San Francisco, CA, July 7, 2009 – It is with our deepest regret that we must announce that the Golden Gate Renaissance Faire, planned to be held August 1 & 2, 2009, in San Francisco has been canceled.

The reason for cancelation is two fold. The Parks and Recs department approved the event and offered new dates for the show only two weeks ago, scheduling the event three weeks early. Also, a number of new restrictions have been placed on the use of the site, including no drive on access, which would make the build of the event quite unrealistic. Due to these facts there is no possibly feasible way for Renaissance Productions can bring a quality show to its patrons or adequately market the event in due time. We do hope to be able to return to the City of San Francisco in due time and bring back Golden Gate Renaissance Faire back in the future.

Mean time, East Bay Regional Park District has graciously accepted our offer to bring Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival to Ardenwood Historic Farm. Nestled of hwy 84 in City of Fremont, this historic site provides a view into what life was like at the turn of the century. A visit to Ardenwood is a journey back to the time of the Patterson Ranch — a prosperous, 19th century country estate with a beautiful mansion and elaborate Victorian Gardens.

We will take the park back a few more and into another continent, transporting visitors to a country fair in late-1500s England where a rising young star of London’s theatre scene, Will Shakespeare, faces a scourge like no other: a paralyzing bout of writer’s block. What Will needs is a muse–and this extraordinary town whilst on progress with Her Most Royal Majesty, Queen Elizabeth, he will find himself surrounded by numerous quirky characters who draw him into an amazing, dramatic adventure of action and love. Their stories will make their way into his plays and into our hearts.

This year’s theme for the Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival will be Shakespeare’s Muse. September 12 & 13, Ardenwood Historic Farms will be transformed to a delightful Elizabethan town filled with myriad characters and vignettes resembling those of Shakespeare’s plays we so dearly love. In addition, over 900 costumed entertainers and over 100 shopkeepers and artisans will add to the ambience of the Faire.

This year we have a special treat for the patrons of Tahoe: Knights of Avalon are returning to add their splendor and showmanship. Knights of Avalon offer the most authentic, exciting and entertaining Joust show. Combining the elements of spontaneity, action, and humor, the Knights of Avalon present a show that will keep audiences enthralled and coming back for more. Check out what the talk about towns is all about!!!

The faire will feature three stages of continuous entertainment, Queen Elizabeth’s court, Shakespearian plays and vignettes, expertly staged battle scenes and theatrical performances, lively crafts marketplace, storytelling for children and adults, belly dancers, archery tournaments and much more. There will be merchants selling a wide array of arts and craft including one of a kind jewelry items, woodcrafts, artwork, ceramics, clothing, hats, accessories and historic weapons.

The Ardenwood Shakespeare Festival will be held September 12-13, 2009. Grounds will be open 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 Sundays. Tickets are $x for adults, $x for seniors, military, and ages 13-17, and $x for children 3-12. More information can be found at http://www.ardenwoodfaire.com