Overcoming Challenges at the Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence This Year
- director392
- Sep 4, 2025
- 4 min read
The Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence, Alabama, is more than just an event; it's a celebration that whisks visitors back to an enchanting era filled with knights (but no jousts), jesters, and vibrant festivities and vendors. We are always free admission, so no tickets are necessary, and all of our management and staff are volunteers, a.k.a. The Roundtable. However, this year has introduced a series of challenges that have tested the resolve and creativity of the Roundtable Volunteers. From routing issues with Google Maps to technical snags in the vendor application process and navigating a new permit system, the team is committed to ensuring this year remains a magical experience for all.
In this post, we will dive into these challenges and share how the Roundtable Volunteers are tackling them to make this year’s event a resounding success.
Navigational Challenges with Google Maps
One major obstacle this year stems from Google Maps directing many attendees to Selma instead of Florence. This misdirection has led to confusion and frustration for potential visitors to both The Alabama Renaissance Faire and the Selma Renaissance Faire.
To combat this issue, the team has acted quickly. We have updated the event's website with clear directions and alternative routes to Florence, ensuring attendees can easily find their way. Additionally, we are utilizing platforms like Facebook and other social media platforms to share real-time updates and navigation tips. We are also in personal contact with the management of other Renaissance Faires in Alabama, so we can help each other keep the directions straight! By Legislative Decree in 1988, The Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence is the Official Renaissance Faire of Alabama.
This AI representation of a signpost exactly expresses our frustrations, but we are definitely on the map!
Technical Difficulties with Online Vendor Applications
This year, the Roundtable Volunteers voted to move away from our Rolodex method of past years and post our applications online! We sent emails to our past vendors, artisans, and craftsmen to apprise them of this new plan. For 38 years, we have always had vendors send in snail mail applications between April and September, and we have been able to accommodate most of them. This year, online applications began arriving the day they were posted on the website.
The Vendor Selection Committee began approving vendors in small batches, a decades-long practice. However, this year the online applications meant new vendors found us, applied, and were approved before some of our long-time vendors even applied. We have had many disappointed messages and emails from vendors for whom we no longer have room.
We will also tweak the online application process so it is easier for those applying to add photos of their products and for them to add social media links for our vendor website page.
Based on this year's event, we may move to a Juried Show for our 2026 40th Anniversary!
Navigating the New Permit Process
This year, the Alabama Renaissance Faire faces a revamped permit process designed to enhance safety and regulatory compliance, yet it adds a layer of complexity to planning.
The Roundtable Volunteers have worked closely with local authorities to grasp the new requirements fully and secure the necessary permits within deadlines. This collaboration includes regular meetings to clarify the protocols for staging an event of this scope, which involves completing over 20 forms and documents. Their effort reflects a commitment to ensuring the Alabama Renaissance Faire meets all safety standards while still being able to create a fun-filled environment.
By keeping lines of communication open with local officials and staying organized, the team reassures themselves and the community that all requirements will be met, ultimately ensuring a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all festival-goers.
We are located within Wilson Park, which is one square block in the middle of historic downtown Florence, AL; so please ignore the AI-generated photo below, which has nothing to do with us. Check out our Alabama Renaissance Faire YouTube Channel for videos of what the location and the crowds really mean. Parking can be a challenge if you come in the middle of the day, but street parking is free if you don't get towed for parking in the wrong spot or blocking a driveway!
Community Support and Engagement
We are always looking for new Roundtable Volunteers! You can email director@thealrenfaire.org and request to be added to our Zoom meeting or that you wish to attend our Roundtable meetings in person. Tell him Duchess Darlene sent you! You will get the same paycheck as the director $0.00, but infinite fun with our Monty Pythonesque Roundtable!
Preparing for the Event
As the Alabama Renaissance Faire approaches, the Roundtable Volunteers are committed to delivering a magical experience that honors the rich tapestry of the spirit of the medieval/Renaissance era. Our theme this year is Tudor England, and Queen Elizabeth reigns! On Sunday, October 26, 2025, we will coronate our new monarch -- whomever finds the coin in the dessert at the Alabama Renaissance Feast on October 18, 2025, at the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum. Tickets are $35.00 each for a four-course meal and three hours of entertainment. Queen Elizabeth will host a Queen's Tea this year at 2 p.m. at the same location. We will announce the Queen's Tea Event across our social media platforms and on our website by mid-September, barring challenges!
With strong support from the community and the resilience and hard work of the Roundtable Volunteers, this year’s 39th Alabama Renaissance Faire promises to be a memorable and festive event, filled with laughter, history, and community joy.
Join us in Florence for a weekend brimming with excitement, unique experiences, and lasting memories. The Alabama Renaissance Faire awaits your presence!
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