Fort Canning Park to host fantasy renaissance fair
Calista Wong for The Straits Times
Fancy playing the part of an armoured knight? Or maybe a courtly lady picking out the finest gemstone jewellery?
An upcoming renaissance fair, set to be held at Fort Canning Park, will allow you to do just that.
The event, also known as Ren Faire Sg: The Origin, will run from 2pm to 9pm on Jan 31 and Feb 1, 2026.
A renaissance fair is an outdoor festival that recreates a historical period, typically that of the English and European Renaissance, sometimes imbued with fantasy elements. Themed performances, food and drink, and a craft marketplace are its hallmark, while patrons are encouraged to show up in costume.
Renaissance fairs are most popular in North America and Europe, where they have a long history of being held.
More recently, it has also found a market in Asia. Examples include Ren Faire PH in the Philippines, and Dragon Dungeon Day in Taiwan.
The idea of hosting a renaissance fair here came to organiser Caylee Chua after stumbling upon a TikTok clip of Ren Faire PH in 2024.
The 23-year-old became hooked on fantasy books as a kid.
"I was really bookish and I loved fantasy as it just felt larger than life. I didn't have the easiest time growing up, so I was really drawn into the escapism of it all," she said.
Ms Chua, who also runs a small handmade jewellery business, said she expects to spend about $50,000 in total to organise the two-day event.
She is handling the bulk of the planning work, with some help from friends and family.
Aiming for affordability, she hopes to sell between 6,000 and 8,000 tickets across both days - a quota that would allow her to keep ticket prices low.
Three types of tickets - citizen, baron, earl - will be available for purchase from Nov 11. They are priced between $11 and $27.
Early-bird ticket sales begin earlier on Oct 10, at 20 per cent off those rates. Tickets can also be purchased on-site, subject to availability.
Beyond providing entertainment, Ms Chua hopes that the event will provide a space for local creatives to showcase their talents.
In the spotlight, she said, is the curated marketplace - set to host about a hundred vendors - which will offer a variety of wares ranging from accessories, art prints, stickers, baked goods and books.
Attendees can also look forward to other interactive activities including trinket trading, costume competitions, and arts and craft workshops.
But if huddling around to play Dungeons & Dragons - a collaborative table-top fantasy role-playing board game - is more up your alley, tables will also be available for use, Ms Chua added.
Joining the official street cast are acting talents from local story-telling team The Seven Seas of Sage, who will be live-action role-playing as characters from their audio drama series Guardians Unheard.
Live-action role-playing involves players immersing themselves in a character and acting out scenarios in real-time with the help of props and costumes.
"I was really excited when I first heard about Ren Faire SG because fantasy enthusiasts in Singapore rarely have a space to come together," said the group's writer and director El Goh, 22.
The team hopes to shed light on South-east Asian fantasy and mythology through their exhibition and performance at the event, she added.
Mr Tyler Ng, 21, who plays the character Xuanwu in Guardians Unheard, added that he hopes to see refreshed interest in the creative scene here now that "a unique side of the community is finally given a space to express themselves".
His sentiments are echoed by members of the Larp Singapore Community (LSC), a community-run interest group that connects individuals keen on live-action role-playing, some of whom will also be joining the official street cast at the renaissance fair.
"We also hope that this renaissance fair can become a catalyst to bring people together, be it personally, or professionally, so that there are more of such events in the future," members of LSC told The Straits Times.
"There is overwhelming excitement and enthusiasm in our community for this upcoming renaissance fair."
Although working out administrative and logistical matters has not been without difficulties, Ms Chua's main concern remains Singapore's tropical heat.
The hot, muggy weather is sure to deter attendees from showing up in costumes, she noted, adding that air coolers will be installed throughout the venue to remedy this.
But dressed up or not, the renaissance fair is designed for guests to engage with festivities at their own pace and comfort, Ms Chua said.
