That man is wearing a skirt, well, a kilt, actually.

Where are men comfortable enough with their masculinity to roam around wearing spandex tights, feathered hats and kilts?

It’s not Robin Hood: Men in Tights, it’s the 27th annual Kansas City Renaissance Festival. From Aug. 30-Oct. 13, the festival transports guests back in time to participate in a 16th century village. Every effort is made to accurately recreate the medieval experience for visitors. The festival organizers employ more than 250 people to dress in period-style costumes and entertain guests through small plays and simple Old English conversation.

Many visitors to the festival don’t need any monetary encouragement to dress up in their medieval garb. Children dressed up as knights, princesses and executioners trailed behind their equally enthusiastic parents.

Any group of people can be found at the festival: goths, punks, hippies, Tolkien fans, parents and children. The festival draws a diverse crowd with the promise of exotic foods, period music, unique shops, carnival style rides, games and entertaining stage shows.

Keesa Stammer, junior accounting major, visited the Renaissance Festival this fall for the first time in five years.

“I remembered that I had a lot of fun the last time I went,” Stammer said. “So I thought I would have a good time looking at all of the medieval stuff.”

The festival boasts a diverse menu for visitors to choose from. Different booths sell bread-bowl soups, beer-battered veggies, gyros, shrimp and chips, pork chop on a stick, fried ice cream, apple turnovers, honey-roasted almonds and the most popular item, roasted turkey legs. For some, the food is the highlight of the entire event.

“My favorite part every year is just walking around eating a turkey leg,” Stammer said.

The music offered ranges from the bagpipes and penny whistles of “Scotland Rising” to the African tribal drums of “Djembe Kaan.”

The festival grounds are divided into “glens,” each with its own theme. The Enchanted Forest is alive with pixies, fairies and fawns. Ancient elegance in the form of abandoned tea parties consisting of chipped china and broken chairs give the glen a creepy, surreal feeling.

Strange creatures with wild hair and devil horns and clothed in animal skins were real enough to make visitors look twice. The characters roam in and out of the overgrown trees that are decorated with wispy draped fabrics and spider webs.

Some of the other areas include Wildwood, Royal Gardens, Yorkshire Wharf, Hunter’s Glen, Mermaid Commons, Lion’s Grove, Follie Field and Stumble Lane.

Dispersed throughout the festival grounds are various stages where plays and comedy shows are performed.

Magicians, belly dancers and knife throwers perform alongside pirate musicals and exotic bird exhibitions.

The largest productions are the live jousts held throughout the day. These consist of two mounted knights in full armor charging each other with the intention of breaking the opponent’s lance.

“I remembered that I enjoyed the jousting, and I loved seeing it this time again,” Stammer said.

The festival provides an outlet for nontraditional craftsmen to display their creations. More than 13 shops are devoted to medieval, Middle Eastern and Irish jewelry.

Other stores feature leather, old-fashion soap, candles, period costumes and authentic medieval weapons.

Shondy Coker, resident of Kansas City, works at Badger Blades, a sword shop at the festival.

She has attended the festival for years, but this was her first time working there.

“My dad is a professional photographer who always takes pictures of the festival,” Coker said. “I was always here, so I decided that I might as well get a job. I really enjoy it.”

Badger Blades specializes in unique weapons. Coker pointed out a wooden pike with sharpened spears on both ends.

“It’s a beautiful weapon,” she said, “but it costs about $600.”

The shops most requested weapon is a three-and-a-half foot long fantasy blade reminiscent of a Klingon weapon.

“We have a lot of interest in it,” Coker said. “A lot of people ask for it.”

Saturday, Sunday and Monday are the final days of the Festival.

Tickets are available at the Missouri Southern ticket office in Billingsly for $10.