The Sarasota Medieval Fair returns for its 22nd year on Saturday, Nov. 7, bringing jousting, Viking warriors and more than 140 artisan shops to the Woods of Mallaranny at Mallaranny Farms in Myakka City. The fair runs Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 6, from 9:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., rain or shine.
This year’s storyline draws from the Viking Siege of Paris in 845 A.D. Visitors can catch staged battles with steel weapons dulled for safety, full-contact jousting, human combat chess and entertainment across 14 stages. Tim White, the fair’s combat captain, plays Norse leader Ragnar Sigurdsson, while assistant director Bruce LaFollette leads the combat cast as a defender of Paris. Each weekend carries its own theme, from High Seas Weekend to the Saint Nicholas Celebration Weekend, so the experience changes depending on when you go.
Before you plan your trip, note that tickets are date-specific. Admission must be purchased for the exact day you plan to attend, and organizers recommend buying online in advance and paying close attention to the date selected. The fair is an easy drive from Sarasota, Bradenton and Venice, so it’s worth coordinating a carpool and locking in your weekend early. Which weekend are you eyeing, and are you going for the jousting or the shops?
