Texas Renaissance Festival unveils new features for 2014

Check out what new facilities and construction projects have been ongoing at the Texas Renaissance Festival grounds during this off-season ... Check out what new facilities and construction projects have been ongoing at the Texas Renaissance Festival grounds during this off-season ... Photo: Jorge Valdez, Freelance Photo: Jorge Valdez, Freelance Image 1 of / 54 Caption Close Texas Renaissance Festival unveils new features for 2014 1 / 54 Back to Gallery

For its 40th season, the 55-acre Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission has made a number of additions to its annual time-tripping extravaganza, including a weekly Saturday night bash with food and drink, and extra cell towers nearby to make sure your festival selfies get online with a quickness.

The festival opens October 11.

This year's eight themed weekends are Oktoberfest, 1001 Dreams, All Hallows Eve, Pirate Adventure, Roman Bacchanal, Barbarian Invasion, Highland Fling and Celtic Christmas.

Eight new shops are being built on site to replace the tents and temporary buildings that vendors had used in the past. Sprint and Verizon are in the process of installing cell towers nearby to improve cell signal at the festival if you can’t wait to post your turkey leg selfie and picture with a barbarian warrior until you get home.

There is a new emphasis on the pirate’s life as the King’s Swings are being remodeled to look like a dread pirate ship with cannons and a crow’s nest. Festival organizers have removed eight additional acres of underbrush to accommodate more camping for festival goers.

RenFest is also a big venue for weddings, with over fifty of them each year being held on site, according Cory Brock, spokesman for the festival. They’ve now renovated the dressings rooms for the blushing brides and nervous grooms.

Each Saturday night they will be holding a bash called the King Midas Masquerade Ball, with all you can eat and drink included. The parties will start after the festival closes for the day and run until 1 a.m. inside a brand new 15,000 square foot pavilion now finishing construction.

Tickets will of course be required.

Brock is also touting the return of Real Musgrave, who was once their official artist in the early days of the festival. He’s returned to design posters and program material.

The Texas Renaissance Festival runs through November 30, 2014, when it wraps up with Celtic Christmas weekend.