As the holiday season ended, Saint Charles, Missouri, celebrated the thirty-seventh year of its unique musical Renaissance festival. According to Andrew Schempf, Music Director at Immanuel Lutheran Church, the festival has roots in 14th-century Oxford, England. In a social media post by the Saint Charles, Missouri - City Government, Schempf traced the festival’s journey from England to the East Coast with early colonists, eventually inspiring Immanuel Lutheran’s own Renaissance-style Christmas festival, which began in 1988.
The festival tells the Christmas story entirely through music and performances by costumed lords, ladies, jesters, sprites, and guards, without traditional spoken dialogue. This approach creates an immersive experience that blends historical traditions with the local community.
Over the years, the festival has become a key part of St. Charles’ holiday calendar, attracting both local residents and visitors. Schempf describes it as a "musical Renaissance festival," where the combination of music, costumes, and lively performances conveys the Christmas narrative and festive spirit. The Saint Charles, Missouri - City Government recognized it as one of this year’s Greatest Hits for the way it preserves historical traditions while offering an engaging community experience.
