Ohio Renaissance Festival: What You Need to Know
What is the Ohio Renaissance Festival?
So, what is the Ohio Renaissance Festival? It’s one of the best ways to spend a fall day! More specifically, it is a weekend long festival in a 30-acre Elizabethan era village (named Willy Nilly-on-the-Wash). Here, you’ll find anything from themed food (like turkey legs!) to costumed performers to artisan craft booths. They even have over 100 shows on up to 17 different stages!! This Renaissance Festival ranked second best in the nation, so it is definitely one of the best things to do in fall in Ohio!
When and Where is the Ohio Renaissance Festival?
The festival grounds are located in Waynesville, Ohio, which is about an hour or so north of Cincinnati, at 10542 East State Route 73 Waynesville, Ohio 45068.
The festival runs every weekend (Saturday and Sunday) from August 30 through October 26. The hours are 10:30am to 7:00pm.
Themed Weekends
Each weekend at the festival has a different theme, so you can plan your visit based on what you’ll enjoy the most!
Opening Weekend is August 30 through September 1. Since this is the first weekend and a holiday weekend, they extend their open days by one day to include Labor Day.
Fantasy Weekend is September 6 and 7. This weekend is all about fantasy and all things fantastical! Fantasy Weekend will also have ASL interpreters available.
Feast of Fools Weekend is September 13 and 14. This weekend is about all things silly! The village will be filled with fools and foolish antics!
Pirate Weekend is September 20 and 21. This weekend is for all you pirate lovers out there! You can expect Pirate Play Time and plenty of sea shanties!
Time Travelers Weekend is September 27 and 28. For this weekend, you can come dressed as your favorite character from a movie, TV series, comic book, or sci-fi or fantasy work! This weekend is also COSI weekend.
Viking Weekend is October 4 and 5. Expect to see a lot of Vikings this weekend!
Highland Weekend is October 11 and 12. This weekend celebrates Celtic heritage. You can expect bagpipes, haggis, and more!
Romantic Weekend is October 18 and 19. This weekend, couples can renew their vows in a free Mass Renewal of Vows Ceremony.
And the last weekend is Heroes and Young Adventurers Weekend on October 25 and 26. This weekend kids 12 and under get free admission. First responders and military also get a $3 discount on admission. To get this discount, tickets must be purchased at the ticket booth. You cannot purchase them in advance.
What to Expect
As soon as you step through the gates, you’re going to be transported straight into the Renaissance of the 16th century! Performers and vendors really give you the immersive experience by going all out in how they dress, act, and speak. Throughout the day, there are jousting tournaments, comedy shows, and music performances. These performances are the background noise for you as you shop and eat to your hearts content!
Speaking of eating! There is so much to try from turkey legs, meat pies, and roasted nuts to classic fair food like funnel cakes, fudge, and fries. And when you’re ready to wash down your meal, the festival will be there with mead, cider, cocktails, or soda if thats more your speed!
While you’re exploring you’ll find artisans selling handmade items from woodworking to handmade soaps and candles. They also have costume contests and interactive experiences for you to try! Needless to say, this festival has something for everyone. It’s such a unique experience, you have to try it at least once!
Tips for Visiting
If you’re planning your visit, we have all the tips and tricks for making the most of your day!
Costumes - You don’t have to dress up if you go, but it is encouraged! It adds to the experience and will make fun photos for you! That being said, costumes can be expensive, so while encouraged, they definitely aren’t required! Guests wander in everything from full knight’s armor to simple jeans and t-shirts, so you’ll fit right in no matter how you come dressed. No matter what you wear, we recommend comfortable shoes! You will do lots of walking to explore the whole park, so make sure you’ll be comfortable (even if it doesn’t match your costume!)
Parking - Parking is free! It does fill up pretty quickly, so if you want to have a spot close to the entrance, make sure you arrive around opening or at least morning to get a closer spot! I also want to note that you do park in the grass, so be mindful of that! (we have never gotten stuck even when its rained, but we still worry about it haha).
Cash vs Card - The majority of vendors accept card now, but will add a processing fee. Its typically a flat $1 or just a percentage (this is to cover the credit card processing fee for the system they are using to process your payment). There are small vendors that may be cash only, but we’ve found that they are infrequent, so you’ll be able to use your card for anything you’ll need. We always have a little cash with us for any of those vendors that don’t take card or if we want to avoid any fees and recommend you have some too!
Weather - Ohio weather can be unpredictable. I’m writing this in August and it’s currently 70F and I’ve known 90F to go through mid September. So, even though this is a fall activity, it can be hot! Check the weather for your day and make sure you dress warm/cool enough and bring rain gear if needed!
Planning - Check the schedule and make a plan before you get there! You can find a digital schedule on their website and they have physical ones when you enter the park. There are so many good shows, so make sure you look through the schedule and pick the ones you want to see and make a game plan for getting to see them all!
Cell Service - This is in a rural part of Ohio, so depending on your phone service provider, you may have little to no reception. Keep that in mind when planning your visit!
Conclusion
The Ohio Renaissance Festival is one of the best festivals in Ohio and a must do fall activity in Ohio! It blends history, fantasy, and food seamlessly into the most magical fall tradition. Whether you’re a foodie looking for a giant turkey leg, a medieval enthusiast wanting to experience a jousting tournament, or just want to people watch, this festival will leave you with smiles and memories that will last long after you leave. So, grab your costume and add this festival to your fall bucket list!
Share your favorite Renfaire memory below!