you go
The Magik and Mythk Festival is from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 22 at 1901 Chief Osceola Trail in Kissimmee. Tickets are $16 per adult (before fees); children ages 13 and younger enter for free. On-site parking is $15. The event allows props but prohibits real weapons. Pets are not allowed, except registered service animals. More information: ohpark.com
