14 Best Renaissance Fairs In the US To Enjoy the Post-Medieval Experience

Arizona Renaissance Festival The Arizona Renaissance Festival, located near Apache Junction, offers live entertainment, themed feasts, and artisanal shopping on weekends with various themes.

Sherwood Forest Faire The Sherwood Forest Faire in McDade, Texas, offers a lively Renaissance experience with themed shows, family-friendly activities, artisanal shops, and delicious food.

Medieval Fair Of Norman The Medieval Fair of Norman, less than 30 minutes south of Oklahoma City, offers a free and festive medieval experience, featuring educational exhibits, crafts, food vendors, and entertainment.

Scarborough Renaissance Festival The Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie, Texas, south of Dallas, offers over 200 live acts across two dozen stages on 35 acres, along with diverse food options and artisanal wares.

Bristol Renaissance Faire The Bristol Renaissance Faire near Chicago runs from July to Labor Day, featuring over 200 artisans and a variety of medieval-themed entertainment, including jousting, hand-to-hand combat, and unique shows.

Minnesota Renaissance Festival The Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee offers a top-rated Renaissance fair experience with 800-plus entertainment options, medieval artisans, and hundreds of food booths.

Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire features themed weekends, over 100 merchants, craft demonstrations, archery displays, and dog-friendly admission with the appropriate pass.

New York Renaissance Faire The New York Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York, offers a lively recreation of Elizabethan England, featuring jousting tournaments, dance performances, musical acts, and themed weekends.

Maryland Renaissance Festival Step back into 16th-century England at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, renowned as one of the region's top outdoor events and the second-largest Renaissance Festival in the US, just after the Texas Renaissance Fair. 

Ohio Renaissance Festival Experience one of the country's largest Renaissance festivals, the Ohio Renaissance Festival, running weekends from late August through October near Harveysburg in Warren County, Ohio. This 16th-century English village, spread across about 30 acres, welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually.

Carolina Renaissance Festival The Carolina Renaissance Festival in Huntersville, North Carolina, offers a medieval and fantasy experience with over 100 artisans selling unique wares and handicrafts, including hand-blown glasswork and masks.

Texas Renaissance Festival The Texas Renaissance Festival, running from October to December, draws half a million visitors annually with its themed weekends, such as Oktoberfest and Celtic Christmas.

Northern California Renaissance Faire The Northern California Renaissance Faire, situated at Casa De Fruta in Hollister, offers a vibrant village atmosphere with street musicians, jousting, and artisans showcasing crafts like armor and blown glass.

Kansas City Renaissance Festival  The Kansas City Renaissance Festival, a grand event since 1977, hosts over 200,000 visitors yearly on its 16-acre site, offering a magical realm with knights, fairies, and even a mermaid, amidst artisan villages and autumn foliage.