How to Visit the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Join King Henry and his royal court for an unforgettable journey back in time at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Explore 16 stages of 16th century entertainment, from daring jousts to theatrical performances, offering something for every member of the family.
Wander through the vibrant marketplace, where over 250 talented artisans showcase their handcrafted treasures, creating a truly unique shopping experience. Meet and interact with a host of colorful characters roaming the village streets, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Every weekend hosts a theme, from Highland Fling to Love of the Arts to Woofstock. Huzzah!
What to Do Beforehand
Snag your tickets ahead of time to get a discount — either online or at participating locations. If you plan to park on the grounds, you must purchase a parking pass in advance.
Choose a weekend that will work best for you and your desired experience. Each weekend hosts a theme, additional events and activities. There’s also one Friday geared towards children and one Saturday in which ASL interpreters are at all the main stages.
If you are concerned about food allergies and the offerings at the Fest, you are encouraged to pack a lunch you can safely enjoy.
Wear comfy shoes, prepare to get dirty (dust flies, it’s part of the charm), stay hydrated (you can bring one bottle of unopened water per person), and sunblock, sunblock, sunblock.
How to Get There
Minnesota Renaissance Festival Park & Ride Service features a direct non-stop bus ride to the Fest. Children 5 and under are free to ride and parking at the Park & Ride lots is free.
App-based ride services, such as Lyft and Uber, have a designated drop-off and pick-up point located conveniently at the Festival.
If biking is more your speed, two bicycle racks are located near King’s Gate.
Date-specific parking passes must be pre-purchased online and are subject to availability. Basically, if you don’t want to lug your 3-year-old onto a Park & Ride (hey, maybe they’ll think it’s fun!), you should buy your parking pass quickly.
Live Entertainment
Arrive early for the Opening of the Gates to enjoy fun banter between the Royal Court and topped off with a canon firing.
From armored jousting to juggling, comedy, belly dancing and Robin Hood, attending stage shows at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is practically a must. Sit and enjoy the “RenFest classics” like the Danger Committee, Puke & Snot, The Tortuga Twins, and the Washing Well Wenches.
Catch musicians throughout the realm like Naughty Bawdy Brigade and The Dregs.
In addition to the scheduled stage performances, you'll also find plenty of costumed performers roaming the festival all day long. Gnomes, unicorns, pirates and more street performers are scattered throughout the grounds, spreading merriment and revelry wherever they go.
Food & Drinks
After building up an appetite while wandering the festival grounds, sate your hunger at one of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival's 45 food booths. With everything from nachos and corn dogs to alligator and turtle — not to mention the ever-popular turkey leg — there's almost nothing you can't find and devour, medieval style. If you have food allergies, you can bring your own packed lunch to enjoy.
Sign up for additional events offered daily like a six-course meal with Feast of Fantasy or drink your way around the grounds by signing up for the pub crawl, mead flight, and wine pairing events.
Shopping & Gifts
Boasting over 250 artisans and makers, the Artisan Marketplace provides a singular shopping experience for anyone seeking unique, handmade goods. Wander from stall to stall admiring a bevy of handmade wares such as jewelry, pottery, leatherwork, paintings, hand-blown glass and fine metalwork. And for anyone who loves to shop local, over 100 of the featured artisans live and make their wares right here in Minnesota.
Games & Rides
Test your medieval skills in a lineup of carnival-esque games. There’s knife throwing, a shovel toss, pirate darts, rockwall climb, and a maze. The Vegetable Justice booth always draws a crowd as a person in a talking tomato getup slings insults at participants trying to hit the person with, you guessed it, tomatoes.
Besides an array of animal rides, Fest goers can also check out the Swan Swing, Dilly Dally, and Sliding Joust rides peppered throughout the grounds.
Hidden Gems
The Royal Court and King’s performance before the Opening of the Gates is always entertaining for newbies (and returning veterans who love the bit). It only happens before the gates open daily, so if you snooze, you lose out on the canon fire.
The line for Madam Carolyn and her daughter, Katarina, starts early, but these palm readers have the gift. Your session ends when you run out of questions, so come prepared to make your one-on-one time worth it.
Not sure what the Seventh Sojourn booth’s secret is, but they have some of the most magical soaps. Their products always smell amazing, and their beard-care products are 10/10. Pro tip: if you have a run-in with a bee, they’ll happily apply some of their clay mask to ease the sting. Simply look for the giant rocking horse and you’ll find this gem.
Drop a coin in the wishing well and make your dreams come true! While the wishing well itself isn’t hidden, most attendees don’t realize the money goes to the Angel Foundation, which supports families with cancer.
Bring the Kids
Revel responsibly with a variety of kid-friendly activities. Little ones love the daily Tribucade Parade, which honors the festival's King and Queen, Royal Guard, Princess Court and more.
Kids (and kids at heart) can meet fairies and other extraordinary creatures in the Fairywing Forest and meet merfolk in the magical waters of Mermaid Cove. Plus, there are elephants, camels, and llamas to ride. Check out Como Cottage for an up-close look at slithering reptiles, Clover Cottage for a mystical retreat, and the Petting Zoo, where you might spot a unicorn if you’re lucky.
The Palace Garden hosts a daily children’s costume contest and provides props to wear if you want your kiddos to participate, but you don’t want to deck them out in a new costume (or if you forgot it was happening until after you arrived). Kids can also head to school — juggling school that is, learn about our very own Vikings, and receive the highest badge of honor by being knighted by the King and his Royal Court.
Bring the Dogs
Yes, RenFest is dog-friendly! But only dogs — sorry exotic pet owners.
It does come with a few rules and regulations, however. For example, you must fill out a registration form, buy a pet ticket, provide vaccination records and a photo of your pup. And that’s just before you arrive. There are also other important rules to follow on the day of your attendance.
Do note that service dog owners are not required to fill out the registration form, sign in, or pay dog admission.
Other Ways to Experience the Fest
Once you get a few Fests under your medieval belt, submitting to the contests available before the Renaissance Festival opens can be fun. Most have deadlines in July and August, so it’s definitely something to plan ahead.
Participants can create a fairy house, themed banner, illustrated coloring book page, shield for the Vikings encampment, themed cupcake, and mini mural. Prizes range from RenFest mugs to season passes. All have their own deadlines, rules, and submission requirements.
While the contest entries are submitted in advance, everyone can admire the talent throughout the entire RenFest season.
