Connect with us

Events

31st Florida Renaissance Festival Returns to South Florida with 8 Weekends in 2023

Published

on

31st Florida Renaissance Festival Returns to South Florida with 8 Weekends in 2023. Select schools welcomed for their own personal day.

February 6th, 2023

Experience the Thrill of a Bygone Era When Legendary Knights, Pirates, Vikings, Evil Villains, and Heroes Ruled the Kingdom

Experience ALL NEW Additional 8th Weekend in 2023 for a Mad Hatter Circus

The annual Florida Renaissance Festival returns with a one-of-a-kind family-friendly event that takes lords and ladies of the realm back to a time when tunics, tabards, slashed sleeves, and bodices were the fashion. Beginning February 4, 2023, and running for eight consecutive weekends until March 26, 2023, all roads lead to Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach to celebrate the 31st edition of the Florida Renaissance Festival with an added bonus eighth weekend of festivities.

The festival is for all ages, and it’s one of the most anticipated major events of the year because it’s a memorable, magical, mystical experience for the entire family. This special event features multiple new attractions, as well as popular older ones to guarantee non-stop fun and excitement in this magical kingdom.

Jousting knights, royalty, wenches, magicians, and more awaits as festival goers will be treated to delectable foods, fabulous drinks, numerous unique craft shops, live music, and more. The kingdom is a wonderful place for fun, but it’s also a great environment where participants can take selfies of themselves in era garb. PLUS there is an all-new eighth weekend introduced for this year – the Mad Hatter’s Circus embarks on an “Alice in Wonderland-themed” adventure that brings fairytales to reality!

While costumes are not necessary for admittance, thousands of people enhance their experience each year by donning outfits from the Renaissance era or participating in one of the festival’s special themed weekends.

“For more than three decades we’ve provided South Floridians a Renaissance experience unlike any other,” said Bobby Rodriguez, founder, and producer of the Florida Renaissance Festival. “It’s a special storybook event unlike any other, and we invite patrons to dress up and rejoice as we celebrate culture and history, because it promises to be a fun-filled memorable time for the entire family.”

Florida Renaissance Festival 2023 Themed Weekends

The festival weekend dates are Feb. 4-5 (school day on Feb. 6), Feb. 11-12, Feb. 18-19, Feb. 25-26, March 4-5, March 11-12 (Sunday time change), March 18-19, and March 25-26. The current themes are as follows:

Weekend 1:

The Wizarding World’s Faire – A Magical Grand-Opening!

Feb. 4 & 5, 2023

The tales of old magic and the mystical arts are not only true but still very much alive. Experience the wonderful world of magic with us as we set our eyes upon wizards, warlocks, witches, and more! Celebrating the grand opening of our festival, we’ll get to see a world in which enchantment not only survives but thrives. Potions of alchemy, casting spells, and a merry of mages are only some of the powerful presentations of magic sure to be present at the festival. The only requirement we hold you to is having a fascination for the fantastical—although a magical cloak wouldn’t hurt.

Weekend 2:

Barbarians & Dragons- A Roaring Battle!

 Feb. 11 & 12, 2023

To set our eyes upon lands far away from our own in the call of the conqueror is what makes a true Viking. This weekend is a war of passion and romance- blood spilled and kingdoms sundered in the name of love. The barbarian’s heart is a drumming of axe and shield, the dragon’s heart is a beating of wings on wind. A warrior is a testament to the strength of champions by fighting for the one they love, a world in which dragons fly overhead and warships volley along the coastline. Take up arms to protect your village or mount a monstrous dragon in the hopes of quelling another. This is where the heart of the barbarian is truly formed, in the heat of battle where swords clash, and axes collide. It is now that true loyalty will shine through, and the pact of warriors will stand strong.

  Weekend 3:

Steampunk & Time Travelers – Age of Automation!  

Feb. 18 & 19, 2023

Cogs, nuts, and bolts are the rulers of automation. Enter the Victorian age of industrialization as technology and innovation are rooted in gadgets and steam-powered inventions. Literature and science converge as one as vigilantes and warring factions fill the background of this fantastical world. Locomotives send puffs of steam from their smokestacks up into the air, artificial lightning flows through the inventions of madmen, and the lines between fiction and science begin to blur as the roaring of the city continues well into the night. Imagination is only the beginning of what is conceivable, for the possibilities are endless in this magnificent world of machines.

Weekend 4:

Maidens, Wenches, and Goddesses! – A Beautiful Empowerment!  

Feb. 25 & 26, 2023

Join us in celebrating the women who inspire us all to be fierce warriors, brave adventurers, and mighty explorers. This weekend of empowerment is dedicated to our mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and all the women who stand at the forefront of what it means to be a hero. Through trials and tribulations, these ladies of the lionheart stand strong and true and showcase to us all the immense strength, fortitude, and tenacity that live within each and every one of these wonderful women.

Weekend 5:

Days of Cosplay – Heroes, villains, and everything in between! 

March. 4 & 5, 2023

A valiant hero charged with the protection of the kingdom or a nefarious villain with an agenda of their own—only you can decide whom to support. In this weekend of factions, we invite everybody to throw on their own costume or outfit and join us as we experience a world in which our favorite fantasy comes to life. Whether you cosplay your favorite character in full garb or throw a cowboy hat and some boots on, we welcome all heroes and villains to the stage. Choose a side and show off your fit—it’s always more fun when you dress the part!

Weekend 6:

Pirate Invasion – Swashbucklers & Scallywags!  

        March. 11 & 12, 2023

Wealth, fame, power. Attain this and everything else the world has to offer on the seven seas will be yours! Leave yer old compass behind, you won’t have to look far for an abundance of thrilling entertainment perfect for pirates of all ages. Prepare the crew for a swashbuckling adventure and climb aboard with all your hopes and dreams for a weekend adventure in search of treasure. Quench your thirst on a wide variety of beer and mead, join a choir of sea shanties, and you’ll find everything you’re looking for. Ready your eye patches and captain hats for this pirate-filled adventure!

Weekend 7:

Highland Fling – A Celtic Celebration

March. 18 & 19, 2023

We welcome you to a weekend of Celtic celebration, as we commemorate all those nations who take pride in their heritage and long-lasting culture. This is a time to explore the wonders and mysteries of Britanny, Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, along with revering the age-old traditions and folklore of these great civilizations. It wouldn’t be St. Patty’s Day without a whole lot of green, so wear something shamrock-colored, grab a pint and enjoy the day with us! By the way, while kilts aren’t required to enter, we welcome anybody to wear one (bonus points if it’s green).

**NEW Weekend 8:

A Mad Hatter’s Circus – A Fairytale Finale!  

March. 25 & 26, 2023

Join us on our final weekend of the festival, where you’ll be transported to a world far different than our own, one filled with mystical beasts, fairytale creatures, and much more! This “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired experience will bring you to the tales of fantasy, where you’ll walk through mirrors out into a world that can only rival that of your own imagination. Perhaps it was a reflection, or maybe it really was a giant teacup that leapt from its platter. In this land, anything is possible, because when a fairytale meets reality, the only limit is what the mirror might reflect.

Also returning for the 2023 season are a variety of fan-favorite acts and performances:

  • Bard & Minstrels
  • Bells to Go (Carillon)
  • Blue Muse
  • Brothers Blackwell
  • Broon
  • Buckle & Swash
  • Celtic Mayhem
  • Debracey Productions (joust)
  • Faire Wynds
  • Harper & the Minstrel
  • History of Chivalry
  • Historical Demonstrations: Cannons
  • Kamikaze Fireflies
  • Kelly Irish Dancers
  • Les S. Moore (pickpocket)
  • Masala Music & Dance
  • MooNiE
  • Music the Gathering
  • NEW – Nightwings (a new exotic bird and falconry show in the joust area)
  • Pirates of Tortuga Bay
  • Rota Temporis
  • Reelin’ Rogues
  • Splatter Time Players (mud show)
  • Tales of Robin Hood
  • The Adventure Quest
  • The Commedia Madrigal Singers
  • The Greatest Pirate Story Never Told
  • Trebuchet
  • Washing Well Wenches

There will also be The Court, Encampments, Promenade, Street Characters, Wandering Musicians, and dozens of characters from Gabriel Q.

The Florida Renaissance Festival is produced by nationally acclaimed Bobby Rodriguez Production and strives to create an entertaining and cultural experience for adults and children alike. The current sponsors of the 2023 Florida Renaissance Festival include Sapporo, Unibroue, Anchor Brewing, 1911 Cider, Llanos Leather, Pelican’s View, JMlovelaw.

Prices range from $32 for adults and $14 for children (ages 6 to 11 years of age). Children 5 and younger are free. Special seasonal passes are available for $199 (adults) and $79.50 (children). Group ticket rates are also offered, but must be purchased in person at the box-office only. VIP Parking is also available for purchase. You can avoid making the box office line, by buying ahead of time, online! Online purchases include convenience fees.

For tickets and more information visit: www.ren-fest.com; Find us on Facebook and

Tik Tok, or follow @FlaRenFest on Twitter and Instagram. If you prefer the ancient method, call 954-776-1642.

 

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

  • Renaissance Festival. ©South Florida Insider.

Coach is South Florida Insider's Owner, President, Webmaster, as well as a Reporter and Photographer covering events all over the world. Born in West Palm Beach, Coach continues to call the sunny Florida area home. He received his Associate degree from the University of South Florida, then transferred to the University of Florida where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism & Communications. During his journalistic career, which has been featured in local newspapers and magazines as well as national publications, Coach has also continued his love of being an educator. It’s through both endeavors that he’s actively got students interested in following in the field of journalism. Coach loves sharing the world of entertainment with others and giving people the opportunity to step out of the everyday life.

Events

The Wharf Fort Lauderdale Is Going Full Halloween, and We Want In!

Published

on

Horror movie villains on Friday, disco skeletons on Saturday, and two nights of Halloween chaos we absolutely cannot miss.


October 14, 2026

Okay, Fort Lauderdale, Halloween weekend is looking GOOD.

The Wharf Fort Lauderdale is giving us not one, but TWO completely different Halloween parties this year, and honestly, choosing between them feels unfair. One night we’re running from horror movie villains, and the next we’re dancing under disco balls with skeletons. What more could we possibly want?

Whether you’re the type who lives for a good scare or just wants an excuse to wear something outrageous and dance all night, The Wharf has plans for you.

And yes, we’re already thinking about costumes.

Friday, October 30: Slasher Drive-In

Remember when horror movies were all about creepy drive-in theaters, questionable decisions, and someone inevitably running in the wrong direction?

Well, The Wharf is bringing that energy back with Slasher Drive-In, an old-school horror-inspired Halloween party that sounds equal parts terrifying and ridiculously fun.

The venue is transforming into a vintage-style drive-in movie theater, complete with a throwback concession stand serving movie-night snacks.

Cute, right?

Except there’s one tiny problem.

Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Ghostface, and Leatherface are all on the guest list.

Yes, the horror icons themselves will be roaming around the venue throughout the night, so maybe think twice before wandering off alone.

We love a good Halloween theme, but this one sounds like you’re stepping straight into your favorite slasher movie. Except instead of screaming at the characters on screen, you might actually be the one doing the screaming.

And honestly? We’re kind of into it.

Saturday, October 31: ‘Til Death Do Us Party

Now THIS is our kind of afterlife.

On Halloween night, The Wharf is trading horror movie scares for a full-blown disco takeover with ‘Til Death Do Us Party, where Studio 54 meets the great beyond.

Think glitter, mirror balls, disco skeletons, fabulous costumes, and a dance floor that refuses to rest in peace.

It’s spooky, it’s glamorous, and it’s giving us every reason to break out the sequins.

There will also be a costume contest, plenty of photo opportunities, and a special menu of $12 Halloween cocktails, because what’s a disco in the afterlife without a little something spooky to sip?

We’re picturing outrageous outfits, sparkly accessories, and a whole lot of dancing. If you’ve been saving a dramatic Halloween look for the perfect occasion, this might be it.

And can we just appreciate a Halloween party that doesn’t make us choose between looking fabulous and embracing the spooky season?

So, Which Night Are We Going?

Here’s the thing. We genuinely cannot decide.

Friday is for horror movie lovers who want to hang out with the villains they’ve spent years being terrified of.

Saturday is for the disco queens, costume enthusiasts, and anyone who believes Halloween should involve a little glitter and a lot of dancing.

Our solution? Both. Obviously.

Halloween only comes around once a year, and The Wharf Fort Lauderdale is making a pretty convincing case for clearing the entire weekend.

So call your friends, start planning those costumes, and prepare for two nights that sound way too fun to stay home for.

Because whether you’re running from Ghostface or dancing with the dead, one thing’s for sure: Fort Lauderdale isn’t going to be boring this Halloween.

The Halloween Weekend Details

Where: The Wharf Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Friday, October 30: Slasher Drive-In, featuring horror movie characters, drive-in theater vibes, and movie-night snacks.

Saturday, October 31: ‘Til Death Do Us Party, featuring a Halloween disco, costume contest, photo ops, and $12 specialty cocktails.

The vibe: A little spooky, a little fabulous, and absolutely worth getting dressed up for.

Continue Reading

Events

Regatta Grove Is Getting Spooky, and Fangtasia Might Be Our Favorite Halloween Plan Yet!

Published

on

Vampire vibes, waterfront cocktails, and two nights of Halloween fun on Biscayne Bay? We’re so in.


Okay, Miami, THIS is the kind of Halloween we’re talking about.

Picture this: you’re sipping a cocktail by the water, the sun is setting over Biscayne Bay, there’s a breeze coming off the water, and suddenly your favorite waterfront hangout has entered its vampire era.

Welcome to Fangtasia at Regatta Grove, where Halloween meets Miami’s favorite kind of night out.

Taking over Regatta Grove on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, Fangtasia is bringing a darker, moodier twist to the waterfront spot we already love. And honestly, vampires and cocktails by the bay? We’re listening.

There’s something about Regatta Grove that makes an ordinary night feel like a mini vacation. The waterfront views, the open air, the tropical atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you show up for a drink and somehow lose track of time.

Now imagine all of that with a spooky Halloween twist.

Fangtasia is bringing the Halloween spirit to Coconut Grove without losing the laid-back coastal charm that makes Regatta Grove so much fun in the first place.

Think mysterious waterfront vibes, wicked cocktails, and the perfect excuse to embrace your dark side for the evening.

And can we talk about how good a vampire-inspired Halloween party sounds against a Miami sunset?

We’re already obsessed with the idea.

Listen, we love a haunted house. We love a good Halloween party. But there’s something especially appealing about celebrating spooky season with a cocktail in hand and Biscayne Bay as your backdrop.

No need to choose between your favorite Miami waterfront hangout and getting into the Halloween spirit. Fangtasia is giving us both.

Whether you’re going all out with your costume or just looking for somewhere fun to spend Halloween weekend, this is the kind of plan that’s easy to get excited about.

And with two nights to choose from, there’s really no excuse not to get a little fang-tastic.

If your Halloween group chat is still full of “What are we doing?” messages, consider this your answer.

Regatta Grove is already one of those places we love finding an excuse to visit, and throwing a vampire-inspired celebration into the mix just makes it better.

Grab your favorite people, embrace the spooky season, and make your way to Coconut Grove for a Halloween weekend with a little bite.

Because really, who wouldn’t want to spend Halloween sipping cocktails by the bay?

Fangtasia at Regatta Grove

Where: Regatta Grove, Coconut Grove, Miami

When: Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026

The Vibe: Moody waterfront Halloween fun, wicked cocktails, and a vampire-inspired twist on a Miami favorite.

Our take? Halloween by the water with a little vampire energy sounds like a pretty perfect night to us.

Continue Reading

Events

Minnesota Renaissance Festival Gives Boredom the Axe

Published

on

By

Sword swallowers, royal encounters, outrageous costumes and an avalanche of jokes turn Minnesota’s sprawling Renaissance Festival into a kingdom worth getting lost in.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Finding Finland Hidden in Plain Sight

Published

on

By

FinnFest USA Brings Finnish Culture, Creative Voices, Global Ideas and an Unexpected Pizza-Roll Connection into Focus in Minneapolis.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Zéya 100k

Published

on

The Miami born app celebrated a major milestone with a seriously fun South Florida party, but 100,000 downloads are only part of what’s next.


September 26, 2026

Zéya had plenty to celebrate, and they definitely knew how to throw a party.

The Miami-born swapping app recently marked 100,000 downloads, and SFL Insider joined the celebration for a night that felt much more like a fun Miami get-together than a typical tech event.

The atmosphere was lively, social, and genuinely welcoming, which actually made a lot of sense once we learned more about what Zéya is trying to build. This isn’t supposed to be another faceless marketplace where you post something and hope a stranger buys it. Zéya wants swapping to feel social, easy and connected to your community.

And after spending the evening celebrating with the people behind it, that part of the concept clicked.

Because we all have stuff.

The dress you wore once. The bag you loved until you didn’t. The camera you were definitely going to learn how to use. The random purchase that seemed necessary at the time and has barely moved since.

Zéya’s question is pretty simple: Why keep buying more when someone nearby might want exactly what you already have?

Even better, the app is now getting ready to move beyond swapping just things.

Services are coming too.

And that could make Zéya a whole lot more interesting.

– Creative Director & Strategist: Kateryna Brovkova — @kate.directs – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7 – Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Sounds by: Lacré Studios — @studioslacre

Swipe. Match. Swap.

The easiest way to describe Zéya is old school bartering with a very modern makeover.

You browse what’s available nearby, see something you want and connect with the person who has it.

Then you offer something of your own.

Swipe. Match. Swap.

If the values don’t quite line up, Zéya allows an optional cash top-up to help make the trade work. And now, you don’t necessarily have to swap at all.

Zéya’s new cash-only option is officially live, meaning users can purchase an item directly when they find something they want. That’s a pretty significant shift for an app that started with swapping at its core. You can still trade, add cash to balance out a swap, or now skip the trade altogether and simply buy.

In other words, Zéya is starting to look less like a traditional bartering app and more like a flexible local marketplace where you decide how you want to make the deal.

100,000 Downloads Is a Pretty Big Deal

Zéya has now officially surpassed 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android, an exciting milestone for a company that started right here in Miami.

Founder and CEO Mehdi Taifi sees that number as something bigger than just downloads.

“One hundred thousand downloads is exciting because it shows that swapping can become a real habit, not a last resort,” Taifi said.

That idea stuck with me.

We’re so used to thinking buy when we want something new. Zēya is trying to get us to think swap first.

Earlier this year, the company also closed a $2.45 million strategic growth round led by Storage Innovations LLC, helping support its next stage of development.

Judging by the energy at the celebration, Zéya certainly isn’t treating 100K like a finish line.

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Founder: Mehdi Taifi — @medimeds – Event Photo & Video Coverage: Yoisker Palmi — @yoiskr7

Zēya 4.0 Makes the Whole Thing Easier

The company has also rolled out Zéya 4.0, designed to make getting from “I want that” to actually completing a swap much faster.

One of my favorite additions is the AI Listing Assistant, mostly because writing listings is probably the least exciting part of selling anything online.

Take a photo, upload it, and the app can generate the item name, description, and category in seconds.

Done.

The update also adds chat before making an offer, group chat, and a visual balance meter that makes it easier to see whether a proposed swap feels fair.

Zéya has expanded its categories too, including Baby & Toddler and Sports & Outdoors.

So that barely used handbag has value.

But so do the golf clubs in the garage.

And Now Zēya Is Moving Beyond Stuff

This might be my favorite part of what’s coming next.

Zéya is adding services.

That changes the whole idea of what you can bring to a swap.

Maybe you don’t have a designer bag to trade, but you’re an amazing photographer.

Maybe you tutor.

Maybe you’re a personal trainer, stylist, graphic designer, pet sitter or the magical person who actually knows how to organize a closet.

Your skills have value too.

The full details of how services will work are still to come, but opening Zēya to services takes it beyond simple bartering. It becomes more about exchanging value, whether that value happens to be sitting in your closet or comes from something you know how to do.

And suddenly the possibilities get much bigger.

It All Feels Very Miami

Maybe that’s another reason I enjoyed the celebration so much.

Zéya feels very Miami.

It’s social. It’s stylish. It’s a little entrepreneurial. And it revolves around discovering something you want without necessarily paying full price for it.

We can absolutely get behind that.

The party reflected that same energy. People were mingling, talking about the app and celebrating what is clearly a big moment for the team, but it never felt overly corporate or stuffy. It felt like a community celebrating something that started locally and is beginning to grow.

That seems especially fitting for a company that wants its marketplace to feel like a community too.

Swap, Don’t Shop

There is an obvious sustainability benefit to giving perfectly good things another life instead of constantly buying new ones.

But Zéya doesn’t make that feel like a lecture.

The appeal is much simpler.

You have things you don’t use. Someone else wants them. And chances are, they have something you want too.

Add AI-assisted listings, local discovery, cash top-ups, cash-only purchases, community features, and soon the ability to exchange services, and it starts looking very different from the bartering most of us remember.

Zéya’s tagline is “Swap Don’t Shop.”

After a fun night celebrating 100,000 downloads and getting a closer look at where the Miami company is headed next, we’re curious to see just how far people are willing to take that idea.

Because if swapping can be this easy and this social, maybe we really don’t need to buy everything new.

CHECK OUT ZEYA HERE 

– Zéya Team: Zéya — @zeya_app – Venue: One K — @onek_socialbar

Continue Reading

Events

Little Mania Delivers Big Mayhem in Boca

Published

on

By

Short on rules and long on laughs, Little Mania turned Boca Black Box into an intimate collision of athleticism, comedy and crowd-fueled chaos.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Disney On Ice: Spotlight Magic Brings Childhood Memories to Life

Published

on

Once Upon a Rink: Disney On Ice Spins Childhood Favorites into a Spectacular Night of Skating, Sparkle and Storybook Magic.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Events

Brews, Bites and Bryant Park

Published

on

A Brew with a View: West Palm Beach Beer Fest Pours on the Flavor with Craft Beer, Cocktails and Bites at Bryant Park.

(more…)

Continue Reading

Trending