
A Typical Festival Day
Each Festival day begins with Cast Call at 8:45 AM. In accepting your Participation Agreement, you acknowledge your obligation to attend Cast Call on time. This cast meeting is important. It gives Festival management the opportunity to announce the day's special events, visitors, and promotions expected during the day, and important news pertaining to your participation.
As this is the only time each day that we have to be together as a whole cast, this is also an opportunity for you to make an announcement you feel is beneficial for the cast. Announcements should be relevant, positive, brief and to the point as we have a great deal of information to cover and still need time to get ready to open the show. To request to make an announcement, send a request at least 2 days in advance to matt@renfestinfo.com with email subject “Cast call announcement” so we can allot the necessary time.
We make every effort to run on time so after announcements have been made, we will take time synchronize our time pieces to Official Renaissance Time (ORT). Also following announcements, vocal warm ups will occur for those seeking to exercise their voices prior to the opening of the gates. Following the meeting each Troupe will gather to take attendance and relay Troupe specific information.
8:45 AM - Cast Call (Mandatory)
9:05 AM - Opening Gate Show begins (access through front gate prohibited)
9:30 AM - Cannon fire signifying the opening of the gates
10:00 AM - First Stage Show begins
12:30 PM - First Joust
2:30 PM - Second Joust
4:15 PM - Final Joust
:15 Minutes prior to Closing Cannon - Closing Gate Show Begins
5:30 - 6:30 PM - Closing Cannon *
Closing cannon time is communicated via radio to Entertainment Troupe Leaders no later than 4:00 PM each Festival day. Closing cannon time is influenced by a number of variable conditions including crowd size, weather, traffic on nearby road systems, and day light savings time. Closing cannon in September / October can range between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Closing cannon in November is almost always 5:30 PM.