Florida State Renaissance Festival

Italian Renaissance Festival, Vizcaya presented by Renaissance Historical Society of Florida, Inc

Adopted in 1994

The Renaissance Historical Society of Florida was founded in 1982 by the Society's Director, Joe Allen, and by George Earl Brown and Dan Fitzgerald. The Society has gained much recognition within the last 21 years. The largest event of the year is the presentation of the only Italian Renaissance Festival in the Western Hemisphere®.

The Italian Renaissance Festival at Vizcaya was an annual event taking place on the third weekend of March from 1982 to 2003 at Villa Vizcaya, on the shores of Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida.

Florida State Renaissance Festival:
The Italian Renaissance Festival

The Italian Renaissance Festival at Vizcaya was an annual event taking place on the third weekend of March from 1982 to 2003 at Villa Vizcaya, on the shores of Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. Organized by the Renaissance Historical Society of Florida (organization founded by Joe Allen, with George Earl Brown and Dan Fitzgerald) with support from a variety of public and private sponsors.

Member of the Federation of European Historical Events, the Festival was named the "Only Italian Renaissance Festival in the Western Hemisphere,"and in 1994 was designated the "Official Renaissance Festival for the State of Florida" by the Florida legislature; the event was ranked in the top 5 of "Educational, Cultural, and Family Events" 1995 through 2000 by the National Education Association.

Entertainment features included: Living Chess Game performed by the Chessmasters de Vizcaya, Masque di San Marco Court Dancers, Symple Pleasures Peasant Dancers, Commedia del Arte Players, The Ladies of the Dagger & Rose, Italian flag throwing demonstrations by Gruppo Sbandieratori del Palio di Asti, daily parade and Ceremony by the Sea featuring courtiers, courtesans and street characters, including Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, among other notable historic figures

Florida Law

The law designating "The Italian Renaissance Festival presented at Vizcaya by Renaissance Historical Society of Florida, Inc.," as the official Florida state renaissance festival is found in the Florida Revised Statutes, Title 2, Chapter 15, Section 15.0445

Title IV EXECUTIVE BRANCH
Chapter 15 SECRETARY OF STATE Entire Chapter
SECTION 0445

Official state renaissance festival.
15.0445 Official state renaissance festival.- The Italian Renaissance Festival presented at Vizcaya by Renaissance Historical Society of Florida, Inc., a not-for-profit educational corporation, during the third week in March of each year is hereby designated an official state renaissance festival.
History.- s. 6, ch. 94-97.