Bonney Lake’s Kelley Farm has always taken visitors back in time to the area’s first settlers, but this summer it will go much further back.

The farm will transport guests to 16th Century Scotland as the Washington Renaissance Faire sets up camp for three weekends in August.

For the past two years, the Faire was hosted by Maris Farms in Buckley.

Amy Forsyth, president of NPO Productions and entertainment director of the Renaissance Faire, said while the Faire enjoyed its time at Maris, the property was not quite large enough for all its needs.

In addition, the Faire placed strains on Maris Farms’ ability to prepare for their big Halloween events in October, according to Scott Corliss, owner of the Kelley Farm.

Corliss and Forsyth both said representatives from Maris Farm brought them together as a possible fit for the Faire’s needs.

“It seemed like a really great kind of partnership,” Forsyth said. “This is the first year we’ll be able to do the show we want to do.”

Corliss said the Renaissance Faire will be set up in the large field across Old Buckley Highway from Target, away from the actual farm buildings.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” he said.

“We delighted,” Forsyth said. “It’s a beautiful site.”

The new location should allow the Faire to keep camp sites on the same property as the Faire, something that could not be done at Maris.

The 250-acre Kelley Farm property is home to what is believed to be one of the earliest houses built in the area. The farm was established in 1864 by William B. Kelley, one of Bonney Lake’s earliest settlers.

Corliss bought the farm in 2003 and has restored the main house as well as the old milking barn on the property.

The large field on the western side of the property has been used in the past for polo grounds and bike races, among other things, though this will be the first large-scale event to call the property home.

“We’re just looking for opportunities for the farm where we can generate a little bit of income,” Corliss said in a phone interview last week. “We just see it ad a win-win for everybody.”

Forsyth said the Faire is set in Scotland in 1561 as a celebration of the return of Mary, Queen of Scots from France to her homeland. During the Faire, the Kelley Farm’s field will be transformed to re-crate life in the middle ages, complete with blacksmiths, candle makers, costumers and food of the times.

“We have the best turkey legs on the West Coast,” Forsyth said.

But the main events, according to Forsyth, are the live jousting performances by Cavallo Equestrian Arts, a family of seventh-generation Italian acrobats that she said are currently on tour with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “They’re the high point of the Faire.”

The Faire will take over the property for three weekends in August beginning Aug. 6 and ending Aug. 21 and even Coriss joked about getting involved in the fun.

“I’m ready to get on a horse and joust a little bit,” he said with a laugh.

For more information visit http://www.washingtonfaire.com/