Sarasota Medieval Fair canceled for this year. But there are big plans for 2021 

Ill tidings, ye fans of Middle Ages merriment: the 2020 Sarasota Medieval Fair has been canceled.

Organizers announced via Facebook on Tuesday that the annual gathering full of themed games, food and drink, arts and reenactments will not happen this year.

“The health and safety of our guests, our staff and our own families are our first concern and we do not wish to compromise anyone that may still remain at risk, when we have the future to consider,” the announcement said.

However, the organization had some good news to share about festivals to come.

“After sixteen festival seasons of working hard to escape from the outside world, the Sarasota Medieval Fair is beyond ecstatic to announce its recent purchase of vast beautiful acreage of lush oak trees, open grass fields and a strong future of planned events not far from where we have been for the last 12 years,” the post continued.

Founded in 2005, the fair traditionally takes place on weekends in November at the Ringling Woods behind the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

With a new, permanent location, organizers say that they can create an entire medieval village with more fun and events in store.

“This future ahead means more themed weekends, more family activities, a permanent home, and more immersion into the grandeur of color, sound, taste, and all around medieval frivolity that the festival has long rooted to blossom,” the Facebook post said.

The Tampa Bay area’s other large medieval festival was also affected by COVID-19 earlier this year. The Bay Area Renaissance Festival, typically held February through March in Tampa, was forced to shut down two weeks early due to the virus.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Sarasota Medieval Fair canceled for this year. But there are big plans for 2021 ."