Which weekend of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is right for you?

If playing dress-up feels like it's part of your natural-born destiny, the annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire beckons. Don your favorite corseted chemise, brown-leather jerkin, musketeer's hat, or other medieval-inspired wear, and get ready for a packed day of merrymaking and family-friendly fun.

Now in its 36th season on the grounds of Mount Hope Estate, the Ren Faire brings 35 acres of fantasy-fueled lands to explore throughout 13 consecutive weekends through the end of October.

This year, each weekend brings a different theme, which makes it easier to decide when you should go. Whether you prefer to learn about pirates with your little one or the process of making pinot noir with your loved one, use our guide below to mark your calendar accordingly.

Which Ren Faire weekend doth interest thee?

Go for the Grand Arrival weekend Saturday and Sunday. Score single-day tickets for $15.95 when purchased in advance online, or $19.95 tickets at the gate - a $10-off deal to celebrate the faire's kickoff.

Then the second Ren Faire weekend (Aug. 13-14) is for you. During this "Pyrate Invasion," take pirate-lingo lessons and learn how to brandish your sword before heading off to assist the king, who asks that all hands on deck join him in a massive treasure hunt.

Come to the Myths & Legends weekend (Aug. 20-21), when several costume competitions will determine who reigns supreme. Expect plenty of prime-time people-watching.

Let His Royal Highness honor your hard work during the Heroes of the Realm weekend (Sept. 3-5). All active military, reserve, police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, members of veteran organizations, and their immediate families will receive a discounted admission price with valid service ID. A special honor ceremony, led by the king himself, will take place on the human chess board.

Children's Fantasy weekend (Sept. 10-11), offering one free child admission per every full-paying adult, is the weekend to go. This also happens to be Queen Catherine's birthday weekend, which means cupcakes for the kiddos, plus kid-centric activities.

The Scottish and Irish weekend (Sept. 17-18) offers a slew of Celtic fun, including a Scottish egg-eating competition, a kilt contest, and a grand potato race.

And you just can't go anywhere without the cutie-pie canine, be sure to attend the faire during one of the eight designated Royal Dog Days in August. Register your dog online, and get ready to take on the castle grounds together. Could there be a better companion with whom to share a turkey leg?

Come flex your Star Trek spandex during the Time Travelers days (Sept. 24-25), designed to be a convergence of costumed sci-fi and other time-traveling characters.

There are two weekends from which to choose: Oktoberfest (Oct. 1-2) and Wine Harvest (Oct. 8-9). The first invites you to throw down your gauntlet during a pong, flip-cup, and alcohol-fueled triathlon as part of the larger "Bar Olympics," while the latter weekend welcomes you to partake in grape-stomping and wine-sampling.

Wait it out until the last three weekends (Oct. 15-16, 22-23, and 29-30), when a Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights theme spreads mystery and mayhem across the Shire. For the little ones, pumpkin-decorating and trick-or-treat activities will unfold, plus costume contests for children and adults.

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Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Saturdays and Sundays through October 30, Mount Hope Estate, 2775 Lebanon Road, Manheim, $30.95 (adult, at the gate), $25.95 (Online) $11.95 (children 5-11), 717-665-7021, parenfaire.com. EndText