Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026

The Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026 returns to Huntersville, North Carolina, for eight weekends from October 3 through November 22, 2026. This annual Renaissance fair transforms a 25-acre outdoor village into a recreated 16th-century European marketplace, featuring jousting knights, falconry demonstrations, live music, comedy, artisan shops, games, rides, and themed celebrations. Located just north of Charlotte, the festival welcomes visitors every Saturday and Sunday throughout its fall season.

With more than 1,000 costumed villagers, 16 entertainment stages, and over 140 arts and crafts shops, the festival offers a full day of entertainment, shopping, and historical-inspired activities.

📅 2026 Dates, Opening Hours, and Location

The Carolina Renaissance Festival operates on Saturdays and Sundays only, beginning October 3 and concluding November 22, 2026.

• October 2026: October 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, 24–25, and 31.
• November 2026: November 1, 7–8, 14–15, and 21–22.
• Opening hours: 9:30 AM–5:30 PM.
• Pre-opening gate show: 9:05 AM.
• Address: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078, United States.
• Parking: Free.

The festival is generally open rain or shine. Extreme weather or unsafe conditions may affect operations and scheduled performances.

⚔️ Entertainment and Attractions

Entertainment takes place throughout the festival village, including scheduled stage performances, roaming characters, demonstrations, and interactive experiences.

Jousting Tournaments

Knights on horseback compete in three jousting tournaments daily, showcasing horsemanship, medieval-inspired combat, and theatrical competition.

The tournaments are included with general admission. Optional VIP joust seating is available separately.

Falconry and Animal Attractions

Birds of prey take center stage during falconry presentations, where visitors can observe these animals and learn about their abilities.

Other attractions include the Swimming Mermaids exhibit, fairies, friendly dragons, and a petting farm.

Music, Comedy, Magic, and Circus Performances

The festival features 16 entertainment stages hosting music, dance, comedy, magic, theater, vaudeville, and circus acts.

Costumed performers also interact with visitors throughout the village, creating spontaneous entertainment between scheduled shows.

Games and Rides

Visitors can explore a selection of Renaissance-inspired games and attractions, including:

• Archery and axe-throwing activities.
• Games of skill and strength.
• The festival’s giant rocking horse.
• Interactive games involving tomato throwing.
• Additional rides and family activities.

Games and rides may require additional payment beyond general admission.

🎭 Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026 Theme Weekends

Each weekend features a special theme or promotional celebration alongside the festival’s regular entertainment. The 2026 schedule includes the following events.

October 3–4: Opening Invasion Celebration!

The opening weekend welcomes Vikings, barbarians, crusaders, orcs, raiders, and other costumed invaders.

An Invaders Costume Contest takes place at the Middleshire Grove Stage at 2:30 PM.

A promotional offer provides two adult admission tickets for $47.99 plus sales tax with a qualifying coupon code. The offer is valid online for one opening-weekend date, subject to availability and promotional conditions.

October 10–11: BrewFest Weekend!

The second weekend celebrates BrewFest alongside the festival’s regular Renaissance entertainment.

Saturday, October 10 also features Deaf Awareness Day, with certified American Sign Language interpreters at selected performance stages. Student interpreters will assist with communication throughout the village, and discounted admission is available to eligible members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

October 17–18: Wizards & Revels Weekend!

This fantasy-themed weekend includes tabletop gaming activities, Dungeons & Dragons, and a Sorcerers & Spell Casters Costume Contest at the Middleshire Grove Stage at 2:30 PM.

Children ages 5–12 may qualify for free admission through the festival’s coupon promotion or by donating a new or gently used coat at the entrance. Applicable conditions and adult admission requirements apply.

October 24–25: Celtic Music Weekend!

Celtic Music Weekend brings a musical focus to the festival, with Celtic-inspired entertainment accompanying the regular performances and attractions.

October 31–November 1: Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights!

The Halloween celebration includes costumes, trick-or-treating, and a special Knights of the Living Dead zombie jousting challenge presented three times daily.

Children and adults can enter the Halloween Costume Contest at the Middleshire Grove Stage, beginning at 2:30 PM.

More than 100 locations throughout the village will offer treats. Visitors can also collect a Halloween Treasure Map at the front gate and search for the Queen’s Treasure Chest.

Children ages 12 and under receive free admission with a free date-specific child ticket. Adults accompanying children must already have a ticket if the selected date is sold out.

November 7–8: Pirates’ Christmas Weekend! Artisan Appreciation!

Visitors are invited to dress as pirates, explore the Fairhaven Artisan Marketplace, and enjoy special performances by The Pyrates Royale at the Royal Pavilion.

The Pirate Costume Contest begins at 2:30 PM at the Middleshire Grove Stage, with the children’s contest followed by the adult contest.

During this weekend, visitors who spend at least $350 on qualifying festival arts and crafts can receive two adult admission vouchers for a return visit during the remaining 2026 season or the following season.

Qualifying receipts must be presented at the information booth on the same day as the purchases. The offer is subject to the festival’s promotional conditions.

November 14–15: Time Travelers’ Weekend!

Time Travelers’ Weekend celebrates characters and costumes inspired by different historical periods and fantasy settings.

Free child admission opportunities are available under the festival’s promotional conditions.

November 21–22: Final Huzzah!

The final weekend marks the conclusion of the 2026 season.

Children ages 12 and under can receive free admission with a canned food donation at the festival gates. Adults accompanying children must already have admission tickets if the date has sold out.

🛍️ Artisan Marketplace

The Carolina Renaissance Festival features more than 140 arts and crafts shops, offering visitors the opportunity to explore handmade goods and observe traditional-inspired craftsmanship.

Artisan demonstrations and merchandise include:

• Blown glass.
• Blacksmithing and forged ironwork.
• Handcrafted jewelry.
• Pottery.
• Candle making.
• Leather goods and footwear.

The marketplace is also a major part of Pirates’ Christmas Weekend, when qualifying purchases can earn visitors promotional return-admission vouchers.

🍗 Food and Drinks

Food vendors throughout the festival village offer a range of meals, snacks, and beverages.

Menu highlights include smoked turkey legs, meats on sticks, hearty stews, sweet treats, and savory dishes.

Beer and other alcoholic beverages are available to guests of legal drinking age, alongside soft drinks, coffee, and other refreshments.

Food and beverages are purchased separately from admission.

🎟️ Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026 Tickets and Prices

Tickets are date-specific and limited in availability. Popular dates often sell out, so visitors are encouraged to purchase admission before traveling to the festival.

General Admission

• Adults, ages 13 and up: $37.99 plus sales tax, including a $1.99 service fee.
• Children, ages 5–12: $23.99 plus sales tax, including a $1.99 service fee.
• Children ages 4 and under: Free.

General admission includes scheduled stage performances, jousting tournaments, falconry presentations, the Swimming Mermaids exhibit, and the petting farm.

Shopping, food, beverages, games, rides, and optional premium experiences are not included.

VIP Joust Seating

VIP joust seating: $23.99 plus sales tax per person, including a $1.99 service fee.

The seating charge applies to all ages, including children ages 4 and under. This is an optional premium purchase in addition to regular admission.

The Hops Pub Crawl

The Hops Pub Crawl: $89.99 plus sales tax, including a $1.99 service fee.

This experience is restricted to adults ages 21 and older. The listed price includes festival admission.

2026 Adult Season Pass

Adult Season Pass: $226.99 plus sales tax, including a $1.99 service fee.

Season passes are available for guests ages 13 and older and provide admission on every scheduled festival date, including dates when regular admission has sold out.

Child season passes are not available. Children ages 4 and under always receive free general admission.

Online season-pass sales run from August 1 through October 1, 2026. Afterward, season passes remain available through the festival’s onsite ticket office.

Ticket Discounts and Promotions

Additional admission offers are available during selected weekends.

The opening-weekend adult discount provides two adult tickets for $47.99 plus sales tax with a qualifying promotional code.

A separate child admission promotion allows one free child ticket, ages 5–12, with the purchase of one full-price adult ticket and a qualifying coupon code. The promotional child ticket remains subject to applicable sales tax and the $1.99 service fee.

Additional free-child-admission offers are available through selected charitable donations and themed-weekend promotions.

Visitors should review the individual conditions before purchasing tickets.

Tickets can be purchased through the official Carolina Renaissance Festival ticketing page.

📍 Festival Location and Getting There

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is located at 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078, near the Huntersville–Concord border, north of Charlotte.

The site is accessible from Interstate 77 and Interstate 85.

Visitors should review the festival’s official driving instructions before departure, as event traffic can affect normal navigation routes.

The festival recommends arriving before opening or departing before closing to avoid peak vehicle traffic.

Approximate Road Distances

• Concord, NC: 12 mi.
• Kannapolis, NC: 14 mi.
• Charlotte, NC: 20 mi.
• Gastonia, NC: 32 mi.
• Salisbury, NC: 33 mi.
• Mooresville, NC: 15 mi.

Distances are approximate and may vary depending on the starting point and route.

🅿️ Parking and Visitor Information

Parking is free for festival visitors, courtesy of Harris Teeter.

Guests should follow festival traffic signs and avoid driving or parking in neighboring residential subdivisions.

The event operates outdoors and is generally open rain or shine, although performances may be modified or canceled during unsafe weather conditions.

Pets are not permitted.

Outside food and beverages are prohibited, except for one factory-sealed bottle of water per person. Visitors with dietary allergies may contact the festival’s Food and Beverage Department to request accommodations.

Many artisan vendors prefer cash, and performers may accept tips. ATMs are available throughout the village.

Same-day reentry is permitted with a hand stamp obtained when exiting the festival.

Explore More Renaissance Festivals

Visitors planning additional outings can explore other Renaissance and medieval festivals in North Carolina.

The festival also appears in the calendars for October 2026 Renaissance fairs and medieval festivals and November 2026 Renaissance fairs and medieval festivals.

Contact Information

For additional information about the Carolina Renaissance Festival 2026:

• Address: 16445 Poplar Tent Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.
• Phone: (704) 896-5555.
• Official website: www.carolina.renfestinfo.com.