Mini Medieval Renaissance Festival connects students with Morris community

Lisa Walker

As part of a first-year intellectual community class, UMN Morris students will host the third annual homemade mini medieval Renaissance festival at the Morris public library on Saturday, Nov 16 from 12:30-2:30 p.m. 

This annual community-engaged learning event is based on the students’ ideas in coordination with input from Professor Lisa Bevevino. Stations are set up for people to move around to and explore the many facets of medieval times. Participants don medieval costumes and give dramatic readings of fairy tales from that time. Catering to all ages, the event offers a wide variety of different activities with a historical basis and is kid-friendly. Generally, up to 100 people from the community attend.

Bevevino sees the event as a time when first-year students can get inspiration to study what they want to study and take that back into the community and inspire people.

“There’s nothing better than connecting back with the people who are supporting you as you go off to get your education,” says Bevevino. 

Alumna Olivia Kingston ‘23 had this to say about her mini medieval Renaissance festival experience: “Meeting people from the community and being a part of something that could continue on after I’ve graduated, such a fun way to connect.”