United States
| Name | State | Local site & buildings type † | Setting info | Year opened |
| Age of Chivalry Festival | Nevada | Sunset Park; semi-permanent site | Five Renaissance villages; | 1994 |
| Alabama Renaissance Faire | Alabama | Wilson Park, Florence, Al | Fountain on the Green | 1987 |
| Arizona Renaissance Festival | Arizona | Gold Canyon; permanent site | Village of Fairhaven; | 1989 |
| Bay Area Renaissance Festival | Florida | Withlacoochee River Park; new site | Village of Fittleworth during the reign ... | 1979 |
Full Answer
What is the best Renaissance Festival?
- The Ded Bob Show – Because who doesn’t love dead-pan humor coming from a womanizing puppet? ...
- Adam Crack, Fire Whip Show – Adam Crack has won world records with his whipping skills.
- Cast in Bronze – The world’s only traveling carillon player. ...
- Iris and Rose – Rowdy pub music by two shameless women. ...
- Sound and Fury – Fakespearean actors. ...
What is the biggest Renaissance Festival in the world?
Welcome to The Largest Renaissance Festival in All the Land!
- Renaissance Shoppes and Artisans. Our festival is home to more than 450 merchants selling wares from around the world. ...
- Food from Across the Kingdom. The Texas Renaissance Festival is the premier destination for world cuisine each year. ...
- Renaissance Shows to Delight Our Audience. What's a festival without entertainment? ...
- And Much More... ...
What happens at Renaissance festivals?
What to expect
- Shops and stalls selling clothing, candles, soaps, jewelry, artwork, weapons, ceramics, leather goods, books, and much more.
- Food and drink: turkey legs, meat pies, giant pickles, wine, beer, and tons of regular food, too.
- Wandering actors in character: feel free to talk to them and ask to take photos of them with your strange camera contraptions.
What is the best Renaissance Faire?
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota, has nearly 50 years’ experience bringing together one of the top-rated Renaissance fairs in the country. The village setup feels and looks like a slice of 16th-century England, complete with a stunning royal court, 800-plus entertainment opportunities, and hundreds of food booths and ...
What is the largest Renaissance festival?
Texas Renaissance FestivalTexas Renaissance Festival: The Texas Renaissance Festival is the world's largest Renaissance Fair. Nearly 400,000 people attend yearly in Plantersville, Texas, on weekends through October and November and on Thanksgiving Day.
Where is the best Renaissance festival?
Best Renaissance Festivals in the USTexas Renaissance Festival. ... Maryland Renaissance Festival. ... New York Renaissance Faire. ... Scarborough Renaissance Festival. ... Bristol Renaissance Faire. ... Northern California Renaissance Faire. ... Ohio Renaissance Festival. ... Arizona Renaissance Festival.More items...
Do other countries have Renaissance festivals?
In recent years, American-style Renaissance fairs have made inroads in other countries. Germany has seen a very similar phenomenon since the 1980s (see de:Mittelaltermarkt), and, beginning in the mid-1990s, Renaissance fairs have spread into Canada and Australia.
How many Renaissance festivals are there in Texas?
That means there's a highly diverse population that ensures Texas offers something for everyone and every area of interest. And that includes four Renaissance festivals put on in Texas at various times of the year.
Can I be an elf at a Renaissance Fair?
The wonderful thing about elven renaissance faire costumes is that you can add elf ears to pretty much anything you want and call it good. If you're torn between going as a huntress or being an elf, you can be both!
What do you wear to Ren Faire?
For women, you'll want a headdress, wreath or bonnet. If you don't have one, you can always buy one at the fair. For men, headwear includes muffin caps, flat caps, felt hats, and straw hats. DON'T worry about wearing tights.
What is the best Renaissance Festival in America?
Any one of them is well worth a special visit to the area just for the Renaissance event.Bristol Renaissance Faire. ... Medieval Fair Of Norman. ... Maryland Renaissance Festival. ... Scarborough Renaissance Festival. ... Minnesota Renaissance Festival. ... Sherwood Forest Faire. ... New York Renaissance Faire. ... Carolina Renaissance Festival.More items...•
Does Japan have Renaissance fairs?
The Osaka Hikari Renaissance festival lives up to its expectations as one of the must-see winter illumination festivals in Japan.
Do they have Renaissance festivals in Europe?
Tortosa Renaissance Festival, Tortosa, Spain, 21 – 24 July 2022. The Splendour of a 16th Century City, Tortosa Renaissance Festival recreates the atmosphere of that historical period every year in July.
What is the largest Renaissance festival in Texas?
the Texas Renaissance FestivalThe largest Renaissance festival in the nation is actually located 55 miles north of Houston. Go back to the 16th century at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Spanning eight weekends, this Renaissance fair entertains over 500,000 guests each year.
Where is the Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
Waxahachie, TexasLocated in Waxahachie, Texas, Scarborough Renaissance Festival® is just 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex on FM 66 off of I-35E at exit 399B. From Austin or Waco, follow I-35E north to Exit 399.
Who owns the Maryland Renaissance festival?
Jules Smith Jr.In 1985, the fair was moved to its current location in Crownsville and in 1986 Smith turned over the management of the fair to his son Jules Smith Jr., who still runs the festival with three siblings.
What is the biggest renaissance festival in the US?
4. Arizona Renaissance Festival (Gold Canyon, Arizona) Arizona Renaissance Festival is one of the biggest renaissance festivals in the US held in February & March each year. This festival attracts 250,000 people each year and provides synergistic entertaining shows, creating 16th century Tudor village over 30 acres, shivering you from head to toe.
How many people attend the Florida Renaissance Festival?
Florida Renaissance Festival attracts more than a million people each and every year. You are welcomed here to travel back to 16th century and meet hundreds of merchants, artisans in the craft village and more than 100 performers entertaining family and friends of yours.
What is the Renaissance Fair?
Texas Renaissance Festival (Todd Mission, Texas) Texas Renaissance Fair is a first-rank fair held in late October to December, where you will see half a million people entertaining each other. The fair is highlighted with an entertaining theme that represents 14th-17th centuries.
When is the New York Renaissance Faire 2020?
In 2020 the fair will run on weekends from April 30 to May 31, so you can visit on a fine weekend! 9. New York Renaissance Faire (Tuxedo, New York) New York Renaissance Fair is gruesome fest organized in New York which represents Elizabethan England theme.
Where is the Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
Scarborough Renaissance Festival (Waxahachie, Texas) Scarborough Renaissance Festival is wonderfully hosted in Waxahachie, south of Dallas, runs mostly in April & May. Held on more than 35 acres of land and boasts two dozen stages for live and soulful acts.
Where is the Valhalla Renaissance Fair?
Valhalla Renaissance Fair (South Lake Tahoe, California) One of the mesmerizing fairs of United States, Valhalla Renaissance Fair is extremely folksy yet celebrated with éclat at camp Richardson. The fair is set as Elizabethan England theme, continuously providing entertaining sessions with medieval style usually on two weekends in June.
Who is in the Medieval Fair?
The Medieval Fair shows a royal court of King Edward III and the townspeople of Avalon. This cast also includes the king, Queen Mother Isabella, Queen Philippa, seven princes and princesses, and several dukes etc. They are deeply dependent on the sponsors and donors. 6.
Renaissance Festivals Large and Small
Some festivals that I’ve “played and partied” at are really big, such as the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, with its 35-acres near Manheim, PA. I dream about going back to that one, which is 13 weekends from early August to the end of October, 11 am – 8 pm. It’s like you are actually living in another era
If You Go
You can find a list of Renaissance Fairs and Festivals on Wikipedia or RenFaire.
What are Renaissance fairs?
Renaissance Fairs. Renaissance fairs involve elaborate period costumes, Renaissance music, jousting tournaments, and more. Often, they weave in fantastical elements such as fairies, dragons, and other magical creatures. Perhaps they really ought to be festivals that happen in Europe where the Renaissance took place, ...
Where is King Richard's Faire held?
The King Richard's Faire held in Carver (also in Massachestts) is held on 80 acres in pine forests not far from Boston. Like other of the large festivals around the country, most of the buildings and performance stages are permanent, and its is held over eight concecutive weekends in September and October.
What are the performances in Renaissance?
In a modern Renaissance festival, there are stages or performance areas set up for scheduled shows, such as plays in Shakespearean or commedia dell'arte tradition, as well as anachronistic audience participation comedy routines. Other performances include dancers, magicians, musicians, jugglers, and singers.
What is the main attraction of Renaissance fairs?
In addition to the staged performances, a major attraction of Renaissance fairs is the crowds of actors—both professional and amateur—who play historical figures and roam the fair, interacting with visitors. Visitors are encouraged to wear costumes, contributing to the illusion of an actual Renaissance environment.
What is Renaissance Fair?
A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which purportedly recreates a historical setting for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, while others are short-term events in a fairground, winery, ...
What was the history of the fairs?
In post–World War II America, there was a resurgence of interest in medieval and Renaissance culture. In the 1950s, there was a very strong early music revival, and out of that came folk musician and traditionalist John Langstaff.
What are some of the foods that were popular at Renaissance fairs?
Some foods, like turkey legs, steak on a stick and bread bowls have become iconic of renaissance festivals.
Where was the Renaissance Pleasure Faire held?
The original Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California (RPFS) was held in the Spring 1966 at the Paramount Ranch located in Agoura, California, focusing on the practices of old English springtime markets and "Maying" customs.
Where are European historical fairs held?
European historical fairs, such as those held at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, England, operate more on the living history museum model, in which an actual historic site is peopled by re-enactors whose job it is to explain historical life to modern visitors.