The Santee Summer Knights festival series is preparing to launch a multi-event Renaissance-themed program, bringing together community organizations, performers, and regional partners for a year-round slate of cultural events.
The series will debut this weekend, June 5–7, in Santee, with additional seasonal events planned for December and February, including a Yuletide Medieval Festival and a Medieval Valentine celebration.
Organizers describe the effort as a public-private collaboration designed to expand regional entertainment while supporting community programs.
The concept originated within the Kiwanis Club of Santee, a volunteer nonprofit focused on youth and family service through community fundraising events such as the Law Enforcement Awards, Youth Business Fair, Junior Olympics Track Meet, Special Olympics Spring Games, fishing derbies, and Easter Sunrise celebrations.
Árpád Tota, event manager for the series, said the idea was rooted in bringing a new community experience to the region.
“Bringing something new, educational, and fun to Santee while raising funds for Kiwanis community programs is really what kicked this off,” Tota said.
In 2023, Kiwanis member Denise Jones proposed a Renaissance fair concept, supported by Santee Director of Community Services Nick Chavez.
A small two-acre pilot was launched first, followed by a larger expansion in 2025 when the county made the 23-acre Edgemoor facility available for community use.
With support from a county grant, RenEx (Renaissance Experience) was introduced as a one-day event.
Organizers later expanded the planning team, adding Historic Event Productions and veteran Renaissance fair planner Beau Bozarth.
The series has since evolved into a structured two-day format with evening programming.
The summer kickoff runs three days. Programming includes jousting, archery, battlefield reenactments, court processions, troubadours, knighting ceremonies, and themed appearances such as Queen Elizabeth I.
Seasonal events will include programming for Father Christmas, Krampus, and St. Valentine.
Organizers will publish an electronic program with schedules, maps, vendor listings, and planning tools, along with volunteer opportunities for community members.
The event is supported by the Kiwanis Club of Santee and the Santee Community Foundation, with additional backing from local civic organizations, including Rotary and the Santee Park and Recreation Committee.
Organizers said the series stands out as a nonprofit-led Renaissance event with strong government collaboration and ADA accessibility, designed to serve East and South County residents.
Tota said community growth is a key factor in the project’s expansion.
“What started as a small group of enthusiasts has really taken on a life of its own once people saw what it could become,” he said.
Organizers also said regional demand following the closure of the Koroneburg Renaissance Fair, which left a gap for guilds and vendors.
Additional information is available through santeesummerknights.com
