Michigan Renaissance Festival 2024

Michigan Renaissance Festival is a popular family-friendly annual event taking place off Dixie Highway in Holly, Michigan. An interactive outdoor Renaissance fair showcases a recreated European village called Hollygrove. The village pays tribute to the second half of the 16th century, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In 2024 the festival features 17 stages of entertainment and over 100 artisans, offering their goods at the Marketplace. 80 shops sell handmade arts and crafts, as well as time-period food options.

Dates and Location

Michigan Renaissance Festival 2024 will run August 17–September 29 (every weekend, Labor Day, September 2, and Festival Friday, September 27). All festival events will run from 10 am to 7 pm. The guests will have to travel 7.7 miles (12.4 km) from Dixie Highway to Holly Village, where they can find three cafes and enjoy their meals.

Festival Events and Activities

Musicians, jugglers, magicians, mimes, pirates, wizards, vikings, wenches, and other fantasy characters entertain the public in the village. Visitors can meet Queen Elizabeth I and her court, consisting of nobility, knights, clergy, and visiting royal dignitaries. Entertainment also features nationally known Renaissance festival stage acts, jousts, juggling shows, and sword fights. Full-contact knight shows are performed twice a day.

Every weekend will be dedicated to a certain theme: Pirates & Pups (August 17-18), Highland Fling (August 24-25), Vikings Invasion (August 31-v 1- 2), Wonders Of The World (September 7-8), Shamrocks & Shenanigans (September 14-15), Harvest Huzzah (September 21-22), Sweet Endings (September 28-29).

Pirates & Pups Weekend is dedicated to pup rescues, training demos, and fun contests. Highland Fling provides 8 thrilling games, championships on Saturday, State Masters on Sunday, and Men in Kilts contest. Vikings Invasion invites visitors to show off their unique and impressive facial hair to enter a contest and win incredible prizes. On the Wonders Of The World weekend, guests can join the Michigan State Belly Dance Championship or take a dance lesson.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans offers to participate in the Men in Kilts contest and see who rocks the traditional garb. Harvest Huzzah will treat everyone who wants a mouthwatering BBQ in the scenic Valley of Aberdare. Also, visitors can join the Deaf Awareness weekend and catch the talented interpreters. On the Sweet Endings weekend, guests can savor the finest local bites, which will make taste buds tingle. However, the organizers warn that themes are subject to change. Schedules are updated every Wednesday before the themed weekend to plan ahead.

Tickets and Parking

Tickets for the Michigan Renaissance Festival can be purchased either online or at the festival gates. Online adults (ages 13+) pay $17, children (ages 5-12)–$10 for one day. The official website also offers seasonal passes. Active military, nurses, doctors, first responders, and vets receive $5.00 off their gate admission with the proper ID. On Festival Friday, September 27, all military, doctors, vets, nurses, and first responders get in free. Car owners need to purchase parking passes for $10 per day.

Festival history

Michigan Renaissance Festival dates back to 1979. It's attended by about 250,000 people every year. While adults can enjoy an exciting pub crawl, kids can take advantage of games of skill and pony rides and participate in various human-powered rides for all ages.