Ohio Renaissance Festival 2026

The Ohio Renaissance Festival 2026 takes place from September 5 through November 1, 2026, at Renaissance Park near Waynesville, Ohio. Open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, the festival transforms a 30-acre recreation of a 16th-century English village into a gathering of knights, musicians, artisans, costumed characters, and performers. The season features nine themed weekends, full-contact jousting, live entertainment, specialty food, and hundreds of shops.

First established in 1990, the festival is a major fixture in Ohio’s Renaissance fair calendar. Visitors can explore other Renaissance and medieval festivals in Ohio throughout the year.

📅 Dates, Opening Days, and Hours

2026 season: September 5–November 1, 2026.

Opening days: Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, Monday, September 7.

Opening hours: 10:30 AM–7:00 PM on every festival day.

The festival operates on nine consecutive weekends, with an additional opening day on Labor Day. It is not open continuously between the first and last dates of the season.

🏰 The Renaissance Village

The Ohio Renaissance Festival recreates an English village during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The setting includes themed streets, performance stages, shops, taverns, and outdoor entertainment areas populated by costumed performers.

Visitors can encounter members of the royal court, musicians, comedians, swordsmen, pirates, and other characters while exploring the village.

The festival’s entertainment program features more than 100 shows daily, including full-armored jousting, theatrical performances, musical acts, and interactive experiences.

🎭 Themed Weekends 2026

Each of the nine weekends has its own theme, giving visitors different opportunities to participate in the festivities.

1. Homecoming Weekend — September 5–7

The opening weekend welcomes visitors back for three days of festivities, including the additional Labor Day opening on Monday, September 7.

2. Fantasy Weekend — September 12–13

Fantasy Weekend celebrates imaginative characters and magical creatures. The Witches of Willy Nilly and the fairies are among the featured attractions. ASL interpreters are available during this weekend, and the Mirror of Many Realms Interactive Photo Booth is offered as an add-on.

3. Pirates Weekend — September 19–20

Pirates Weekend coincides with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Visitors can enjoy sea shanties, explore a giant pirate ship, and participate in Pirate Play Time.

4. Highland Weekend — September 26–27

Highland Weekend celebrates Scottish heritage with bagpipes, themed competitions, and traditional food, including haggis.

5. Viking Weekend — October 3–4

Viking Weekend brings Norse-inspired festivities to the Renaissance village, inviting visitors to join the celebrations in Viking attire.

6. Time Travelers Weekend — October 10–11

Time Travelers Weekend welcomes costumes inspired by movies, television, comic books, science fiction, and fantasy. Visitors can dress as their favorite characters from different fictional worlds and time periods.

7. Romance Weekend — October 17–18

Romance Weekend celebrates Sweetest Day with a free Mass Renewal of Vows Ceremony at St. Peter’s Chapel, where couples can reaffirm their commitment.

8. Myths & Monsters Weekend — October 24–25

Legends, fantastic creatures, and mythical characters are the focus of Myths & Monsters Weekend. Visitors are encouraged to embrace the theme through imaginative costumes.

9. Heroes and Villains Weekend — October 31–November 1

The final weekend celebrates heroes and villains and coincides with Halloween.

Children ages 12 and under receive free admission during this weekend. Military personnel and first responders also receive a $3 admission discount at the ticket booth.

⚔️ Entertainment and Activities

The festival offers a combination of medieval-inspired action, music, comedy, family activities, and interactive entertainment throughout its grounds.

Full-Contact Jousting

Full-armored jousting is one of the festival’s central attractions. Knights in armor compete on horseback in tournament performances before spectators.

Stage Shows and Live Performances

The entertainment program includes sword-fighting, fire juggling, music, dance, comedy, storytelling, and appearances by costumed performers.

Among the featured entertainment are the Cincinnati Barbarians, who present Renaissance-style combat, and Theatre in the Ground, also known as The Mudde Show, which performs comedic adaptations of literary works.

New Performers for 2026

The 2026 season introduces several performers to the festival’s entertainment lineup:

• Toadstool Shadow: A family-friendly folk band combining music and comedy at the Storyteller Stage in Whimsey Woods.
• Troubadour Tony: Musical performances at the Dragon’s Lair Stage near the Dungeon of Doom.
• Cast in Bronze: Carillon music performed at the Rabbit’s Hole Stage in Whimsey Woods.
• Amelia Penner – Harpist: Celtic and contemporary harp music at the Queen’s Pavilion in Whimsey Woods.
• Jacques ze Whipper: Whip performances at Shipwreck Stage during Pirates Weekend and Highland Weekend only.

Games and Rides

Visitors can participate in games and attractions, including:

• Robin Hood’s Archery.
• Battle Axe Throw.
• Knife Throw.
• Spear Throw.
• Catapulting Frogs.
• Test of Strength.
• Seven Seas Ship Ride.
• World’s Largest Rocking Horse.
• Barrons Barrel Ride.
• Captain Jacks Crow’s Nest.

🍗 Food, Drinks, and Artisan Shopping

The Renaissance village includes numerous food and beverage vendors offering turkey legs, burgers, pulled pork, beer, and other refreshments.

More than 200 shops are spread throughout the grounds, offering handmade crafts and merchandise. Demonstrating artisans provide opportunities to see traditional skills and craftsmanship while exploring the marketplace.

🍷 Special Events and Additional Experiences

Alongside general admission entertainment, the festival offers optional experiences that require separate tickets. These include dining, tastings, and special performances.

Royal Feast

The Royal Feast combines a five-course meal with drinks, songs, and entertainment. Guests receive a keepsake tankard.

Time: 3:00 PM–5:00 PM on festival days.

Price: $85.99, including fees.

Arrival: 15 minutes before the scheduled seating.

The Naughty Bawdy Pub Show

Friar Finnegan hosts an adults-only show featuring playful comedy and performances by festival characters.

Time: 5:30 PM on festival days.

Location: Feast Hall.

Age requirement: 21 and older.

Price: $33.21, including fees.

The Whiskey Witches Tasting

This guided tasting offers six premium spirit samples, with selections changing during the season.

Time: 1:00 PM on festival days.

Location: Tipsy Cauldron.

Price: $43.76, including fees.

Pub Crawl

The Pub Crawl takes participants through an interactive experience featuring games, trivia, comedy, and visits to the festival’s drinking establishments.

Times: 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM on festival days.

Participants should arrive at the Special Events ticket booth 15 minutes early to exchange their tickets for wristbands.

Wine Tasting

The wine-tasting experience includes five wines: two whites, two reds, and one rosé. Selections rotate throughout the season.

Check-in: 3:00 PM at the Noble Nook.

Tasting: 3:15 PM, lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Price: $43.76, including fees.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea takes place at the Noble Nook and includes freshly baked scones, clotted cream, fruit preserves, lemon curd, and a selection of teas.

Seating: By 12:10 PM.

Tea service: 12:15 PM.

Looking For Group with Your Favorite NPCs

This free social gathering is designed for visitors aged 18 and older. It features icebreakers and team activities to help participants meet others at the festival.

Time: 11:00 AM on festival days.

Location: Gryphon’s Nest.

Additional admission is required for ticketed special events. Availability may be limited.

🎟 Tickets and Admission Prices 2026

The Ohio Renaissance Festival uses date-specific admission tickets. Adult prices vary depending on the selected festival day, and online purchases carry additional fees.

Adult Admission — Ages 13 and Older

• September 5–7 and September 13: $33 online, plus fees.
• September 12, 19–20, and 26–27: $36 online, plus fees.
• All October festival dates: $39 online, plus fees.

Ticket booth prices: $36–$42, plus fees, when tickets remain available.

Child Admission — Ages 5–12

Standard admission: $10 online, plus fees.

Ticket booth: $12, plus fees.

October 31 and November 1: Free admission for children ages 12 and under.

Season Passes and Additional Ticket Options

• Adult Season Pass: Sold out for 2026.
• Any Day Adult Ticket: Sold out for 2026.
• Child Season Pass: $35, plus fees. Valid for one child under 13 on every festival day.
• Later Day Reveler Pass: $85, plus fees. Valid for admission after 2:00 PM on every festival day.

Resting Squire Day Pass

The Resting Squire offers access to a premium rest area with covered seating, a private restroom, and food and beverage service. Snacks and drinks are purchased separately.

• Adults, September dates: $15, plus fees.
• Adults, October dates: $20, plus fees.
• Children ages 5–12: $5, plus fees.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Important Ticket Information

Date-specific tickets are valid only for the selected festival day and cannot be exchanged for another date. Admission may sell out, and the festival does not release additional tickets later in the day when a date reaches capacity.

Visitors should purchase their tickets before traveling and save a screenshot or printed copy for scanning at the entrance.

🅿️ Parking and Visitor Information

Parking: Free for all festival patrons.

Parking lot opening: Approximately 9:30 AM.

Festival gates: 10:30 AM.

Visitors should be aware of the festival’s policies before arriving:

• Pets are not permitted.
• Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
• Weapons must remain secured in a sheath and peace-tied at all times.

Costume rentals from Fiona’s Costume Rentals and mobility scooter rentals from Judy’s Scooties are available near the entrance.

📍 Getting to the Ohio Renaissance Festival

Renaissance Park is located in Warren County, near Waynesville, Ohio, between the Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas.

Address: 10542 East State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45068.

The venue is accessible by car from Interstate 71 and Interstate 75. Visitors should use the official address when planning their route and allow additional travel time during busy festival weekends.

Those planning other autumn outings can explore September 2026 Renaissance fairs and medieval festivals or browse the Renaissance Fairs category.