Tourists dressed in medieval garb are eagerly heading to southeast New Brunswick this weekend for the inaugural Shediac Renaissance Faire. Both days of the event are completely sold out, and local accommodations, as well as campgrounds, are fully booked. Andrew Barriault, hailing from just outside Corner Brook, N.L., is making the journey to Shediac for the festival. Despite securing a resale ticket due to the event’s popularity, he is still without lodging. Barriault mentioned that accommodations in the town are scarce, humorously contemplating the possibility of sleeping in his car in costume, drawing a parallel to sleeping outdoors in medieval times.
The Shediac Renaissance Faire, held for the first time at the Neptune Drive-in, is a two-day festival featuring a variety of attractions including a vendor marketplace, live entertainment, live-action role-playing, hourly workshops, and more. Sébastien Després, the festival’s organizer from Shediac Wonderland, revealed that the response to the event has been overwhelming with a significant number of inquiries for additional tickets after selling out. Després expressed surprise at the immense interest in the faire, underscoring that the event has surpassed their initial expectations.
The concept for the Renaissance Faire originated during discussions about enhancing the weekend offerings at Bazar Neptune. The idea quickly evolved into a full-fledged Renaissance Faire, generating an unprecedented level of interest upon its announcement. Després noted that approximately two-thirds of the attendees are from out of town, emphasizing the event’s regional draw.
Després strategically scheduled the festival between le Quinzou and Dieppe’s YQM Country Fest to maintain tourism momentum in Shediac. He expressed confidence in the town’s capacity to accommodate the influx of visitors, citing the success of previous large-scale events like the Shediac Lobster Festival. Michel Mallet, park manager at Parlee Beach Provincial Park, highlighted the collaboration between the park and Shediac Wonderland to host evening events and provide parking for the festival. With nearly 6,000 tickets sold, parking availability was identified as a critical factor, which the park is equipped to handle.
As excitement builds for the Shediac Renaissance Faire, attendees like Barriault are gearing up for the event, anticipating a weekend of camaraderie and shared interests. Barriault emphasized the growing acceptance of diverse hobbies and communities, acknowledging the opportunity for individuals to embrace their passions openly without judgment.
Image captions: The team at the Shediac Renaissance Faire prepares for the sold-out festival (Submitted by Sébastien Després), Social media inquiries for tickets to the Shediac Renaissance Festival (CBC), Andrew Barriault, a participant in medieval attire, eagerly anticipates the Shediac Renaissance Faire (Submitted by Andrew Barriault).