The Minnesota Renaissance Festival opened today for its final weekend, despite a fire this morning that destroyed or severely damaged six vendor booths.

The fire started around 6 a.m. in the Scotch egg both, spreading to five other privately-owned booths. Campers and performers that stayed overnight at the festival grounds heard an explosion and called to report the fire.

Witnesses reported seeing flames from Highway 169. Crews from Shakopee, Chaska and Carver had the fire under control by 7:30 a.m., despite the fact that there is no water source and no fire hydrants on the grounds, and crews had to bring in tanker trucks.

This is the final weekend of the season for the Shakopee festival.