If you’re looking for sixteenth century Europe in present day Dallas, then the Scarborough Festival is just the thing. Every spring in Dallas, the Scarborough Village creates a whole new world much like the renaissance era of Europe.

Filled with food and drink and a little bit of swordplay, this festival lasts approximately one month and usually takes place from April to May. The visitor can enjoy the magical life of a court jester, a village maiden or a knight in shining armor. 200 shops exist for the shopper’s delight, and among other things they are filled with handmade jewelry, leather goods and clothing.

The happy eater doesn’t have to worry about polite manners at this festival. Grab a turkey leg from the festival’s 20-ton supply while strolling about and watching a few knights jest. But visitors beware! A bird of prey controlled by the Royal Falconer might just swoop down and grab any loose bits of food.

For the particularly thirsty visitor, traditional meads are available to drink alongside perhaps the more common margarita. For those with a more refined tongue, certain dates are set aside for a traditional wine and ale sampling.

Demonstrations rare to every day life are a common event at Dallas’s Scarborough Festival. Visitors can watch the creation of ancient armor, blacksmithing, jewelry, soap, candle and stained-glass making.

A visit to the village alchemist might help calm the nerves or a gypsy tarot can resolve issues about the future. It may seem to nearly every visitor, that the Scarborough Festival’s list of renaissance rituals is endlessly romantic. This might explain why some Dallas citizens even get married here!