The El Paso Renaissance Fair Is Coming And You Can Be Part Of The Story
· NewsTalk 1290El Paso has hosted concerts, festivals, gaming events, and film celebrations. But this November, something entirely different is coming, and it does not belong to your world.
The inaugural Borderlands Renaissance Faire arrives November 7 and 8, 2026 at Ascarate Park and Pavilion, and the premise is delightfully unhinged: the Seelie Court, the Unseelie Court, and the Mortal Realm are converging. Dark elves and light elves, at war for centuries, have torn a rift into the human world. You, dear visitor, can choose to keep the peace or light the whole thing on fire.
The choice is yours. It always is at a Ren Faire.
What Awaits You in the Realm of El Paso
The Faire is divided into three immersive zones, each with its own personality:
The Mortal Outpost: is your entry point, you humble human. Traditional crafts, historical wares, hearty faire food, and what the organizers call "Alchemists," which is the best possible term for alcohol vendors.
The Seelie Grove: is where the Light Fae hold court. Expect ethereal art, floral wonders, and the kind of whimsical treasures that feel like they were pulled from a bioluminescent fever dream.
The Shadow Court: is exactly what it sounds like: gothic curiosities, forged iron, and the macabre. The Dark Fae are not here to be friendly. They are here to be interesting.
Live on the High Stage: fire performers, gravity-defying acts, haunting music, and theatrical performances from the old world. Wandering atmosphere characters will move through the grounds, meaning the story is not just on stage, it is all around you.
The Stewards Behind the Court of The Sun City
Zach Chenoweth and Elisabeth Gaytan are the founders of the Borderlands Renaissance Faire, and they are not newcomers to this world. Zach is a fencing coach with a background in HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts), meaning the blade-work you see here carries real history behind it. Elisabeth is a grappler and wilderness devotee whose connection to primal movement and the natural world shapes the Faire's Unseelie aesthetic. Together, they have built this event specifically to bring a darker, more folklore-driven flavor of the Renaissance circuit to the El Paso desert.
"We're both big Renaissance faire lovers and we started putting our own twist on it," Chenoweth told KTSM.
That twist? You get to be part of the story.
Calling All Artisans, Performers, and Troubadours
The Faire is still actively seeking vendors and performers. If you make things with your hands, perform with your body, or conjure with fire and music, there is a realm waiting for you:
- Merchants and Artisans (handcrafted goods, jewelry, costuming): $125 for a 10x10 setup for the 2-day event
- Food and Beverage (period-appropriate fare and Alchemists): $200 for a 10x10 setup inside the park, or $250 for a food truck spot
- Performers (stage acts, wandering characters, musicians): Contact the organizers directly to arrange a meeting
All setups should be themed appropriately to your realm. Vendor setup day is November 6.
Apply at borderlandsrf.com/joinus.
Event Details
- What: Borderlands Renaissance Faire (inaugural year)
- When: November 7-8, 2026, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Where: Ascarate Park and Pavilion, 6900 Delta Dr., El Paso, TX
- Tickets: Available at borderlandsrf.com
- Vendor/Performer Applications: borderlandsrf.com/joinus
The veil is at its thinnest. El Paso has never had anything quite like this. Come as yourself, come as someone else entirely, come armored in iron and crowned in flowers. The Court awaits.
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El Paso residents can enjoy affordable swimming, rec swim, and water fitness classes all summer long.
Gallery Credit: Courtesy: elpasotx.gov