People From The Playground: Cheryl Bales
Here in Ohio's Largest Playground, it's truly our people who make our place.
Through our People From the Playground blog series we aim to shine a spotlight on just a handful of the wonderful personalities that make our fun-filled corner of Southwest Ohio so special.
In this installment, we chat with Cheryl Bales, Marketing Director for Renaissance Park - home to the legendary Ohio Renaissance Festival, Celtic Fest Ohio, Yuletide Village and more can't-miss seasonal celebrations.
A 25-year fixture on the RenFest staff, Cheryl shared with us the ins and outs of her quarter-century as a "Queen behind the scenes" at Renaissance Park.
So many people LOVE Renaissance Festivals, but very few turn that love into a lifelong career. You’ve worked for the Ohio Renaissance Festival for more than 25 years now! How did you initially get your start and what do you enjoy most about your job?
Like many great Renaissance Festival stories, it started with what was meant to be “just for a season.” I came in as a marketing intern expecting a short-term adventure and quickly discovered that the Ohio Renaissance Festival has a way of capturing people’s hearts. One season turned into two, and before I knew it, I was learning every facet of the operation—from guest experience and marketing to problem-solving on the fly. The Festival isn’t just a workplace; it’s a community, and once you’re part of it, it’s hard to imagine leaving. What I enjoy most is the combination of creativity and impact. Very few careers allow you to help build an entire world, then watch thousands of guests step into it and genuinely disconnect from everyday life. Whether it’s seeing families make traditions, first-time guests light up, or longtime patrons return year after year, there’s a deep satisfaction in knowing you helped create those moments. After more than 25 years, no two days—or seasons—are ever the same, and that sense of magic is what keeps it rewarding.
The Ohio Renaissance Festival has so many fun characters that we can only imagine what life must be like behind the scenes. What’s something that might surprise people about working for the Ohio Renaissance Festival?
One of the biggest surprises is just how much planning, coordination, and teamwork goes into making the magic feel effortless. Behind the corsets, kilts, and crown jewels is a highly organized operation that runs months in advance—part theater production, part small city, and part family reunion. Another surprise? Many of the “characters” you meet during the day switch roles constantly. That pirate might also be a skilled craftsperson, a performer who helped choreograph a show, or someone who’s been part of the Festival for decades and knows every inch of the village. It’s a workplace where creativity and professionalism coexist, and where people genuinely care about the experience they’re creating. In short, while it looks like play—and it often is—it’s powered by a passionate team that works very hard to make sure every guest feels like they’ve stepped into another world.
For years now the Ohio Renaissance Festival has ranked among the nation’s very best. What, in your expert opinion, puts our RenFest here in Warren County above the rest?
What truly sets the Ohio Renaissance Festival apart is the balance between scale and soul. We’re large enough to offer an incredible variety of entertainment, food, and shopping, yet we work very intentionally to ensure the experience still feels personal, welcoming, and immersive. The village itself is a major differentiator—it’s a permanent, purpose-built setting that allows for layered storytelling, thoughtful details, and a sense of place you can’t replicate overnight. Pair that with world-class performers, an extraordinarily dedicated cast and crew, and a guest base that actively participates in the magic, and you have something special. Above all, it’s the commitment to excellence year after year. We don’t rest on tradition alone; we continually refine, reinvest, and listen to our guests. That combination of craftsmanship, creativity, and genuine care is what keeps the Ohio Renaissance Festival not just among the best—but beloved.
From its incredible live entertainment to its iconic, era-inspired eats, the Ohio Renaissance Festival has no shortage of can’t-miss offerings. That said, if you had to recommend just a handful of experiences to a first-time visitor what might those be?
The top six things not to miss for a first-time visitor would be:
1) A joust
2) Eat a giant turkey leg – Or share! See and/or meet the Queen
3) Make time to browse the marketplace
4) Explore the human powered rides and try your hand at a game of skill
4) Take in all of the magic of the experience that you can!
Renaissance Festivals, it seems, have exploded in popularity in recent years? What do you credit that to?
We think it’s a perfect mix of escapism, connection, and creativity. In a world that’s increasingly digital and fast-paced, Renaissance Festivals offer something refreshingly tangible—you can step into a living, breathing story where phones go in pockets, conversations happen face-to-face, and the day unfolds at a human pace. There’s also a growing appreciation for immersive experiences. Guests don’t just attend the Ohio Renaissance Festival; they participate. They dress up, cheer at the joust, interact with characters, and become part of the village themselves. Add in great food, live entertainment, unique shopping, and multigenerational appeal, and it becomes an experience families and friends can share together. Ultimately, people are looking for joy, community, and a little bit of magic—and Renaissance Festivals deliver all three in spades.
Over the past several years, Renaissance Park has expanded substantially and is now home to a number of other seasonal happenings in Celtic Fest Ohio, Yuletide Village and Brimstone Haunt. What inspired that growth and what’s next for Renaissance Park?
The growth really came from listening—both to our guests and to the potential of the property itself. We realized people didn’t just love the Ohio Renaissance Festival; they loved being at Renaissance Park. The land, the village, and the sense of escape naturally lent themselves to other stories and seasons, so expanding into Celtic Fest Ohio, Brimstone Haunt, and Yuletide Village felt like a natural evolution rather than a departure. Each event allows us to celebrate something different—heritage and music in late spring, heart-pounding thrills in the fall, and cozy holiday magic in the winter—while still delivering the same immersive, high-quality experience guests expect from us. As for what’s next, our focus remains on thoughtful growth. That means refining experiences, adding new entertainment and amenities, and continuing to find creative ways to use the Park year-round without losing the charm that makes it special. The goal is simple: more moments of wonder, more reasons to return, and more stories waiting to be discovered at Renaissance Park.
When you aren’t on site at Willy Nilly on the Wash, where else might we find you enjoying your time in Warren County? What other Warren County events, attractions, restaurants or shops would you recommend to visitors?
When I’m not at Willy Nilly on-the-Wash, you’ll most likely find me doing what I encourage our guests to do—exploring and enjoying all that Warren County has to offer. One of the great things about this area is the variety: charming small towns, beautiful parks, and no shortage of local flavor. I always recommend spending time in historic downtown Waynesville for its shops, antiques, and dining, or heading to Loveland to enjoy the bike trail and riverfront. Outdoor lovers can’t go wrong with Caesar Creek State Park for hiking, boating, or simply unwinding. For food and drink, Warren County has a growing mix of local restaurants, breweries, and coffee spots that are well worth a stop. Warren County has a way of surprising people—in the best way. It pairs perfectly with a day at the Ohio Renaissance Festival and gives visitors plenty of reasons to extend their stay and come back again.