Dragonfest, one of the fastest growing Renaissance Fairs in the world, is coming to Mt. Vernon this year. The event will feature costumes, live, full-contact jousting, live music, craft vendors, food and more.

Costumes are a traditional feature at Renaissance Fairs, and vendors and guests alike are encouraged to dress in their medieval best for Dragonfest, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct 31 in Mt. Vernon.

Dragonfest is the only Renaissance Fair in the four-state region that boasts historically accurate, live, full-contact jousting.

Story by Mike Gervais

This Halloween, area residents have an opportunity to see knights in shining armor battling for glory and bragging rights as the sixth annual Dragonfest Renaissance Fair comes to Mt. Vernon.

Dragonfest features all the traditional renaissance fair events and activities, from dozens of crafters selling handmade goods, to costumed performers and guests strolling the grounds to live music. But one thing that makes this festival stand out is full contact jousting by trained knights.

The Knights of Mayhem, featuring multi World Jousting Champion Charlie Andrews, will perform multiple shows each day of the festival.

“We’re the only festival in the four-state area with full-contact jousting,” said Dragonfest Founder and Director Matt Carra. “Ours is completely full contact and it’s almost fully historically accurate.”

Because the jousting display is not choreographed, Carra said he would encourage everyone to check out each of the shows the Knights of Mayhem puts on each day. “It’s always going to be different because it’s not choreographed,” he said.

On tap for music, Matt said Dragonfest is planning to have a number of different groups performing from different genres, including Gypsie music and pirate shanties. He also said there will be roaming performers serenading guests.

Dragonfest will also feature a number of food vendors, including area favorite London Calling, fresh fudge and kettle corn. Matt also said organizers also manage the Three Dragons eatery, which will be selling a selection of food as well as beer and ale from local breweries. He also said this booth will be selling souvenir Dragonfest glasses.

“There’s going to be lots to see,” Matt said. “We are going to have more than 60 vendors and we strongly encourage costumes. We’re the fastest growing festival in the state and we’re expecting to have 4,000 attendees each day.”

As for costumes, while performers and vendors are often found in medieval garb, Matt said that because this year’s event is going to be Halloween weekend, Dragonfest is going to host its first-ever costume contest.

“It’s not just for Renaissance costumes, it’s about costuming in general. We’re going to do the contest on Sunday, with kids and adult divisions. We’re also helping our vendors and planning to have candy to hand out so people can come and do their trick-or-treating.”

Dragonfest began in 2016 as a school fair and fundraiser for Infinity Academy, a small, private school that caters to special needs students by providing a learn-at-your-own-pace experience with small class sizes and specialized attention for individual students. The school currently serves 20 students, but Matt said the plan is to grow in the future.

The first year, Dragonfest featured eight vendors, kids games and live entertainment, and saw approximately 300 guests.

In subsequent years, the event has grown leaps and bounds, hosting the event at the Springfield Riding Club until 2020, when COVID-19 put a stop to large gatherings.

This year the event is moving to a 20-acre parcel of property near the intersection of U.S. 55 and Missouri 174.

Matt said the new location should provide a great backdrop for this year’s event, but he and the volunteers who manage the Renaissance Fair are looking to purchase or possibly have a piece of property donated to the event so they can begin constructing permanent features and plan for continued growth.

Matt said anyone who would like to get involved in Dragonfest as a volunteer, or who might have a piece of property for sale that would meet the festival’s needs is encouraged to contact him at info@dragonfest.net.

Dragonfest will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children per day, or $13 for adults and $8 for children for the weekend. Tickets at the gate will be $12 for adults and $7 for children. Children under 5 years old are free with the purchase of an adult ticket.

In addition to the costumes, food and live jousting, Dragonfest is expecting to have more than 60 vendors selling handcrafted goods throughout the weekend.