Bristol Renaissance Faire conjures up all kinds of fun

Before you even leave the parking lot, you'll be struck by Bristol Renaissance Faire's ability to spark the imagination. Visitors of all ages come dressed as knights, wizards, fairies and demons to spend a day in an outdoor fantasy world.

Now in its 22nd year, it's easy to spend a full day at the faire and want to come back to spend another day seeing all the things you missed. The fest is packed with spectacles to catch your eye, both on stage and wandering through the grounds. Just grab a seat on a bench and you might be approached by a "scientist" on the run from the town sheriff, who wants to demonstrate his skill with lighting things on fire with a magnifying glass. Or you can spot a silent fantastical women dressed with fairy wings, full makeup and intricate costumes themed according to the seasons or elements. They seem to love balancing precariously on things and utterly enchanting children. After that you may encounter the armor-clad warriors known as the Dragon Disciples, who the other actors give a wide birth.

There are also a huge number of shows performed throughout the day on seven stages ranging from comedy acts to daring stunts. Highlights include Doctor Kaboom!, who uses the power of science to launch eggs out of cannons to be caught by audience participants, and Barely Balanced Acrobatics, a troop of three that spend a lot of time standing on each others' shoulders while juggling torches. The most popular shows are the jousts, where visitors gather in the bleachers surrounding a field to watch armored knights on horseback show off their skills hitting targets and battling with lances and shields.

One of the best ways to see the faire is by signing up for RenQuest for an extra $10. A combination scavenger hunt and role-playing game, players join one of two factions and are sent on missions to find things throughout the faire, retrieve information by chatting with actors and sometimes are forced to perform for their amusement.

The quest provides another incentive to come back, as the complex plot involving protecting a dragon's egg can only be unraveled over the course of a few days. Participants also get a $5 discount on a faire pub crawl (normally $15). A new feature this year, drinkers receive a brew of their choice at all five of the faire's taverns, while guides tell jokes and lead games like cork tosses and Simon Says. Luckily, the crawl starts at 2 p.m. so you're likely to be sober by the time you have to leave for the night.

Besides the much-talked about giant turkey legs, there's plenty of other less historically fitting food available. Vendors sell everything from corn on the cob, bratwurst and soup in a bread bowl to vegetable tempura and frozen cheesecake. Along with plenty to eat, you can also browse works from nearly 175 artisans and crafters, showcasing costumes, candles, blown glass, pottery and more.

While kids can appreciate many of the shows and costumed performers throughout the faire, they're sure to be entertained at Kids Kingdom. The area features a huge pirate ship that kids can explore and is populated by privateers offering tips on how to talk and dress like a pirate, and lead games and crafts. Kids can also be knighted by Queen Elizabeth during daily ceremonies.