US Renaissance Festivals
From jousting tournaments to medieval treasure hunts. Discover 130+ annual faires across all 50 states.
Browse by State
Featured Festivals
Texas Renaissance Festival
October-November
The Texas Renaissance Festival is the largest renaissance festival in the United States, attracting over half a million visitors annually to its 55-acre site in Todd Mission. Running for nine themed weekends each fall, it features over 400 shops, 200 performers, jousting tournaments, and a full-scale replica of a 16th-century English village. The festival has been operating since 1974 and is a cornerstone of Texas cultural entertainment.
Sherwood Forest Faire
February-April
Sherwood Forest Faire brings the legend of Robin Hood to life in the rolling hills east of Austin. Spanning 28 acres of natural Texas woodland, this spring festival features full-contact jousting, aerial acrobatics, and over 100 artisan vendors. The wooded setting provides an immersive experience that makes visitors feel transported to medieval Nottingham.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival
April-May
Scarborough Renaissance Festival transforms 35 acres south of Dallas into a bustling 16th-century English village. With over 200 costumed performers, 2,600 costumed guests on peak days, and an array of period-appropriate entertainment, Scarborough has been a beloved North Texas tradition since 1981. The festival features over 200 artisan shops and interactive experiences.
Maryland Renaissance Festival
August-October
The Maryland Renaissance Festival is one of the largest and most acclaimed renaissance faires in the country, drawing over 300,000 visitors to its 27-acre recreation of a 16th-century English village. Located in Crownsville near Annapolis, the festival runs for nine weekends with jousting, over 140 craft shops, 10 stages of entertainment, and a vibrant food court serving turkey legs and mead.
Bristol Renaissance Faire
July-September
Bristol Renaissance Faire spans 30 acres along the Wisconsin-Illinois border, recreating a bustling 16th-century English village. Running since 1972, it features over 250 performers on 20 stages, full-contact jousting, and artisan marketplaces with handcrafted goods. The faire's immersive environment includes a working blacksmith shop, glassblowing demonstrations, and period-accurate food and drink.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
August-September
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is one of the largest in the nation, welcoming over 300,000 guests annually to its 22-acre site in Shakopee. The festival features a 16th-century village with over 275 artisans, 16 stages of continuous entertainment, full-armor jousting, and themed weekends from Pirates to Highland Fling. It has been a Twin Cities tradition since 1971.
Ohio Renaissance Festival
September-October
The Ohio Renaissance Festival recreates the 16th-century English village of Willy-Nilly-on-the-Wash across 30 wooded acres in Harveysburg. Running since 1990, the festival features over 130 artisan shops, 15 stages of live entertainment, full-contact jousting, and themed weekends. The natural wooded setting enhances the immersive medieval atmosphere.
Arizona Renaissance Festival
February-April
The Arizona Renaissance Festival transforms 30 acres of Sonoran Desert into a 16th-century English marketplace east of Phoenix. The festival features 14 stages of entertainment, a jousting arena, over 200 artisan shoppes, and 2,000 costumed characters. The mild winter desert climate makes it one of the most comfortable outdoor festival experiences in the country.
Carolina Renaissance Festival
October-November
The Carolina Renaissance Festival brings a 16th-century European village to life on 25 acres in Huntersville, just north of Charlotte. Running since 1994, the festival features over 100 artisan merchants, 11 stages of entertainment, jousting tournaments, and themed weekends. The Piedmont setting provides perfect fall weather for outdoor festival enjoyment.
Northern California Renaissance Faire
September-October
The Northern California Renaissance Faire in Hollister presents an authentic 16th-century English marketplace complete with jousting, artisan crafts, and period entertainment. Set among the rolling golden hills of San Benito County, the faire offers themed weekends, over 150 merchant booths, and continuous stage performances from morning to dusk.
Southern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire
April-May
The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California is one of the oldest and most storied renaissance faires in America, dating to 1963. Held at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, it recreates the English port village of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I, with hundreds of performers, artisan shoppes, and period entertainment spanning seven themed weekends.
Koroneburg Old World Festival
March-May
Koroneburg Old World Festival recreates a Central European village from the late medieval period in the hills near Corona. Unlike most Renaissance faires that focus on English culture, Koroneburg celebrates German, Austrian, and Swiss traditions with authentic food, music, and artisan crafts. The intimate setting and European focus make it unique among California festivals.
Take TroveRadar Into the Field
Pin your Ren Faire treasure finds to your field journal. Get offline maps, real-time species ID, and community find reports.