The Old World meets the New World in eastern Iowa’s Amana Colonies today. Gregory Schmidt is producer of the Iowa Renaissance Festival, which he says is part King Arthur movie and part three-ring circus. It’s an emersion into what’s called edu-tainment, a combination of living history educational exhibits plus entertainment on five stages. There are 82 shows rotating all day with 18 various performing groups. Schmidt says the era of the renaissance and the dark ages appeal to people of all ages.The acts range from pirate comedy to jousting on horseback. Schmidt says there will also be at least 50 merchants, craftsmen and artisans set up selling their unusual wares from by-gone centuries. Items that are custom-made and hand-made including jewelry, woodwork, leatherwork, clothing, armor and swords. The festival began Saturday and runs through today (Labor Day). For more information, call (641) 357-5177 or surf to “www.festint.com”.