A quest for a new kingdom

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026

The quest for Mysthaven is taking the Whidbey Ren Faire back to the drawing board and across the island in search of a new patch of land where royalty, fairy catchers and knights can roam together again.

The Whidbey Ren Faire is searching for a different place to host its 2027 festival because the site where the event has been held for the past two years will no longer be an open field. At the same time, Whidbey Ren Faire Vice President Geri Terry said organizers are looking farther down the road: toward a permanent home where their vision for a year-round Renaissance village could take root.

President and founder Arielle Morgan said having a permanent venue would allow organizers to stop rebuilding the event from scratch each year and instead put more of their resources toward improving it.

“I feel that it is relevant to understanding how much better we can make the event when we do not have to reinvent the wheel every single year. At a permanent venue, we can not only apply for multi-year applications, saving us months of work, but we can reinvest that time and money into building a better experience for our patrons,” Morgan said.

Terry said the organization is looking for at least 30 acres, with 50 acres being ideal. The property should be relatively level. The organizers would prefer to rent in Oak Harbor or Coupeville, where many of the fair’s volunteers live, but they are open to locations anywhere on Whidbey Island, noted Terry.

Finding enough acreage to buy has proved difficult, making a rental a practical alternative for next year’s fair. The organization is offering $400 per acre for a property owner willing to host the event.

Organizers are also raising $300,000 through GoFundMe, hoping to crowdsource much of the money needed to secure a permanent location in Oak Harbor.

Terry said the organizers have big dreams for the Whidbey Ren Faire once they do find a forever home. They envision a permanent, year-round village called Mysthaven, designed to keep the spirit of the Ren Faire alive year-round. Morgan explained that the plan for Mysthaven includes a living-history site with a castle hotel, historically inspired buildings, a farm-to-table restaurant, a medieval tavern, and the Wylde Skills School. The property would also provide space for public and private community events throughout the year.

The school is intended to connect the Renaissance fair’s traditions with the broader community by teaching heritage skills and arts to both children and adults. Morgan described it as a history-focused trade school, with short programs and introductory workshops designed to preserve skills that are becoming less common. The planned classes range from pottery, weaving and leatherworking to blacksmithing, regenerative agriculture, photography, videography and digital arts. Other offerings could include historical crafts such as calligraphy, illuminated text, fletchery and chainmail construction.

Morgan also hopes the site could eventually become an educational resource for local and regional schools, hosting field trips and public tours while giving children opportunities to explore hands-on skills.

For visitors, a permanent home could also solve some of the limitations that come with building a festival on a temporary site each year. Morgan’s list of potential improvements includes greater ADA accessibility, comfortable walking paths, sensory-friendly accommodations, improved parking and safety infrastructure, covered seating, family-care stations, water refill stations and an established campground.

While Mysthaven remains a long-term ambition, the Whidbey Ren Faire is already making an impact on the island. Attendance has nearly doubled since the fair’s first year, according to Terry, with more than 15,000 people attending this year’s event. She also said visitors spent more than $1 million on the island during the fair weekend, benefiting local businesses, vendors and artists.

“We bring fun and magic to the community at large,” Terry said. “With the people coming and spending the money here for the weekend that they’re at the fair, it benefits the whole island.”

Now the organization hopes the community can help with the next chapter, whether the answer is a temporary field for 2027 or the land that could eventually become Mysthaven.

“We just want to keep the magic alive here on Whidbey Island,” Terry said.

Morgan said the future of the event depends on finding a location.

“Finding a new location for us is imperative, as without a venue, our organization would either be forced to move elsewhere or cease to exist altogether,” Morgan said.

To support the Whidbey Ren Faire’s fundraiser, donate to gofund.me/ab17924e.