Oxford Renaissance Festival 2026

Oxford Renaissance Festival 2026 will take place August 29–30 at Thorndale Fairgrounds, Thorndale, Ontario (Canada), with festival days running 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The weekend features live jousting, Renaissance comedy, music, artisans, food, family activities, and costumed characters, with a separate 19+ Opening Pub Event on Friday, August 28.

The festival presents a full Renaissance village atmosphere with knights, princesses, rogues, pirates, fairies, musicians, market vendors, and interactive entertainment across the grounds. Visitors can expect a lively mix of stage shows, live simulated combat, archery, face painting, themed food, artisan shopping, and evening tavern-style entertainment.

For readers planning other Canadian historical events, Renaissance and Medieval Festivals in Canada is a useful guide to similar fairs across the country.

📅 Date and Opening Hours

Friday, August 28
Opening Pub Event — 19+ only, separate ticket required.

Saturday, August 29
Festival Days: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Pub continues Saturday night until 12:00 AM.

Sunday, August 30
Festival Days: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

Children 9 and under are admitted free.

📍 Location

Thorndale Fairgrounds
21737 Fairview Road
Thorndale, Ontario
N0M 2P0
Canada

The fairgrounds provide an open rural setting suited to jousting, outdoor entertainment, vendors, food areas, and themed activities. The venue is located near Highway 401, making it convenient for visitors travelling from London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Toronto, and other parts of southwestern Ontario.

⚔️ Entertainment and Activities

Oxford Renaissance Festival combines historical inspiration with fantasy, cosplay, live performance, and family-friendly spectacle. The event’s atmosphere is built around a Renaissance village concept, where visitors can walk among performers, merchants, musicians, and themed characters throughout the day.

Highlights include:

• Live jousting with Knights of Valour
• Queen and cast appearances
• Pirates, fairies, mermaids, and fantasy characters
• Renaissance music and stage comedy
• Archery and interactive activities
• Face painting and family entertainment
• Artisan market with themed vendors
• Food and pub-style refreshments
• Trinket trading
• Evening pub entertainment for adults

The entertainment lineup includes names such as Knights of Valour, The Gemsmen Renaissance Consort, Captain Finn and the Salty Sea Dogs, Mermaid Brie, Sparky the Dragon, Cherry the Bubble Fairy, The Pirates McKenna, Cut and Run, The Eyrie, HoneyPaw, and The Duchy of Glengarry.

Visitors interested in events of the same style can also explore Renaissance Fairs for more themed gatherings focused on jousting, costumed entertainment, artisan markets, and historical recreation.

🎟️ Tickets

Tickets are available online through the festival’s official ticketing options. Advance online purchase is recommended, as the event promotes savings for visitors who buy before arriving.

General admission prices at the gate are usually listed in the $20–$35 range, depending on ticket type and availability. The Opening Pub Event on Friday evening requires a separate ticket and is restricted to guests aged 19 and over.

Children 9 and under enter free.

🏰 About the Festival

Oxford Renaissance Festival has been operating since 2013 and has become one of Ontario’s established Renaissance-themed events. It began at the Woodstock Fairgrounds, later moved to Dorchester Fairgrounds, and now takes place at Thorndale Fairgrounds.

The festival blends Renaissance history, fantasy performance, live music, comedy, jousting, artisan crafts, food, and immersive character interaction. Guests may attend in costume or casual clothing, and the event welcomes families, fantasy fans, history enthusiasts, cosplayers, and visitors looking for a full day of outdoor entertainment.

The 2026 edition continues the event’s focus on live performance and community celebration, with festival days scheduled for the final weekend of August. It also fits naturally within the late-summer calendar of Renaissance Faires and Medieval Festivals in August 2026.

📍 Thorndale, Ontario

Thorndale is a small community in the Municipality of Thames Centre, northeast of London, Ontario. The wider municipality had a population of 13,980 in the 2021 Census, while Thorndale itself is a village-style settlement with rural surroundings, local businesses, agricultural land, and a strong community identity.

The area’s development is closely tied to the railway. In the 1850s, land owned by the Logan family was surveyed along the Grand Trunk Railway line, and the arrival of the railway helped establish Thorndale as a local shipping and service centre. By the late 19th century, the community had become important for moving livestock, farm produce, timber, and goods to larger markets such as London, Toronto, and Montreal.

Today, Thorndale retains a rural Ontario character while benefiting from its proximity to London and Highway 401. Its setting makes it a practical location for a Renaissance festival that draws visitors from across southwestern Ontario.

🚗 How to Get There

By car: Thorndale Fairgrounds is accessible via Fairview Road, with regional access from Highway 401 and nearby roads connecting London, Dorchester, and Thames Centre. Driving is the most convenient way to reach the event.

By train: The nearest major passenger rail hub is London, Ontario, served by VIA Rail. From London station, visitors can continue by taxi, rideshare, or local transport arrangements.

By bus: Intercity buses serve London, where visitors can connect onward by taxi or rideshare to Thorndale. Direct public transit to the fairgrounds may be limited, so planning the final transfer in advance is recommended.

By air: The closest airport is London International Airport, suitable for regional arrivals. Visitors flying from farther away may also use Toronto Pearson International Airport, then continue by car, train, or bus toward London and Thorndale.

📏 Approximate Distances from Thorndale Fairgrounds

Main cities in Ontario

Major cities in Canada

🕒 Program

Friday, August 28

• Evening — Opening Pub Event, 19+ only, separate ticket required.

Saturday, August 29

• 10:00 AM — Festival opens.
• 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM — Jousting, live entertainment, artisan market, food, interactive activities, music, comedy, and family programming.
• 6:00 PM — Festival day closes.
• Evening – 12:00 AM — Pub continues for Saturday night.

Sunday, August 30

• 10:00 AM — Festival opens.
• 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM — Jousting, stage shows, music, vendors, family activities, food, and themed entertainment.
• 6:00 PM — Festival closes.