The Minnesota Renaissance Festival was started in September 1971 in a 22 acre field in Jonathan, MN and has since relocated to Shakopee, MN. The seven weekends of the 2012 Festival will run from August 18 to September 30, plus Labor Day and Festival Friday, September 28. The Festival is a rain or shine event from 9 am to 7 pm featuring 15 stages of live entertainment, over 250 artisan booths, live armoured jousting and of course delicious food!