Two Rivers Renaissance Faire Kicks Off Jan. 30 at Yuma Fairgrounds

A three-day celebration of history and community unfolded at the Yuma County Fairgrounds as the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire brought knights, jousts, artisans and families to the Legacy Event Center. The festival, presented by Havashire Festivals Inc., ran Friday Jan. 30 through Sunday Feb. 1 with daily hours of 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and Sunday and extended hours of 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Organizers billed the faire as family-friendly programming that combined reenactment and fantasy with local commerce and volunteer energy. Eleanor Lee, executive director of the Two Rivers Renaissance Faire, highlighted the community role in staging the event: “Our fair is quite unique. We are a small fair. We are one weekend fair. We are a family fun fair. We have a ton of activities, but we also have a lot of our local community. So, we have 105 volunteers this year from all around Yuma,” Lee explained.

Programming included stage shows, live music, artisan shopping, food vendors, costumed performers and thrilling jousts. A Saturday main arena LED and fire show was among the headline attractions during the extended Saturday hours. The event calendar also listed a Faerie Tale Masqurade Tea on Saturday for which an extra ticket applied, and a separate listing noted “Two Shows - 4:00PM & 7:00PM,” though the calendar entry’s date marker was ambiguous in the posted materials.

Havashire Festivals Inc. is organized as a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 2017 to “share the love of history and community through reenactment and related activities of 16th century events.” The group also sponsors the annual London Bridge Renaissance Faire. Event materials state: “All proceeds from the event are given to provide scholarships and educational funding such as scholarships, teacher support and related items in the support of education.” Admission pricing listed by the organizers was adults $15, children $5, military and first responders $10, and free entry for children under 5; a presale discount of 20 percent off limited tickets was advertised. The event entrance was off Pacific Avenue at the fairgrounds.

Local vendors, performers and the volunteer corps together created a small-but-intensive economic boost for artisans and food sellers over the weekend. For Yuma County public health and equity considerations, large community gatherings also underscore the need for accessible services - shade, hydration, restrooms, first-aid capability and clear entry points - so families, older adults and people with mobility needs can attend safely.

An Instagram post observed the final-day timing in local social channels: “Hello, Yuma. It's the last day of the Two Rivers Renaissance Festival happening at the Yuma County Firegrounds from 10 AM to 5 PM.” The phrasing reflected social media shorthand and a venue typo; the fair took place at the Yuma County Fairgrounds - Legacy Event Center.

For attendees and local nonprofits, the faire offered more than entertainment. It served as a community fundraiser, a marketplace for local makers, and a volunteer-built weekend that funnels proceeds back into scholarships and teacher support. Organizers and volunteers are expected to build on this momentum for future Havashire events and continued educational grants for Yuma County.