SANDPOINT — It was a merry olde time at the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire as medieval knights mixed with everyone from fairies and royalty to Vikings and horned mythical creatures.

Jousts were held. Huzzah!

Aerialists defied gravity. Huzzah!

And the scent of giant turkey legs barbecuing wafted across the fairgrounds as thousands of people packed the Bonner County Fairgrounds for the first day of a weekend of medieval-inspired fun and celebration. A most definite and resounding huzzah!

"Every year we get more people, and it's just a lot of fun," said Tanya Anderson, who portrays Queen Elizabeth I for the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire. "We've had a fun arena (for the jousts) and just everywhere you go, excitement."

The faire is always a lot of fun and this year is no different, said Anderson, promising a special surprise for everyone at the 5 p.m. Sunday joust.

Anderson said she loves how the Sandpoint event has worked to create an immersive experience, transporting fairgoers back in time to a blend of historical people, fantasy and fun.

"One of our goals was to foster curiosity, to ignite creativity and trigger your imagination," she said. "And you have that here. There's something for everyone, whether they are a Viking, a mermaid, a member of the royal court, a medieval knight. I think there's something for everyone to immerse themselves in and just enjoy the fun."

Perhaps her favorite part of the faire is interacting with the queen's young fans, wide-eyed and shy as they approach her at the royal court tent or during a walk through the faire. Young girls have practiced their curtsies and young boys have asked to be knighted. Others have gifted the queen with magic potions, some for love and others for healing.

"All of the gifts the little kiddies bring to the queen are really special and they're all cherished," Anderson said.

She encouraged those who haven't been to a Renaissance faire to come and enjoy the fun, whether it's to watch a joust, visit a medieval-inspired vendor or try a giant turkey leg.

Jessica Way, her husband, Greg, and her family have been cooking the giant turkey legs — this year estimated at 2 1/2 pounds each — for several years. The first year was by happenstance after a past vendor who served the barbecued turkey legs wasn't able to do it and the family's catering company, Smokin' Glory BBQ, was asked if they could step in.

After starting small that first year, Way said the company now barbecues anywhere from 1,200-1,500 turkey legs during the course of the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire. Each leg is barbecued from scratch, with the process starting almost a week in advance. First there are several days of brining, followed by a rinse and a coating of one of the company's signature house rubs. Then, during the faire, the family is up by 5:30 a.m. to begin grilling the turkey legs, which take between three to five hours to cook depending on the size.

The signature barbecue grills were built specifically for the Sandpoint Ren Faire, tucked into an area by the cattle barn and filling the area where 4-H members normally wash their animals for the county fair.

Way said the family loves coming to the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire, enjoying the family friendly atmosphere and the positive atmosphere. They enjoy serving the turkey legs, taking pride in producing a quality product that has become as much of an attraction and a must-do as the jousting and celebration of medieval life.

"It's just a reminder of things like King Arthur and the carnivore type feel to it," Way said. "People really like that we're here. they can smell it and see it happening. It feels like one of the events in a way."

Way said the family was intrigued by the challenge the first year and now loves being able to take the skills they gained cooking tri-tip and chicken and use them to create a memorable experience for families attending the faire.

"We like to serve people," Way said of Smokin' Glory's decision to take on the turkey leg booth. "We have a heart and passion for serving the community and this is one way we can participate in that, by giving them a product that is memorable."

When the family isn't cooking at the renaissance faire, they run a successful catering and event company in Post Falls. While they've cut back on the number of faires they attend to focus on the catering side of the business, Way said they love attending the event as a family because of the community feel created by the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire, noting it isn't uncommon for the vendors to gather at the end of the day, swapping stories, trading coffees for a turkey leg and catching up since the last faire.

"I think being here as a family and just seeing people and seeing them enjoying this event is special," Way said. "We get to be a part of making their day special. I think that is one of the reasons we keep coming back."

Monica Thomas, a member of the Spokane Renaissance Festival, said eight members of the organization came up in support of the Sandpoint group.

Thomas, who portrays Catherine of Aragon, got her bachelor's degree at Gonzaga University and has been part of Shakespeare Coeur d'Alene for a number of years. She loves the Tudor period, which is the time period the Spokane group has focused on, and loves being able to interact with those attending renaissance events.

"I love being around people and I love making them laugh, which is why I got into acting in the first place," she said. "… I love that time period. I love the dress, the culture of it but I also just really like making people happy. I like making people laugh and this is a great way to do it. If you can't work at Disney, this is the next best thing."

Thomas said renaissance faires are family friendly events and are happy fun places for everyone from the very young to the more seasoned. Everyone is a family — from the members of the various Renaissance groups to those attending — and that atmosphere fills the faire.

"Everyone is just happy and everyone is just having fun," she added.

The faire is the result of a lot of hard work and planning by numerous guild directors, site planners and volunteers, Anderson said. Work on the coming year's event begins almost as soon as the faire ends with a steady year of hard work and planning.

"It's really quite amazing to see it all come together," she said. "We show up on Wednesday and, as people slowly trickle in and the tents get set up and then the flags start to be hung and the merchants arrive, the horses arrive and then it all just starts to come together."

Then, on faire morning, Anderson says you wake up, smell the turkey legs and hear the bustle and laughter as the day gets going. It is, she smiled, the embodiment of magic.

"It's really something beautiful," Anderson said. "It's a collaboration of so many people coming together to make a great event." 

She credits faire volunteers and members of her court for their hard work and helping ensure the faire is so much fun.

"I just have such gratitude for my court," Anderson said. "These ladies serve me like a real court. They are loyal. They are graceful. They volunteer in the community at multiple different events. This event takes so much work by them … I just have such warm gratitude for them and all they do."

The event can trace its origins to a conversation between two Sandpoint Renaissance Faire board members Tanya Anderson and Anita Pew in 2017. Pew attended  Sandpoint's annual cosplay and fandom event, Sandemonium, and left with inspiration. Why didn't, she asked Anderson, they start a Renaissance faire. It would give them a chance to share their love of the period and have fun at the same time.

That first year, friends and coworkers gave Anderson and Pew the support needed to move forward with planning. Taking the few months or more to plan, the first faire was held at Wood’s Ranch in early September 2017.  

The next few faires were held at the Wild Hearts Equestrian Ranch until it outgrew that location as well. It moved to the fairgrounds in 2022 where it has attracted an ever-increasing number of fans.

Chosen by the board the era for the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire is set before the Spanish Armada in 1583, transporting attendees back to a time ruled by England's Queen Elizabeth I. Choosing the era because of its popularity, Anderson, who plays Her Majesty annually, said she had two queens to choose from but chose Queen Elizabeth for her strength and  renown. 

Last year, organizers estimate that more than 6,000 people attended the faire over the course of the weekend. As in past years, the event includes an immersive medieval world for fairgoers to visit, including a fairy realm, a pirate cove, a mermaid corner and more. Members of the Seattle Knights, a premier medieval theatrical troupe, are also a featured attraction, putting on several jousting and sword-fighting exhibitions during the course of the weekend.

The faire features everything from music, magic, dancing and comedy to combat, feasting, and aerial arts. The event will again be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Road.

Tickets at the gate are $18, adults; $14, seniors and children 6-17; and free, children 5 and under.

Information: sandpointrenfaire.com

    Members of the Seattle Knights, a medieval theatrical and jousting troupe, perform Saturday at the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire.
  

    Members of the Seattle Knights, a medieval theatrical and jousting troupe, perform Saturday at the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire.
  

    Layla Macintosh gazes wide-eyed at a member of the Seattle Knights, a medieval theatrical and jousting troupe, at the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire on Saturday.
  

    An aerialist performs at the Sandpoint Renaissance Faire on Saturday.