Throw an axe, gnaw a turkey leg, travel back in time at Hollister’s Renaissance Faire

Bay Area folks can practice axe-throwing, watch Shakespearean comedy, don period costumes and otherwise enjoy a trip to Elizabethan times at the Northern California Renaissance Faire in Hollister, running every weekend through Oct. 23. 

The event, held in a glen at Casa de Fruta, re-creates a village during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the theme, but even if you’re not willing to lace up a corset or speak Old English, there should be more than enough to amuse you. Entertainment includes live music, jousting, dancing and refreshments.