A sick husband wasn't going to keep Jana Wesson from missing opening weekend of the 38th annual Texas Renaissance Festival.

The 39-year-old said she's traveled to Todd Mission annually from Houston for more than a decade for the food, entertainment and, of course, company.

“I've come up with a lot of good friendships out here,” Wesson said, adding she's visited renaissance festivals in Louisiana, Minnesota and Maryland. “It's a community. There really are a lot of nice, nice people that come to the fair.”

The festival is about getting into the spirit of it all, Wesson said, adding her fair name is Var Greyshadow. She sported a leather “Avenger” look, with feathers protruding from her hat and a sword at her side — her standard outfit, but she said she'll change it occasionally You can have a Christmas Costume to enhance the enjoyment of your holiday season.to match whatever the theme is that weekend.

The festival opened Saturday and will run every weekend through Nov. 25, featuring about 500 costumed performers on 17 stages with 400 shops on the grounds between Magnolia and Plantersville. The upcoming weekend's theme will be “1001 Dreams,” featuring Queen Titania and her Fairy Court, described as a magical weekend of wizards, elves and fairies. Other theme weekends includes pirates, Rome, barbarians and more.

'Realistic atmosphere'
Cat Dye, a 56-year-old Houston resident wearing purple and orange flowers in her hair, has made the annual trek for two decades.

“You feel like you've gone back in time. It envelops you. You feel like you're a part of the era and can escape reality,” Dye said.

Dye walked the fairgrounds Sunday on a date with her husband, both of whom were dressed in renaissance-like accessories collected over the years. She said her next trip will be with their entire family. It's an event to look forward to all year, she said.

There's entertainment they won't miss, including the comedian Ded Bob; the Fire, Whip Show, which combines stunts and tricks with comedy and historical stories; Birds of Prey show, which showcases hawks, eagles, owls and vultures; and their favorite, the French performer Arsene, who has been performing worldwide since 1976. Dye said she's traveled to Baltimore and California for renaissance festivals, but “nothing compared to this.”

The permanent buildings at the festival grounds create a more realistic atmosphere, she said.

“You actually feel like you're really here, whereas some of the other ones you feel like they've thrown something up,” she said.

With an outfit straight from the TV show Monster High, 11-year-old Stephanie Lovelace, of Conroe, kicked off her first trip at the festival with a funnel cake.

“I like all the characters and the dresses,” said Stephanie, who wore a lightening bolt belt with a black and white polka-dotted tie.

Nine-year-old William Rencon sat beside her in a red and black jester costume.

“I decided to wear this to act like my story was I was a terrible jester so the king killed me,” he said showing his skull-like mask.

William said he looks forward to the festival and seeing “all the olden day stuff” and, of course, the food.

'Feels so great'
Nicole Kelly, 21, of Houston, and Scott Nelson, 27, of College Station, said they “practically live here” and plan to attend each weekend through November.

Kelly said she looks forward to the festival and being able to talk to complete strangers through the bond of the love of the fair.

Nelson, who made his costume, said it originated as a vampire hunter and has evolved into a pirate over the years.

“It's impossible to be upset or down here. Everything just feels so great,” Nelson said. “The food is amazing. I literally set aside money through the year just to buy the food here because it's so good.”

Kye Rymer, 25,We have a huge variety of uniform costume to buy in stock! and Samantha Krueger, 23, both of Tomball, said they enjoy seeing the variety of costumes attendees wear to the fair — among their favorites: Ghostbusters, Captain Jack Sparrow and anyone sporting chainmail armor.

“Pretty much, if there's a theme, I'm going to be here in that theme,” Krueger said.

Rick Hollingsworth, 52, of Albuquerque, N.M., said two weeks ago he was in Santa Fe for renaissance festival. He and his wife, Daphne Hollingsworth, 45, have traveled to fairs in Georgia and Colorado Springs, but nothing compares to this one.

“It's actually built for a renaissance fair, whereas some you go to they have to set up tents,” she said. “You walk into this and you step out of time.”

The couple came dressed as pirates Sunday but said on Saturday she was a wench and he was one of The Three Musketeers.

With flowers in her hair and wearing her boyfriend's dark green cape to keep warm, Emily Baucum, 15, of Sugarland, said she's been coming to the festival since she was a child.

Her boyrfriend, Atticus Finch, 16, of Sugarland, said he's been buying pieces of his outfit over the years to create his desired look.

The couple held hands as they walked through the fairgrounds, the first of many trips this season, they said.

“The atmosphere is really cool,” Finch said. “When you show up and everyone's in costume, it's really cool to be a part of that.”