Photo courtesy of JUNIATA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT Students from East Juniata and Juniata High Schools recently attended the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim. Students pictured are, from left, front, Tahkoma Martin, Bethany Walton , Mryna Trent, Morgan Ehrisman, Kayla Gelnett, Andrea Strawser, Kamerin Duffy, Jordana Steffern, Max Hughes and Cadence Austin; middle, Yetzubeli Montoya, Ilani Hernandez, Elliatt Brown, Marissa Erhard, Hope Miller, Hope Goodling, Lily Goodling, Hayden Cook, Kiersten Varner, Laylah Reichenbach, Lily Poorman, Kamryn Swartz, ALexa Rapp, Kennedy Seigler-Lewis, Sage Matthews, Vi Hund, Bethany Reichard and Sophia Varner; back, Sunny Kepler, Hannah Ehrisman, Lillian Allen, Wrett Smith, Josuha Swartz, Wyatt Burdge, Matteo Lessing and Josiah Kitt.

MANHEIM — It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to travel back in time to experience the Renaissance arts, medieval sports and fantasy in 16th-century England.

But a group of students from East Juniata High School’s Advanced Placement Literature and Intro to Theatre classes, along with Juniata High School’s Creative Writing class, were fortunate enough to do so recently for a day at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim, Lancaster County.

Students traded their cell phones, earbuds and other technology for a rare opportunity on a field trip to the Renaissance Faire’s annual School Days event. It offered a rare chance for the students and staff to blend history, literature and the performing arts into one learning adventure.

Held on the grounds of the Mount Hope Estate in Manheim, the Renaissance Faire has transformed its 35-acre grounds into a living 16th-century English village.

During their visit, students interacted with costumed nobles, peasants and merchants, all eager to share their crafts and stories from the Elizabethan era. Students also watched live demonstrations by blacksmiths, glassblowers and herbalists, gaining a rare insight into trades that helped shape the world of Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

Students — at least half dressed in garb from the era — participated in performances and competitions. The atmosphere of the village inspired many to also think creatively about the connections between literature, theater and history.

East Juniata senior Sage Matthews said, “What I liked best about the experience was seeing everyone in character, and how everyone’s outfits looked. My entire outfit was thrifted and made. I sewed a shirt into a corset, made jewelry and accessories for my Ren(aissance) Faire outfit.”

East Juniata High School has been attending the Renaissance Faire since 2011, the same year Advanced Placement Literature and Composition were first introduced to the district’s curriculum. Each visit includes competitions where winners are invited back the following season to receive additional recognition and prizes from the fair, such as merchandise, free meals and entertainment tokens.

Teachers believe the experience will help to reinforce classroom learning. For AP Literature students, seeing Shakespeare’s world come to life offered valuable context for the works they study during the school year.

Intro to Theatre students observed live, improvisational performances, while Creative Writing students drew inspiration from the vibrant characters and detailed settings around them.

“I really enjoyed the silk show and the jousting tournament was awesome, too,” East Juniata junior Sophia Varner said. “I also really like interacting with the actors and vendors and seeing everyone’s outfits and talking to them about various things.”

Of course, Varner crafted her own outfit to wear to the event.

“For my outfit, I used my sister’s Ren skirt which I had bought her for her birthday. I styled it with a tight black shirt and a ton of gold jewelry that I either bought cheap or already had: a bunch of bangle bracelets, necklaces, gold hoop earrings and a cool headband that was layered with pearls and diamonds.”

To complete the look, Varner had brown knee high boots with gold buckles that worked perfectly. And finally to top it off? “What is a Ren Faire outfit without a cool braided belt?” she added.

The day concluded with cheers from the tournament joust and reflections on how art, history and performance connect across time. The trip served as a reminder that learning often extends beyond the classroom and can thrive in the heart of a Tudor village filled with knights, jesters and storytellers.

For some students like East Juniata senior Lily Poorman’s favorite parts of the Renaissance Faire were speaking with the actors, getting the food and talking with the vendors.

“I had most of my costume already, but I did thrift some of it,” Poorman explained. “I loved the entire experience from my first view of the park to the joust at the end of the day.”

Teachers and students thanked the Juniata County School District and the school board for approving such a valuable educational experience.