The Florida Renaissance Festival: My Church of Choice

Note: Full Set can be seen for Secret Cabal High Priest members by clicking here

Everyone has that event they religiously attend. For some, it’s a weekly or monthly club night. For others, it’s something annual like Burning Man or Coachella. And believe it or not, some people actually go to church (and it’s not even abandoned).

I’ve never been the type to commit to one recurring event. I just go where I want, when I want, and usually, once I’ve done something for a while, I move on. But in recent years, the Florida Renaissance Festival has become my church.

What is the Florida Renaissance Festival?

For the uninitiated, every year in February and March, Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach transforms into a medieval wonderland on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a full-blown Ren Faire experience—incredible live bands, mouthwatering faire food, and of course, people dressing up in their finest medieval, fantasy, or historically inaccurate garb.

For an immersive adventure photographer like me, it’s paradise.

Sundays are my preferred day to attend. That’s when the South Florida alt scene comes out in full force. There’s something about Ren Faire that draws together goths, ravers, punks, kinksters, and every other alternative subculture. Normally, you only see these people in nightlife settings, but here, you get to adventure with them in daylight (which, if you know me, you know I love daytime adventures). In that way, it feels more like a festival or a Burn—just with turkey legs and chainmail.

Ren Faire 2025: Opening Weekend Recap

Now that you’ve had your crash course, let’s talk about this past Sunday (my usual day, since it’s slightly less crowded). I went with one of my besties, Shannon Marie (Kayla Bee was supposed to join but was, unfortunately, sick).

We met up with a killer crew of muses and performer friends, including Pain Puppy, Nora Mars, Mandy Faery, and Jupiter Stellar. We also ran into some folks working the event, like Lauren Flo, Antoinette and the guys from Bard & Minstrels, and Dani Van Buren, who’s bartending at Crossroads again this year.

Puppy and her helmeted kinkster friend were a vibe, and we got some killer photos—especially the ones of her in the stocks (which are exclusive to the Secret Cabal members-only section here on the site).

I also checked out a new act, SAMKOMA, and they were amazing. This year, I plan to highlight more Ren Faire performers, since I tend to focus mostly on the friends and muses I hang out with.

Final Thoughts

Opening weekend was a blast—exactly the kind of adventure I needed. If this is any indication of how the season is going to go, I can already tell I’ll be spending a lot of time at the Florida Renaissance Festival in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned for more Faire magic! 🏰✨