For those who live in Michigan, there is a great Renaissance festival in Holly. It runs for about a month-weekends only. However, they have Festival Friday on September 18 which is more geared toward being educational and child appropriate. They have lots of neat things to see and do. There generally is a craft area where kids can make wands, a great puppet show (I even really enjoy it), a dragon skit, LOTS of people in costume, lots of shops (expensive, but fun to browse the swords, jewelry, etc.), huge turkey drumsticks, soup in a bread bowl... its a great time. WARNING though- they do call the wands you make "magical", so some may want to avoid this. They don't dwell on it though. There are quite a few women with less than modest necklines because of the dress period. There is often salty language used, but I've not heard any on the kids day. They seem to clean it up well enough for the kids.

You can check it out at www.michrenfest.com. *Note: Children 4 & under are free.