The inaugural Red Wolf Renaissance Fair was held to raise money for the funding of the American Red Wolf Conservation and Research Center Project.

The event raised $12,424 for the project after taxes and completing payments to the partners that assisted in running the fair. 

Lauren Hopkins, a junior wildlife fisheries and conservation major from Independence, Missouri, organized the fair held Oct. 12-13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Craighead Forest Park. 

Hopkins said she does armored combat fighting with Memphis Armored Fight Club and wanted to combine her hobby with bringing awareness to the need for red wolf conservation efforts.

“American red wolves are in dire need of a renaissance,” Hopkins said. “There’s less than 20 left in the wild population and genetically that’s really dangerous. Any one disease or anything could really just wipe them out.”

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services there are about 241 red wolves held in captivity in facilities across the United States. 

The American Red Wolf Conservation and Research Center Project is a $5 million initiative proposed by Arkansas State University in 2022. The goal of the project is to build a red wolf conservation habitat at Craighead Forest Park where the old police shooting range used to be. 

On Sunday, a coronation for the king and queen of the fair was held. Bailey Richardson, an A-State alumni, was crowned queen. 

Richardson said she won her crown through an essay contest held before the fair which included questions about grace, mercy and leadership. 

“Renaissance festivals are just my thing,” Richardson said. “I saw that there was a contest I entered. I was like, ‘Oh, that would be fun. That’d be really cool.’ I’m a lady on the court for the Arkansas Renaissance Festival, so I got to step up and be queen for a day.”

The fair featured booths set up by locally owned businesses and food trucks. Knights from Memphis Armored Fight Club and Crowley’s Ridge Direwolves also engaged in armored combat. 

Live entertainment for the fair included a performance from the local band “Spring Hollow”, a story time reading from Amanda Stodsgill from the Craighead County Public Library and a skit from the Not on Probation (Anymore) Improv Comedy Group. 

The ASU Funtime Channel Performing Arts Colorguard executed their vampire-themed routine “Immortal Heart” and the A-State Flute Ensemble and Wind Quintet performed “Merry Minstrels: A Renaissance Serenade.”

Katie Evans, a sophomore studio art major from Highland, Arkansas, said she thinks the fair was a good price and great for community engagement.

“I’ve always wanted to go to a Renaissance fair and it was pretty cheap and good price, so we thought it’d be fun to go around and see the vendors and just dress up in cute costumes,” Evans said. “I chose to be a little mushroom fairy because I made this crochet hat. And I was like, You know what? Just make a little skirt. We’re set. We’re good to go.”

Emily Vines, a sophomore elementary education major from Paragould, said she was dressed as a goat tavern maiden character she made up. 

Vines said the fair interested her because she wanted to dress up and buy things. 

“I like the sense of community and getting to go around and see everyone and support individually owned businesses makes it all feel very tight knit,” Vines said. 

Hopkins said the fair had a massive turnout. 

“We expected like 300 people over both days and our first day, we had like over 1000 and we ran out of tickets,” Hopkins said. 

Danny Kapales, director of Jonesboro parks and recreation, said he has hopes for the future growth of the Red Wolf Renaissance Fair. 

“Right now, it’s on access six, but I would love to see the entire park be the Renaissance Fair,” Kapales said. “I would love this thing to grow to a point where you pull into the entrance and the whole weekend is nothing but Renaissance Fair throughout the park.”

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