Day Trip to Renaissance Festivals

It has been said that everything old is new again. If you’re looking for something new to do on your next day trip, you may want to consider something that will transport you back to days of old: a Renaissance Festival! These popular outdoor events bring together lovers of history, literature, pageantry, costumes, and unique entertainment all over the country, including a number of festivals held in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area each year.

The themed festivities, most often harkening back to the Elizabethan era of England and recreating a small village, traditionally feature theatrical shows, musicians, artists, crafters, street performers, food, Renaissance-themed merchandise, and more. Performers take on the characters of the historic roles they play and dress in elaborate handmade costumes as they joust, juggle, play music, and perform magic while speaking the dialect of the day and interacting with audience members that are drawn into their world. Guests at Renaissance festivals are encouraged to dress for the period, also, and many of them embrace the invitation wholeheartedly, immersing themselves in the fantasy as they travel back in time for at least a while. People-watching takes on a whole new meaning as visitors of all ages gawk at the spectacle of kings and queens, lords and ladies, jesters and knights, wenches and wizards all around the grounds. This is improvisational theater at its best.

Some of the area’s finest Renaissance festivals are longstanding traditions that bring out tens of thousands of visitors, with some events held over the course of several weeks and others just for a weekend or two. Admission allows you the chance to make merry for a day or for multiple days and tickets generally include all entertainment, jousts, parades, ongoing street and stage performers, living history exhibits, craft demonstrations, and other activities. Here are some Renaissance celebrations to look forward to – or travel back to – in the coming months:

10th Annual New Jersey Renaissance Faire

Saturdays and Sundays, May 18 through June 2, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Liberty Lake, 1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown, NJ

Come to the olde English countryside village of Crossford, situated on the shores of “Loch Liberty.” Events and performers will include fire dancers, sword fighting, knight school (for youngsters in training), acrobats, aerialists, jousting, an armored combat tournament, leprechauns, comedy, glassworks, Shakespeare, peasant dancers, singers, minstrels, a human chess match, and more. Single day tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children age 5 to 12. Inquire about discounts available for military members, students, and seniors. There are also two-day passes, season passes, family four-packs, and a special Duke’s Guild VIP Package that includes extra amenities, including admission to the after-hours shows on Saturday evenings with more of an adult theme. General parking is free, with limited VIP parking available for $10. Find out more at www.njrenfaire.com.

43rd Annual Sterling Renaissance Festival

Saturdays and Sundays, July 6 through August 18, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sterling Renaissance, 15385 Farden Road, Sterling, NY

Billed as one of the oldest and most successful Renaissance events in the world, this whimsical fair is set in the enchantingly merry olde town of Warwick. Encompassing more than 35 acres, the festivities offer a showcase of music, artisans, entertainers, pirates, swordplay, comedy, magic shows, jousting, dazzling royalty, rides, games of skill, and more. The performers come from a full-time professional corps of actors that are chosen from a national audition tour, undergoing weeks of training and rehearsal. Single day tickets purchased in advance are $26.95 for adults and $16.95 for children age 5 to 11, with prices slightly higher at the gate. Two-day and season passes are also available. Visit www.sterlingfestival.com.  

42nd Annual New York Renaissance Faire

Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, August 17 through October 6, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sterling Forest, 600 State Route 17A, Tuxedo Park, NY

Voted the #1 Renaissance Faire in the Region for 2016, 2017, and 2018, this faire follows Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I on her visit to another 16th century English village. Expect to see acrobats, fairies, pirates, knights, and Robin Hood with his band of Merry Men. The marketplace features more than 100 artisans showcasing an array of handmade wares. There are also special themed events that come with unique amenities, activities, and discount offers, such as Marketplace Weekend, Time Travelers Weekend, Heroes & Villains Weekend for Military and First Responders, Pirate Weekend, Romance Weekend, Masquerade Weekend, Celtic Weekend, and more. Tickets in advance are $23.50 for adults and $12 for children age 5 to 12, and slightly more at the gate. Season passes are also available. Look for discount offers and coupons. Go to www.renfaire.com/ny.

39th Annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day, August 3 through October 27, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Road, Manheim, PA

The grounds of an historic estate and flourishing winery provide the picturesque backdrop for this festival, which features a cast of hundreds, more than 90 daily stage shows, over 20 royal kitchens, and scores of merchants, all in a 35-acre shire village. There are special themed weekends, such as Children’s Fantasy, World Carnival, Celtic Weekend, Myths & Legends, Heroes of the Realm, Wizarding Weekend, Pyrate Invasion, Time Travelers, Oktoberfest, Autumn Harvest, and Halloween Daze & Spooky Knights. As befitting the venue, expect to also find pub crawls, wine and cheese events, and tastings of wine and spirits. Single day tickets in advance are $27.95 for adults and $12.95 for children age 5 to 11. Tickets are a few dollars more at the gate and season passes are also available. Look for special discounts on some dates. For more details, visit www.parenfaire.com.