Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire 2026

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire 2026 will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, August 15–October 25, at Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Road, Manheim, Pennsylvania. The season brings jousting, theatrical shows, Queen Elizabeth I’s court, themed weekends, artisan merchants, food, drink, music, and a large Elizabethan village experience across the historic estate grounds.

The gates open at 11:00 AM on each public faire date, and the site closes at 8:00 PM. Merchants, food booths, and beverage locations begin closing at 7:00 PM, so visitors planning a full-day visit should arrive early enough to enjoy the main shows, market areas, and final performances.

For readers exploring similar events across the state, Renaissance and Medieval Festivals in Pennsylvania offers a useful guide to other historical and fantasy festivals.

📅 Dates and Opening Hours

Dates: Saturdays and Sundays, August 15–October 25
Opening Time: 11:00 AM
Site Closing Time: 8:00 PM
Merchants, Food, and Beverages: begin closing at 7:00 PM
Format: Date-specific admission only
Weather Policy: Rain or shine event

The 2026 season runs across 22 public faire dates, with a different theme each weekend. This long calendar allows visitors to return for different experiences throughout late summer and autumn, from fantasy and sea legends to Vikings, Oktoberfest, time travelers, and Halloween weekends.

📍 Location

Mount Hope Estate & Winery
2775 Lebanon Road
Manheim, PA 17545
United States

The fairegrounds are located in northern Lancaster County, just off Exit 266 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The estate is around 14 miles east of Hershey and 15 miles north of Lancaster, making it a convenient destination for visitors from central Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and the wider Mid-Atlantic region.

⚔️ What to Expect

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire recreates the Shire of Mount Hope as an immersive Elizabethan village filled with costumed characters, stage shows, royal encounters, comedy, swordplay, music, artisan stalls, food, beverages, and tournament-style entertainment.

The 2026 storyline is set in 1567, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen arrives at Mount Hope with members of her court, including figures such as Sir Walter Raleigh and Robert Dudley, Lord Leicester, setting the stage for political intrigue, romantic speculation, local comedy, and village-wide theatrical interaction.

Main attractions include:

• Jousting and tournament-style entertainment
• Queen Elizabeth I and her royal court
• Swashbuckling swordplay and theatrical shows
• Shakespearean-inspired drama and comedy
• Live music and dance performances
• Artisan merchants and craft demonstrations
• Royal kitchens, pour houses, and themed food
• Pub-style entertainment
• Themed weekends with special activities
• Dog Friendly Faire dates under the official registration rules

Visitors interested in this style of event can also explore Renaissance Fairs for more fairs centered on historical reenactment, fantasy, markets, and live performance.

🎭 2026 Themed Weekends

Each weekend has its own theme, giving the season a different atmosphere from one visit to the next.

• August 15–16 — Fairies & Fantasy
• August 22–23 — Legends of the Sea
• August 29–30 — Heroes & Villains
• September 5–7 — Viking
• September 12–13 — Wizarding
• September 19–20 — Shamrocks & Shenanigans
• September 26–27 — Oktoberfest
• October 3–4 — Time Travelers
• October 10–11 — Halloween Days & Spooky Knights I
• October 17–18 — Halloween Days & Spooky Knights II
• October 24–25 — Halloween Days & Spooky Knights III

The late-summer opening dates also place the faire among the major Renaissance Faires and Medieval Festivals in August 2026, before the season continues into September and October.

🎟️ Tickets

Tickets are sold online only through the official box office. They are date-specific, emailed to the purchaser, and can be printed or scanned from a mobile device at the entrance. Tickets are not sold at the gate.

Ticket pricing for August 15–September 13:

• General Admission, ages 12+: $38.95
• Children, ages 5–11: $21.95
• Children 4 and under: Free, no ticket required

Ticket pricing for September 19–October 25:

• General Admission, ages 12+: $42.95
• Children, ages 5–11: $23.95
• Children 4 and under: Free, no ticket required

Sunset Admission becomes available online on each faire day at 3:00 PM, with entry beginning at 4:00 PM. Sunset Tickets are valid only from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the selected date and are subject to limited availability.

Tickets can be purchased through the official Virtual Box Office.

🏰 Mount Hope Estate & Winery

Mount Hope Estate & Winery is a historic estate and year-round entertainment destination in Lancaster County. The grounds include the Historic Mount Hope Mansion, winery, brewery, distillery, tavern spaces, outdoor event areas, and the permanent fairegrounds used for the Renaissance season.

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire has been associated with Mount Hope since 1980, and the 2026 edition marks its 46th anniversary celebration. The site’s permanent village-style infrastructure helps create a strong sense of place, with lanes, stages, shops, food areas, and performance spaces designed for large-scale immersive entertainment.

Because the event takes place on an estate with long regional history, the venue adds character beyond a temporary fairground. Visitors can combine the faire with Mount Hope’s wine, cider, beer, and spirits offerings, depending on age restrictions and event rules.

🏙️ Manheim, Pennsylvania

Manheim is a borough in Lancaster County with a population of 5,046 according to the 2020 U.S. Census. It lies in a region known for farmland, small-town heritage, historic settlements, covered bridges, markets, and proximity to Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

The borough was founded in the 18th century by Henry William Stiegel, an ironmaster and glassmaker whose name remains closely tied to the town’s identity. Manheim developed through trade, craft production, agriculture, and transportation links, later becoming part of the broader Lancaster County tourism region.

Today, Manheim combines small-town character with access to nearby destinations such as Lancaster, Hershey, Lititz, and the Susquehanna Valley. Its location near the Pennsylvania Turnpike makes it especially practical for a large seasonal event drawing visitors from across Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

🚗 How to Get There

By car: Driving is the easiest way to reach the fairegrounds. Mount Hope Estate & Winery is located just off Exit 266 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with access via Route 72 and Lebanon Road. Peak traffic can build near opening and closing times, so early arrival is recommended.

By train: The closest major Amtrak stations are Lancaster and Harrisburg. From either station, visitors can continue by rental car, taxi, or rideshare.

By bus: Intercity bus services operate to Lancaster, Harrisburg, and nearby regional centers. The final connection to the fairegrounds usually requires road transport.

By air: The closest practical airports include Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Harrisburg and Lancaster are the most convenient for regional access, while Philadelphia and Baltimore offer broader flight options.

📏 Approximate Distances from Manheim

Main cities in Pennsylvania

Major cities in the United States

🕒 Daily Format

The full daily schedule is published by weekend through the faire’s Daily Writ and Shire Map. A typical public faire day follows this general structure:

• 11:00 AM — Gates open.
• Late morning to afternoon — Stage shows, character interactions, merchant shopping, music, food, demonstrations, and themed activities.
• Afternoon — Tournament entertainment, court appearances, comedy, swordplay, and special weekend events.
• 4:00 PM — Sunset Admission entry begins for guests with same-day Sunset Tickets.
• 7:00 PM — Merchants, food booths, and beverage service begin closing.
• Evening — Final performances and closing entertainment.
• 8:00 PM — Faire site closes.