Today we’d like to introduce you to David Pulcifer.
Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Koroneburg Renaissance Festival started in 1998. A community of Renaissance Festival enthusiasts got together to build a permanent Renaissance Village in an abandoned park in Riverside County. Over the last 26 years, the village has grown very much like a real old-world village, with people joining and building their own shops and buildings to add their own personality to the village. Within the last 7 years, the Koroneburg Festival has seen massive growth in attendance through word of mouth and social media campaigns. During the Covid lockdown, we were one of the first Renaissance Festivals to host an online Ren Faire, and in 2023, we saw 21,000 people come through the gates.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have definitely been challenges. In 2015, the original owner of the Festival, Tom Wilson, passed away, which was almost the end for Koroneburg until a new group of owners purchased the lease with the mission of keeping the festival alive. Our biggest challenge is still ahead of us, with the end of our lease coming up in 2025. We are working with Riverside County Parks and Army Corp of Engineers to secure the renewal, but as of this writing, we have not received confirmation that the lease will be renewed, and there is the possibility this hidden gem of Southern California could disappear.
We’ve been impressed with Loyal Order of Reenactment Enthusiasts, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Loyal Order of Reenactment Enthusiasts is a 501c3 non-profit organized for the purpose of inspiring a love of learning through history. We operate the Koroneburg Renaissance Festival, but another program we are known for is the Knights of the Fabled Reader program which works with hundreds of children every year to discover a love for reading and become lifelong readers.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking.
For anyone who has ever run events before, you know how many risks are involved in that. I accept those risks because our event does inspire people in many ways, artistically, and educationally. My approach to risk is that it must serve the purpose and mission of your company. A risk can be worthwhile if it will help you serve your mission, but needless risk that is only taken on for potential income is not worth it.
Pricing:
- Single-Day Adult Ticket – $30
- Single-Day Child Ticket – $20
- Adult Season Pass – $60
- Child Season Pass – $40
Contact Info:
- Website: www.renfestcorona.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Koroneburg
Image Credits
Don Telford
Jerry Shaw
Pacific Photo Society
