Bay Area Renaissance Festival 2025 in Florida

Feel the real medieval vibe at this amazing fest

Dates: February 17–March 31, 2025

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is a yearly celebration of everything medieval, which takes place in Dade City, Florida. The festival is held every year from February to April, offering a variety of events to enjoy, like live music, comedy performances, jousting competitions, and street acts.

Medieval Entertainment

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival immerses visitors in the 16th-century European village of Folkstone, featuring 15 stages of dynamic entertainment. Guests can enjoy performances by minstrels, magicians, jugglers, and knights, as well as shop at a bustling marketplace with over 100 artisans offering handcrafted goods. Festival highlights include full-contact live armored jousting, Mermaid Cove, and a variety of competitions such as the Fairy House Competition, Mural Competition, and Banners Competition. Attendees are encouraged to dress in medieval attire to enhance the experience. The festival also boasts a wide selection of food and beverage options, from hearty turkey legs to refreshing mead, alongside games and rides for all ages.

Theme Weekends

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival features exciting themed weekends, each offering unique activities and entertainment. During Highland Fling, guests can participate in events like the Keg Toss, Kilt Competition, and Tug-O’-War at the Joust Track. The Warrior Island Stage hosts competitions such as Highland Limbo, the Air Bag Pipe Contest, and the Best Beard Competition, while the Normandy Stage includes the Pub Crawl and Corny Hole games. BARKbarian Brew Fest provides free admission for dogs and includes dog contests and a peanut butter-licking competition. Other activities for attendees include Irish dancing, cabbage bowling, and the Shamrock Scramble.

Pirates and Princesses Weekend celebrates pirate and princess themes with tattoo contests, plank-walking, and family-friendly dog events. Once Upon a Time Weekend offers a magical atmosphere with fairies, wizards, and costume contests. Shamrocks and Shenanigans focus on Irish traditions with Irish dance contests, jigs, and Kilt and Leprechaun Costume Competitions. Viking Invasion highlights Norse culture with competitions, storytelling, and a Best Beard or Mustache Contest, adding to the weekend’s engaging events.

Daily Events

The Florida Bay Area Renaissance Festival features a variety of daily events for all ages. Guests can join Henry’s Happy Hour ($35 per person) for ale tastings, hors d’oeuvres, and lively entertainment or enjoy the Queen’s Tea ($25 per person) with fine teas and stories from the royal court. The Renaissance Romance Package ($60 per couple) offers a front-row view of the joust, a gourmet lunch, and commemorative champagne flutes.

Families can attend the Fairy Tale Tea Party ($25 per child) for edible crafts and fairy-themed activities. Other highlights include Mead Tastings ($45 per person), the Cocktail Crawl ($45 per person), and the Pub Crawl ($35 per person), each offering themed drinks and keepsakes. Special celebrations include vow renewals and mass weddings on Easter Enchantment Weekend.

Fest Tickets & Hours

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival runs from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. At the box office, adult tickets are $24.95, children aged 5–12 are $16.95, and seniors 65 and older are $20.95. Children 4 and under enter for free. Online prices are lower, with adult tickets at $20.95, children’s tickets at $13.95, and seniors 60 and older or students paying $16.95. For a premium experience, the VIP Royal Season Pass is $120 for adults and $80 for children aged 5–12. Group pricing is also available, with tickets for adults (13+) at $18.50 and children (5–12) at $12.50. The Joust, included with festival admission, is held three times daily at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:30 pm.