The Sterling Renaissance Festival will, as always, offer an abundance of old tyme fun, but this year organizers have added some new things to the lineup.

Artistic director Gary Izzo said this year there will be a boar's head mystery feast at the pavilion.

In separate ticketed event, which includes the cost of festival admission, the audience will be taken through a murder mystery that will last about one hour.

Izzo said they've also added a few more Queen's Teas.

“It was conceived for little girls and their moms to have tea in a very whimsical way,” Izzo said, who's been artistic director for the festival for 29 consecutive years. “It's just kind of grown and we'll do three shows now.”

Participants will also take home a porcelain tea cup.

And in addition to the professional acting company, the local Warwickshire Folk will complement the characters this year in such.

Five new full-time artisans have also been added to the list, said Howard Bartle, artisan coordinator.

“Most people are surprised by the breadth and quality of our artisans,” Bartle said noting that they come from all over the country to display their wares.

New this year will be Jason Bakutis and his sculptures, Disa Baylis' glass art and demonstrations of jewelry making from her glass-blown beads, Mark Cooper's “Signs of Spirit” that are carved from one solid piece of wood, Jannelle Olmstead and her period clothing accessories and certified herbalist Marie Taber.

Time to head back to the ye good ole tymes.

If you go

What: Sterling Renaissance Festival

When: Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 19

Where: Sterling

Cost: $22 adults, $8 children

For details: Visit the Web site at www.sterlingfestival.com

Themed weekends

Again this year, each weekend will correspond with a theme. In order, they are as follows:

€ Childrens

€ Romance

€ Pirates

€ Amber-Bock

€ Grand Finale