By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@thecitizennews.com

Hark, do you hear a fanfare in the distance?

It is likely the announcement of the 15th annual Georgia Renaissance Festival. The festival, usually a twice-a-year event, will come to the hallowed grounds in Fairburn only once this year, beginning this weekend.

Some would say that if you had seen one Renaissance Festival you had seen them all, but this year's event promises to have several exciting changes. Everybody's favorite troll, Ik, will host a game show called “Who Wants to be a Trollionaire?” The Happy Tragidions will perform a 30-minute satirical version of Shakespeare's MacBeth, and there will be a non-denominational service each Sunday morning.

Of course, all of your favorites will return. The Great Cats of the World show brings exotic cats live on stage without a cage, and Ded Bob will amaze audiences with his unique brand of wit and bob-matization. There also will be a vast array of village characters, jousters, minstrels, kissing wenches, magicians and several acrobatic and comedic acts. The Georgia Renaissance Festival also is chock full of great food, arts and crafts, and games that challenge one's mind as well as one's strength.

Each weekend also will have a special theme. April 29 and 30 is the grand opening weekend with special performances by the Wise Guys comedy troupe. May 6 and 7 will offer a romance weekend, filled with kissing contests, romantic musicians to serenade guests, the Village Old Maid dating game, chivalry lessons and a real wedding each day. May 13 and 14 will be Mother's Day weekend and will offer a special “Moms-only Maypole dance. The first 1,000 mothers to enter during the weekend will receive a crocheted rose pin.

May 20 and 21 is kids free weekend, where children 6-12 will be admitted free with a paid adult. This deal is limited to two children per paid adult admission. Memorial Day weekend, May 27, 28 and 29, will be the Pirates Festival. Guests will receive complimentary eye patches, as Mordred's Haunted Castle enjoys a pirate theme, the “Pyrates Royal” pub troupe performs its bawdy comedy stylings and cannons are fired in the all-new “Battle on the High Seas” game.

June 3 and 4 will be Scotland Highland weekend and will feature the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band, an amazing sheepherding show and the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. The weekend of June 10 and 11 will be the final weekend of the year. The festival is open Saturdays and Sundays plus Memorial Day from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission to the Georgia Renaissance Festival is $12.95 for adults, $5.75 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6. Publix Supermarkets also offers discounted tickets of $12 for adults and $5.50 for children 6-12. The company will offer a second adult ticket for free for opening weekend. The tickets are on sale through April 30.

For information or to order tickets by phone, call 770-964-8575.

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