During the Middle Ages, peasants and kings alike donned ancient Greek and Roman garments for an annual Classical Festival, drinking strong black wine and daring one another to wrestle and kiss a surly goat. Though such practices are now limited to a few historical societies such as the Delta house, today's Groupon renews the spirit of the times. For $10, you get an adult ticket to the largest themed celebration in the Southeast: The Georgia Renaissance Festival, a $20 value. This deal is only valid for ticket redemption on the weekends of April 24–25 or May 8–9. Horseless carriage stabling is free.

Sprawled across a huge field in Fairburn, roughly 13 miles southwest of the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the festival teems with life, noise, and the PG-13 debauchery of nearly 1,000 costumed rakes, harlequins, ne'er-do-wells, knights, wenches, and the ever unpredictable royal treasury accountants. Catch jousting, falconry shows, and surprise inquisitions to make sure you're having a good time. Take up a sword and have a blast repressing the local Irish, or dress up your niece and nephew for a crusade to bring endless laughter and good times to frowny infidels. On the weekend of April 24 and 25, visitors can enjoy Irish dancing and a highlander pipe-and-drum band, while on Mother's Day weekend (May 8 and 9), the first 100 moms through the gate will receive free flowers.

Nab a blown-glass or carved-stone piece of the imagined past in the artist market, nosh super-sized turkey legs and other medieval fare at any of the food courts, or spiral, dip, and spin on rides ($1–$5 per attraction) like the Sea Dragon, Barrel O'Bedlam, and the hydraulic iron maiden.

Reviews

Metromix Atlanta and Creative Loafing featured the Georgia Renaissance Festival:

• It's hard not to enjoy the Georgia Renaissance Festival...The fair is packed with things to do, from cheering on jousting knights to watching the bawdy wishing well wenches. You can spend hours wandering the grounds, trying your hand at games and skills tests (archery, anyone?) and browsing through the booths featuring handcrafted goods. And at some point, though you may try to resist, you're going to end up with one of those giant turkey legs in your hand, feasting like a king. – Metromix Atlanta

Five Yelpers give four stars:

• GA's food is great...and their entertainment is top notch. The Tortuga Twins are NOT to be missed!! What's more, you can tell the actors here really love what they're doing. – Emily B.
• I could have never imagined that I had a deep seeded desire to carry a real sword... – scott k.