RUB ELBOWS WITH ROYALTY AND CHEER JOUSTING KNIGHTS AT THE 13th ANNUAL FLORIDA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

DEERFIELD BEACH, FL -- (January 13, 2005) - Searching for a place where the entire family can mingle with royalty, cheer jousting knights on fearless steeds, and enjoy 12 stages of continuous entertainment fit for a king?

If so, you won't want to miss the 13th Annual Florida Renaissance Festival, where you can visit the days of yore, filled with chivalry and competition, in your own backyard.

A chance to travel back to the 16th century within a short distance of home, the Florida Renaissance Festival opens at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach on Saturday Feb. 12. It will continue for five weekends (Saturday and Sunday) until March 13. The festival hours are 10 a.m. through sunset and will also be held on President's Day, Feb. 21. School days are February 8th and 9th.

Regarded as one of the premier events of its kind, the Florida Renaissance Festival features continuous entertainment - from musical performances by minstrels to sword fights and mystical magical illusions. Street performers will be entertaining visitors as they make their way among the more than 120 artisan booths who will demonstrate everything from glass blowing to toy making while exhibiting and selling their wares.

Highlights of the festival, which also offers hearty food from the Middle Ages and rides and games for children, include live jousting tournaments and a birds of prey show conducted by a master falconer.

This year, visitors will also get a chance to watch local residents as they compete in the Quest to Be a Knight Challenge. Competitors in this daily competition will test their skills in archery, fencing, axe throwing, chess and a variety of other knightly pursuits in a chance to win knighthood. The Grand Prize awarded to the final Knight standing are two tickets to anywhere Spirit Airlines flies and two season passes for next year's festival.

There will be an abundance of authentic medieval foods from freshly made Scottish eggs to roasted turkey legs, which can be washed down with a yard of ale. For those with hearty appetite, the festival offers the Royal Feast, a five-course gourmet meal served at noon each day, hosted in the great hall by King Henry VIII and Queen Katharine of Aragon.

Tickets are available at the gate for $17.50 for adults and $6 for children 5-12. Children under 5 are admitted free. Season passes and group discounts are also available.