The Ohio Renaissance Festival takes place on weekends from late August through October near Harveysburg, Ohio. Named the Best Festival in Warren County, the festival dates back to 1990 and attracts about 160,000 visitors every year. The permanent festival village features over 100 shops and 12 stages for various types of entertainment.
The Ohio Renaissance Festival is set in a replica of a 16th-century English village in the times of Elizabeth I. Historical characters of the village include Sir Walter Raleigh, John Dee, Sir Francis Drake, Sir John Hawkins, and others. Minstrels, wandering poets, musicians and other costumed performers roam the streets and perform on stage.
Festival highlights
Visitors can watch the Full-armored Tournament Joust, a great show for all ages. Noble knights engage in a high-energy, unchoreographed, hard-hitting competitive combat. Jousts take place three times per day, at 12:30 pm, 3 pm, and 5:30 pm at Guinness Arena of Champions.
Cincinnati Barbarians offer another combat experience with real weapons, taking place at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm, and 4:00 pm at Barbarian's Ring. Equestrian Chaos is an exciting stunt-riding performance, which shows a unique bond between warriors and warhorses. The show starts at 11:30 am, 2:15 pm, and 4:45 pm at Guinness Arena of Champions.
The festival also includes a daily parade of the Queen and her entourage through the fairgrounds, the village dance around the maypole, a Human Combat Chess match, and the free-flying Birds of Prey show, where the public can see hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures.
Themed weekends
Every weekend has its own theme, like Pirate, Fantasy, Viking, Time Travelers, Highland, or Romance. The last weekend in October is dedicated to Halloween. Special events of the festival include the Royal Feast, the Naughty Brawdy Pub Show, and Witches of Willy-Nilly Spirits Tasting. Family-friendly activities include rides and games of skill like archery, darts, axe throw, knife throw, star throw, Jacob’s Ladder, Storm the Castle Climbing Tower, Catapulting Frogs, Vegetable Vengeance, and Test of Strength.
Marketplace
Craft shops at the Festival Marketplace offer an array of handmade items and Renaissance-themed art. Guests can blend in with a colorful crowd of costumed characters after shopping for elf ears, glue-on horns, cloaks, capelets, robes, unique jewelry, handmade blades, archery, crossbows, wood swords, moccasins, boots, shields, and staffs, embroidered bags, and tapestries.
Festival foods include Middle-Eastern cuisine, grilled meats, and interesting snacks, like King’s Weinie, Guinness 1/2 Pound Hot Dog, Fingers ‘n Tots, Smothered Tots, Scotch Egg, Spicy Corn Nuggets, roasted turkey legs, fresh-baked bread bowl stews, steak-on-a-stake, fish and chips, and drinks from beers to wines. Restaurants offer Renaissance-themed food, music, and shows.
Hours and tickets
The Ohio Renaissance Festival runs on Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day. Each weekend, from 10:30 am to 7 pm. General admission for adults is $32. Children (ages 5 – 12) pay $10.
You can get a discount on admission if you find the Ohio Renaissance Festival coupons or Ohio Renaissance Festival promo codes available at various promotional websites.
