Upstate Renaissance Faire | Wellford 2026

Upstate Renaissance Faire 2026 will take place September 18–20 at Hollywild Animal Preserve in Wellford, South Carolina, bringing three days of jousting, live entertainment, costumed characters, artisan vendors, interactive quests, animal encounters, and Renaissance-themed activities to a new venue for the festival. The 2026 edition moves to Hollywild’s wooded grounds and adds experiences connected with the animal preserve.

The faire opens with an evening session on Friday before continuing throughout Saturday and Sunday. Visitors comparing other historical events during the same period can also browse Renaissance Faires and Medieval Festivals in September 2026.

🕒 Opening Hours

Friday, September 18: 5:00 PM–10:00 PM
Saturday, September 19: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday, September 20: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM

⚔️ Entertainment and Activities

The 2026 program combines Renaissance and fantasy entertainment with interactive activities around the festival grounds. Confirmed features include jousting, sword fighting, live music and dancing, artisan vendors, costumed characters, encampments, merchants, mermaids, pirates, Vikings, and other Renaissance and fantasy performers.

A costume contest is scheduled for each day. Guests may attend in costume, although costume weapons must be peace-tied and sharp weapons are not permitted. Children’s activities are concentrated mainly on Saturday and Sunday.

The official 2026 entertainment roster currently includes Equus Noblis, Chaste Treasure, History Now, Drums of Glory, Punch and Judy, Jaidra, Blubobobobob, Lute, Valkyrie Fusion Dance, Bestia Vatis, TC Costello, Ludvic and Lu Lu, Ses Carny, Sword Carolina, Thieves Guilde, Sibling Rivalry, Doc Volz, Courtly Dancers, Sea Shanty Shindig, Gemstone Mermaids, Fairy Cassandra, and Ari.

Visitors interested in similar events throughout the year can explore MedievalAgenda’s collection of Renaissance Faire events.

🦘 Animal Encounters at Hollywild

The move to Hollywild Animal Preserve is one of the major changes for 2026. The nonprofit preserve occupies more than 80 acres and cares for approximately 400 endangered, exotic, and domesticated animals.

One of the special faire add-ons is the Baby Kangaroo Photo Experience, which provides a brief encounter with baby kangaroos and allows participants to take photographs on their own phone. The ticketed experience costs $11.49 including the listed tax and processing fee, based on a $10 base price. Children age 2 and younger can participate in this particular experience free, and printed photographs taken with the event camera cost $5 each.

🧚 Fairy Tea Party

A Fairy Tea Party is offered as an additional ticketed activity, with sessions available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The experience includes tea, snacks, stories, music and songs with fairy hosts, plus a teacup and saucer for each guest to take home.

Fairy Tea Party: $22.65 including the listed tax and processing fee
Base price: $20.00

A qualifying admission ticket is required before the Fairy Tea Party add-on can be selected.

🗺 Questing Experience

The Questing Experience turns a visit through the faire village into an interactive adventure. Participants meet characters, solve clues, complete challenges, and progress through a story while exploring the grounds.

Questing: $11.49 including the listed tax and processing fee
Base price: $10.00

The quest is an add-on and requires a qualifying admission ticket.

🎟 Admission

Tickets are sold by individual day as well as through weekend passes. The ticketing page lists the following 2026 options:

Adult Admission, ages 11 and older — Friday: $22.65
Base price $20.00, plus $1.00 tax and $1.65 processing fee.

Adult Admission, ages 11 and older — Saturday: $22.65
Base price $20.00, plus $1.00 tax and $1.65 processing fee.

Adult Admission, ages 11 and older — Sunday: $22.65
Base price $20.00, plus $1.00 tax and $1.65 processing fee.

Child Admission, ages 3–10 — Friday: $11.49
Base price $10.00, plus $0.50 tax and $0.99 processing fee.

Child Admission, ages 3–10 — Saturday: $11.49
Base price $10.00, plus $0.50 tax and $0.99 processing fee.

Child Admission, ages 3–10 — Sunday: $11.49
Base price $10.00, plus $0.50 tax and $0.99 processing fee.

Adult Weekend Admission: $39.38
Base price $35.00, plus $1.75 tax and $2.63 processing fee.

Child Weekend Admission, ages 3–10: $17.07
Base price $15.00, plus $0.75 tax and $1.32 processing fee.

The listed admission tickets are non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable after purchase.

Buy Upstate Renaissance Faire 2026 tickets

👑 VIP Package

A VIP Package can be added to a qualifying admission ticket.

VIP Package: $56.12 including the listed tax and processing fee
Base price: $50.00

The package includes:

• Commemorative bag
• Turkey leg ticket
• Two drink tickets for fountain drinks or water
• 2026 faire T-shirt
• VIP seating for jousting
• Local business merchandise

🏰 Hollywild Animal Preserve

Hollywild Animal Preserve is located at 2325 Hampton Road in Wellford. The property includes wooded areas, open pastures, ponds, and other habitats, giving the 2026 faire considerably different surroundings from its previous locations.

The Upstate Renaissance Faire began in 2021 as an effort to support small businesses following the disruption of 2020. More than 10,000 people attended its first edition, and the event has continued to develop as part of the Upstate South Carolina festival calendar.

🅿️ Parking

Free parking is available on site, with designated accessible parking also planned for visitors who need it.

Practical Visitor Information

Credit cards are accepted at the event, although individual vendors may operate on a cash-only basis.

Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds because of the performing and resident animals. ADA-defined service animals are permitted. Emotional-support, therapy, comfort, and companion animals do not qualify as service animals for this policy.

📍 About Wellford

Wellford is a small city in western Spartanburg County. The community traces its roots to settlement in the 18th century and was known as Beech Springs Township before railroad development brought a depot and water tower to the area. It was formally established as Wellford in 1881.

Recent South Carolina population estimates place the city at approximately 2,700 residents.

🚗 Getting There

For drivers traveling through the Upstate, Interstate 85 is the main regional highway serving the Wellford area. Exit 66 connects I-85 with U.S. 29 and Wellford, from which visitors can continue toward the Hollywild property on Hampton Road.

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is approximately 18 mi from the venue, while Charlotte is about 83 mi by road from Wellford.