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The Texas Renaissance Festival, Plantersville, Texas celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand style, attracting 332,305 over seven weekends from Oct. 2-Nov. 14.
Festival organizers said this is the overall attendance record for any renaissance festival in North America. "It's the biggest renaissance festival in the free world," said Joseph Keyser, marketing director for the Texas Renaissance Festival.
The festival is owned and operated by George Coulam, who also owns the 55-acre festival grounds billed as New Market Village. Plantersville is located about 50 miles north of Houston. An environmental designer by training, Coulam was a stained glass artist on the early "Renfair" circuit beginning in 1972. He then founded the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, later selling it to focus on the Texas Renaissance Festival, which he founded in 1975.
Admission to the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1999 was $17.95, which includes the shopping experience, all shows, and various other attractions. Interactive games, such as throwing tomatoes at someone or the "Drench-A-Wench" game,...