Join us during Friday’s Pass to the Past program for special activities that are specifically aimed at giving students an immersive educational experience. There are arts and STEM competitions for students in elementary, middle, and high schools to encourage exploration of Medieval and Renaissance history, including a siege engine contest and three age-conscious visual arts competitions.

Festival organizers are also extending an invitation to high school and college students to show off their skills on the festival’s stages with time period-appropriate performances on Friday. The festival will award a performance scholarship in honor of Michael Wade, a performer who delighted patrons as the Duke of Orlando in 2017 and who was such a prominent figure in Florida’s vibrant and close-knit Renaissance faire community. Michael passed away suddenly just after the 2017 festival, and though he was only with the festival for one season, he made an incredible impact. The Michael Wade Memorial Scholarship bears his namesake to carry on his legacy to the next generation of entertainers in Orlando.