'We will have turkey legs': Topeka Renaissance Festival set for summer 2025

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Fairies, pirates, vikings and more will be visiting the Capital City next summer for the Topeka Renaissance Festival.

Angela Kearney is one of the organizers for this upcoming event in Topeka that will be in the same spirit as other renaissance celebrations around the country. She said the Topeka fair will mostly be the same as the Kansas City Renaissance Fair that happens in the fall each year.

"We're not going to be KC Ren Fest the first year, but we'll get there," Kearney said. "It's really the same concept."

Kearney said it is past time Topeka hosted its own renaissance festival. While not all details for the festival have been ironed out yet, the venue selected for it will be The Woodshed Event Center in north Topeka at 1901 North Kansas Avenue.

Organizers currently have the festival slated to run from June 20-22 in 2025. An entry fee of $10 per day, per person is being considered for those over the age of 13.

• 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, June 20.
• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 22.

"We want this to be an affordable event so that families can not only go but can go in and spend money on things," Kearney said. "We will have turkey legs."

Vendors will be set up in and around The Woodshed Event Center. The interior ballroom will be converted into a viking-themed area while the lounge will be turned into a pirate room.

"We don't expect this to just be a one-year thing," Kearney said.

Kearney and other organizers are optimistic this festival will become an annual event and that Topekans will embrace it. Details for the festival will be ironed out in the coming weeks in preparation for summer next year.

"It's a chance for all Topekans to have something to be proud of," Kearney said.

Kearney said an official announcement ceremony is currently set for the late morning or early afternoon of Oct. 20 at The Woodshed. Entertainers from the Kansas City Renaissance Festival are expected to attend to help make the announcement more memorable.

People can find updates for the Topeka Renaissance Festival by following it on Facebook. A website will be posted later to help inform people about what to expect next year.

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