High Plains Renaissance Faire

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center will host the following events. These activities are fun for the whole family. Due to the temporary closure of the trails center for maintenance, many of these events will take place at Fort Caspar Museum. Please check admission information prior to visiting.

The Activity Calendar, https://ow.ly/kwuW50Zcw9V, will have the most up-to-date information on each event’s time and location.

-June 18: Mail to the Far West in the Mid-1800s
-June 19: Here Comes the Pony!
-June 19: National Pony Express Annual Re-Ride
-June 26: Ladies on the Frontier: Reflections of Pastimes
-June 27: Powder River Expedition into Lakota and Cheyenne Country
-July 3 – 4: Pioneer Music featuring American Folk Singer Hank Cramer
-July 4: Go West Young Nation!
-July 10: The Pony Express Trail: An Enduring Legacy
-July 10 – 11: Fi****ms of the Old West: Carved in Wood
-July 11: Hugh Glass and his Wrestle with the Grizzly; 1823
-July 17: Fireworks & Wagons: Celebrating the 4th of July at Independence Rock
-July 17 – 18: Kim Merchant: Civilian Pioneer Encampment
-July 17 – 18: 19th Century Blacksmithing Demonstrations
-July 18: Before the Railroad: Archaeology of the 1860s Laramie Valley
-July 25: Events of a Fateful Day in 1865

Hark! Hump Day History! 🐪
📜 Did You Know? Dante Stood With One Foot in the Middle Ages and One Foot in the Renaissance.

In the early 1300s, Italian poet Dante Alighieri wrote The Divine Comedy, one of the most influential works in Western literature.

Dante lived during a fascinating transition in history. His worldview was deeply medieval, centered on Christian theology, morality, and the afterlife. Yet he also looked back to the wisdom of ancient Rome and celebrated human reason, learning, and individual experience—ideas that would later flourish during the Renaissance.

One of the clearest symbols of this bridge between eras is Dante's guide through Hell and most of Purgatory: Virgil.

Why Virgil?

Virgil was a Roman poet who lived more than 1,300 years before Dante and wrote the Aeneid, the great epic of ancient Rome. To Dante, Virgil represented the highest achievement of human reason, wisdom, and classical learning. By making a pagan Roman poet his guide, Dante honored the intellectual legacy of the ancient world while still placing it within a Christian framework.

And yes—Dante is also the source of one of history's most famous literary lines. As he approaches the gates of Hell, he reads the chilling inscription:

"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here."

For more than 700 years, that warning has echoed through literature, art, films, and popular culture.

Whether you're interested in medieval history, Renaissance thought, mythology, or literature, Dante's journey offers a remarkable glimpse into a world where ancient Rome, Christian Europe, and the coming Renaissance all meet on the same page.

📖 Have you ever read The Divine Comedy or encountered one of its many references in modern books, movies, or games?

We have encountered "Bardcore" on ye olde YouTube and are tapping the toes through the workday.

Bardcore Blessed be YT Recommended for shoving Cornelius Link into my feed.

Hark! A battle! Forward, ye lions! Show them the fury of the realm! If any of ye took enchanted images or videos of oir Nic Fest booth, pray share them and tag us so the realm may see! NIC Fest 2026 20th Anniversary The Nicolaysen Art Museum

What a merry time we had at NIC Fest 2026 20th Anniversary! Many thanks for thy gracious welcome. The Nicolaysen Art Museum

Hark, good folk of Casper and the High Plains!
The Realm is coming to NIC Fest 2026 20th Anniversary!
We are proud to announce that the High Plains Renaissance Faire will have an official booth at NIC Fest 2026 — Casper’s beloved celebration of art, music, and community!
Come find us on the grounds of the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Stop by to see our new banner, learn about the Faire coming August 7–8, 2027, and discover how you can join the Fellowship as a volunteer, vendor, artisan, or sponsor.
A special thank you to Lady Cindy, whose skilled hands have been hard at work sewing the beautiful cloth tops for our 10x10 booth. Your dedication brings honor to the Realm!
Note: Sir Rowan Sagehorn sends his greetings but will sadly not be in attendance at NIC Fest this year.
If you’re planning to attend, give us a huzzah below — we would love to see you in person!
Join the Garrison and be part of the story:
https://www.highplainsrenfaire.com/join-the-realm
The wind is rising. The banners call.
So sworn upon the honor of the Round Table.

"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" ⚔️

Okay, not really. Meet Levi, our latest interest to the High Plains Renaissance Faire team! While he might not be hunting a six-fingered man, he is an established fencer who knows exactly how to handle a blade (even in a parking lot!).

When he’s not busy with footwork and lunges, Levi likes working the forge and is interested in presenting Chainmail Demonstrations, showing you exactly how the knights of old stayed protected in the heat of battle. From the weaving of steel to the crossing of rapiers, we are beyond excited to have his expertise in the Realm!

En Guard! 🛡️