Houston, Oct 9 (IANS): The 37th annual Texas Renaissance Festival (TRF) kicked off Saturday in the southern US city of Magnolia with the participation of more than 30,000 visitors.

The 2011 TRF, taking place some 100 km north of Houston, is the country's largest and most acclaimed Renaissance theme gala where sights, sounds and tastes of the 16th century come alive for eight weekends, reported Xinhua.

The festival started with a Bavarian celebration, where festival-goers could drink beer, learn the Polka dance and taste typical German food.

The New Market Village, an area covering 243,000 square meters, was transformed into a Rhineland of food, beverages, artworks and crafts, as well as games and human-powered rides.

Visitors strolled down the shaded cobblestone pathways, interacting with jugglers, minstrels and fortunetellers, or wandered in the shops filled with pottery, woodcarvings, jewellery and other treasures.

Rose gardens and maypoles enhanced the festivity for the visitors as they roamed through the meadows and enjoyed the non-stop entertainment of more than 200 daily shows.

Gina Rotolo, director of marketing and media relations of the event, said the festival last year entertained over 450,000 guests with nearly 500 costumed performers on 17 stages and 340 shops.