21 Years of Magic: Inside Iowa's Beloved Renaissance Faire

For 21 years, the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire has transported thousands of Iowans from the heartland to medieval times. Behind the wood and over the bridge across the creek, visitors hear the strum of a lute and the beat of drums that set the stage for knights, pirates, and princesses.

The 2026 Faire marks two decades of bringing medieval magic to central Iowa, with more than 80 merchants scattered across the grounds of Sleepy Hollow in Des Moines. From magic shows to jousts, the festival draws crowds of all ages, with performers and visitors alike donning period clothing.

Meet the couple behind the magic

Amy Coble, 56, the festival director, and her husband Kevin Coble, 58, the creative director, have led the Faire since 2016. The couple, both in Renaissance garb, sat on the king and queen's dais during a recent interview.

“We like to bring magic and imagination to life,” Amy Coble told the Des Moines Register.

Kevin Coble's journey with jousting began nearly 30 years ago in North Carolina, when he was a hockey coach and some of his players skipped practice to attend a Renaissance Faire.

“I was a hockey coach, and some of my kids didn't come to practice,” he said. “So, I went, saw the jousting and fell in love.”

When Sleepy Hollow was first transformed into a medieval haven, Kevin brought the art of jousting to Iowa and created JoustEvolution, a jousting team that traveled the great plains of the Midwest. Amy trains the horses, and he rides them.

“We've evolved and gotten better as we've gone,” Kevin Coble said. “We've been doing this, our home Faire, for 20 years. And we pull out all the bells and whistles, the music, and all the funny characters.”

Jousts follow a pattern, but knights 'rarely do the same show'

Sometimes, a joust show is written just a mere 20 minutes before it goes on. There's a general story arc: the grand marshal introduces the jousters, the knights come out, and then the action begins.

“The action sequence can vary between skills, doing rings and swords and stuff,” Kevin Coble explained. “Fighting sword, sword upon horseback, or lance passes.”

Someone usually falls off a horse, beginning the third and final part of a joust.

“That's when they take a sword and shield, and they'll battle it out,” Kevin Coble said. “We usually try to make it something [the crowd] doesn't see coming.”

Sometimes the story's bad guy wins. Sometimes the good guy wins. It's all up to the jousters.

Knights battle the heat in full armor

Amid unseasonable swelter just past noon on Saturday, Sept. 5, Sir Lucas and Sir William, wearing full suits of armor, fought in front of a crowd of hundreds. Kevin Coble said the suits can reach up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the course of a joust, especially as the sun beats down.

The knights jousted on horseback, then wielded swords and shields before the crowd. Sir Lucas battled Sir William, swords a blur as William was knocked to the ground.

“Look out behind you!” a wee lass yelled at Sir Lucas, who was flaunting his strength, as Sir William rose from the ground with shield in both hands and a twinkle in his eye.

Sir Lucas fell to the ground after Sir William bashed his shield over his back repeatedly. Sir William was crowned the winner.

When is the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire?

After the first weekend of the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire, located at 4051 Dean Ave. in Des Moines, it will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the remaining weekends of September.

Visit Sleepy Hollow's website for a schedule of events, including the Cannon Ball, magic shows, puppet shows, dance performances, a show of birds of prey, and, of course, jousts.

Kids 12 years old and younger get free entry into the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire. Visit the Sleepy Hollow Renaissance Faire website to place ticket orders.

Why the Renaissance Faire matters to Iowa

The Faire is more than just entertainment; it's a celebration of community values, craftsmanship, and family-friendly fun. It supports local merchants and artisans, many of whom take only cash in exchange for trinkets or turkey legs, while few others took “Master Card” and “Lady Visa.”

For central Iowa families, the Faire is a September tradition that brings history to life and offers a unique escape from the modern world. It's a testament to the creativity and dedication of the Cobles and the many performers and vendors who make it possible.

This article is based on reporting from the Des Moines Register.