Lebanon ― Fall in New England means it is officially fair season, but the Connecticut Renaissance Faire is not like your average fair.

While agriculture fairs have tractor pulls and carnival rides, the Renaissance Faire offers jousting battles and staged performances. Instead of fried treats, you can snack on a giant turkey leg.

“If you’ve been to an agricultural fair and you had a good time, this is going to blow that away,” said the fair’s Marketing Director Eric Tetreault, who also co-owns the event with Paul DiNunno and Brian Harvard.

What started as a smaller event at the old King’s Inn in Putnam has transformed into a 7.5-acre event, the largest such fair in the state, Tetreault said, and set an opening night attendance record of nearly 3,700 on Saturday. He said this is the fourth year they’ve held the fair in Lebanon in its 24-year history.

Whether you’re an avid fair enthusiast or visiting for the first time, Tetreault said he wants everyone to enjoy themselves.

“I just like the fact that people come here and you can see that they’re happy and having a good time,” Tetreault said. “That’s what feels good. That’s what we get out of it.”

Whether you want to learn how to battle like a knight or see a song and dance at one of the 10 stages around the venue, there’s something to pique everyone’s interest.

For 9-year-old Maeve Browne, she enjoyed the shopping experience the most.

“Probably walking around and seeing all the stores,” Browne said, dressed in a blue devil costume.

The youngster and her family from Killingworth had just watched The Royal Parade of jesters, musicians, horses and townspeople march by on their way to spread word that the joust was soon to start. They too were heading there next.

“It’s nicely controlled,” Katie Browne, Maeve’s mother, said, comparing the event to other renaissance fairs. “It’s not massively crowded. It’s just more enjoyable. You can actually see what’s going on and people come up and talk to you.”

For first-timers Christian Izzy and Amanda DeBold from Killingly, they found what they liked most out of the over 100 shops and merchants on hand.

“All we’ve been purchasing are drinks,” said DeBold, as the two each sipped on Mai Tais.

There are plenty or bars on hand with craft beers to enjoy as well. Food options, besides the turkey legs, include burgers and fries, chicken sandwiches, sausages and peppers and chicken strips. Patrons can also snack on chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks and giant dill pickles.

Izzy, who described his experience as “awesome” said he was dressed as a “warrior monk” with a complete outfit that included a wooden staff and runic tattoos. DeBold’s fairy outfit included a dress and a headband.

Fear not, though, as dressing up is not required. While all performers are in costume and interact in character, something the event prides itself on, you do not have to dress up to be part of the fun.

“Come as you are and have a good time,” Tetreault said. “Come with an open mind and you’ll have a blast.”

This was the opening weekend for the 16th-century harvest festival, which runs every weekend, including Labor Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Oct. 16.

Make sure to check out the website first to see which performances are scheduled. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children. Children under 6 get in at no charge and pets for $5.

“The biggest thing about the show is when you come here, we want you to have a good time,” Tetreault said.

k.arnold@theday.com