WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Texans sure do love the medieval times. We checked.

The Lone Star State is home to nearly a dozen Renaissance festivals, with the largest in the U.S. happening later this year near the Houston area. The longest-running Renaissance festival is in Waxahachie, just south of Dallas. 

Irene Blackburn, or “Mother Earth,” made sure to grab the best seat in the house just to catch a glimpse of rehearsals as her home-away-from-home welcomes visitors again. And at 79 years old, she has seen her fair share of faces.

“Kids that I saw in the beginning they’re now grandparents and bringing their grandchildren. I know it’s scary, it’s very scary,” Blackburn said.

The New York-born Texan has the stage and spotlight pumping through her veins. So, it came as no surprise to her that after attending in 1982, she decided to join the Scarborough Renaissance Festival a year later.

“This was a missing part of my heartbeat,” said Blackburn.

For more than half her life, she’s gone from a fan to family.

“I planted some of these trees. Yes, it was all flat. This was the barren area, and these trees have all grown up in the last 40 years,” said Blackburn.

The foliage isn’t the only fixture that has been fruitful for 45 years. By hosting the months-long event, the North Texas city has also reaped a hefty harvest.

“It does bring a significant economic impact to Waxahachie.  It fills our hotels up to about 90-95% occupancy. It also brings approximately a million dollars in revenue to the city of Waxahachie,” said Waxahachie Mayor Billie Wallace.

With the flow of funds also comes the increase in foot traffic. Wallace said 95% of the festival attendees are from out of town, and they’ve been sticking around.

“Waxahachie is growing rapidly and it has been for a few years now and we don’t expect that to slow down,” Wallace said.

And neither will Blackburn.

“When I was 65, I said I’d do it until I was 70. Then when I was 70, I said I’d do it until I was 75. Now I’m gonna do it until I’m 80 and now, I’ll go for 85 (laughs). Like I said, it is my lifeblood. It’s what keeps me going,” Blackburn said.

The Scarborough Renaissance Festival is currently underway every weekend until May 25.

Last month, the festival earned top honors at the 21st Annual Renaissance Festival Awards. Fans from across the U.S. voted the North Texas event as the Favorite Renaissance Festival for the Southeast and Favorite Faery/Fantasy Festival.