Olympic Theatre Arts will host an outdoor Renaissance Faire this month.
The fundraiser will be Aug. 21-22 at the arts center, 414 N. Sequim Ave. Masks are optional unless mandates change. The revelry will start at noon and live performances will begin at 1:30 p.m.
Organizers have been preparing for the festival, which will include food, musicians, activities and games plus a performance of royal scenes from Shakespeare’s plays.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see so many people come together to make the magic happen,” organizer Marissa Meek said in a press release. “And it’s all to support OTA and its outstanding programs. There are still opportunities to volunteer, but they are filling fast. We’d love to see even more folks on the team.”
New this year will be additional “Wandering Minstrels,” including a lute player, a harpist and a Pied Piper, as well as kids’ games, fortune telling and a “Plague Rat” version of Cornhole.
Local artist Jim Bradrick will create caricatures of faire guests on the grounds again this year.
“I sold quite a few caricatures on behalf of OTA last time, as well as got some acting in,” said Bradrick, who also acted and directed in OTA’s recent “Old Time Radio/Video Show” season.
The event is sponsored by Air Flo, Alderwood Bistro, All Safe Mini Storage, Anime Kat, Avamere, DA Davidson, First Federal, Sequim Grocery Outlet and Jon Jack State Farm, including the stage, the “Pub” and the “Canteen.”
Pacific Rim Hobby, ReMax Prime and Sound Community Bank have also sponsored the event as “Shire-holders.”
“OTA and organizations like it are like the tenets of what makes a community vibrant,” said Jon Jack of State Farm. “They’re what makes a community not just a city, but a place you’d want to live. Local theatre, a vibrant parks department, service clubs … they’re all things to be a part of. They don’t exist without community support.”
Both costumed visitors and those without costumes are welcome.
Those with a flair for royalty may even reserve pampered, aristocratic seating at an additional price.
Tickets are $12 for the general public, $10 for OTA members and $5 for students.
They can be purchased at olympictheatrearts.org or at the box office from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
For more information, call 360-683-7326.
