Plantersville, Austin, Tyler, Waxahachie, Hillsboro, Dale, Ingleside

The various Texas Renaissance Festivals are held in the Spring and Fall every year allowing people to step back into the days of yore complete with costumed performers and period merchants roaming the festival grounds. Combining performance art with a medieval marketplace and assorted daily performances, theatrics are at their highest, with each worker completely in character to enhance the period effect.

The Texas Renaissance Festival is one of the nation's largest, most acclaimed renaissance theme parks where the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and beauty of the 16th Century come alive. The renfest in Magnolia features strolling merry-makers, maidens, a daily parade of the King's Court jousting competitions, shops, food, and time period correct demonstrations and exhibitions.

Renaissance Festival Weekend Themes With more than 200 daily performances on 21 different stages, the Texas RenFest at Planetersville is the largest in the region. Each of the eight weekends of the Texas Renaissance Festival involve a unique theme.

The weekend themes include:

• Oktoberfest - October 9 & 10. Opens with a Bavarian atmosphere, fun and entertainment.
• 1001 Dreams - October 16 & 17. A weekend filled with magical wizards, elves and faeries spreading enchantment.
• Pirate Adventure - October 23 & 24. A swashbuckling weekend as the crew of the Pride of Belham invade the Shire.
• All Hallows Eve - October 30 & 31. Samhain scares up some fun when ghouls and goblins will come out to pay homage to the Queen during this Halloween weekend.
• Roman Bacchanal - November 6 & 7. Join the Italian Court for this weekend including a Pasta Eating Contests and Togas all around!
• Highland Fling - November 13 & 14. The Queen of Scotland comes to Court and brings the energetic pipes and drums of Tartanic.
• Barbarian Invasion - November 20 & 21. The Barbarian King and his fellow barbarians try to prove themselves civilized citizens of the realm.
• Celtic Christmas - November 26 - 28. The Festival concludes with a special holiday three-day weekend that includes a visit from Father Christmas.

The Texas Renaissance Festival features an International menu with Food Fit for a King or Queen. Feasting and Spirits are a big part of the festival celebration; visitors to the festival both young and old are sure to find something to tantalize their taste buds. From The Queen's Pantry featuring the Royal Bakery one can sample Scotch Eggs and a variety of fresh baked goods. King Henry's Royal Table features Smoked Turkey Legs, Coconut Fried Shrimp, Fish and Chips, and a broad assortment of fine brews and spirits. Don Felipe's Fruitful Endeavors offers up a refreshing assortment of fresh fruits and cheeses. Sample foods from several different countries including Polska Kielbasa, Dill Pickle Soup and Pierogi at Polonia where all things Polish may be found. Stop in at La Fiesta for Fajitas, Quesadillas, Blooming Onions and Lady Ligia's infamous banana and beef empañadas. The Black Forest Inn features robust German dishes such as Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, Potato Pancakes and Apple Strudel. Lasagna, Chicken Parmesan and Blackberry Cobbler can be found in the Italian Village. Ancient Greece awaits at the Greek Agora with Beef and Lamb Gyros and Hummus. And if all of that is still not enough, don't worry, this is but just a sampling of all the available feastings there are to be had at the Texas Renaissance Festival!

Texas RenFest Tickets

The 36^th Annual Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville is held each weekend October 9 through November 28, 2010, as well as Thanksgiving Friday, November 26. RenFest Tickets are $23.00 for adults, and $11.00 for children ages 5 through 12 at the gate. Discount tickets may also be purchased at a nearby location of Woodforest National Bank, HEB and Randall's or Market Basket stores; Outlet ticket prices are only $19.00 for adults and $9.00 for children. As RenFest season nears, there is some availability to purchase tickets online, as well as reissue tickets that may have been lost, damaged or stolen.

Other Texas Renaissance Festivals & Faires

Can't wait for October? Were you destined to be a member of the Royal Court and want to gather with your fellow Chevaliers and Courtesans? Fear not, here at Woodlands Events, we've located them all for you. There are six other Texas Renaissance Festivals that are held each year across Texas, beginning in February and ending in December.

Sherwood Forest Festival

The inaugural Sherwood Forest Festival begins Saturday, February 27. Nestled in the Lost Pines section of Texas, the Year is 1189. Richard the Lionhearted has taken the Throne of England from his father, Henry II. The Sheriff of Nottingham is ruling the shire with an iron fist, when he's not fighting off Robin of Loxley and his band of Merry Men, who have gained a reputation for fighting the injustices of local earls and barons, as well as the Crown. Join in the merriment with live entertainment, merchants with all manner of wares and of course, food and beverage fit for all inhabitants of the Shire. The Sherwood Forest Festival runs for 6 weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) February 27 through April 4, 2010. Gates are open 10 am – dusk, rain or shine. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $8.50 for children ages 6-12 (children 5 & under are FREE) and can be purchased at participating Austin-area HEB locations. Discount tickets can be purchased online. FREE parking is available. Sherwood Forest Faire is located 35 miles east of Austin on US Hwy 290. For more information about the Sherwood Forest Faire festival.

Four Winds Faire

The Renaissance begins Saturday, March 6th as Four Winds Faire opens its gates for its 16th season. The 2010 season of Four Winds Faire includes full combat jousting, Renaissance entertainment, merry minstrels, swashbuckling swordsmen, pirates and buccaneers, artisan demonstrations, craft booths, and food and drink fit for royalty. Children’s entertainment includes the Children’s Knighting Ceremony, amazing puppeteers, a petting zoo with pony rides, games of skill and chance, and the Crow’s Nest ride & Joust the Dragon ride, the Royal Parade, and much more! This season of Four Winds Faire runs for 8 weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) March 6 through April 25, 2010. Gates are open 10 am – 7 pm, rain or shine. Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 5-12 (children 4 & under are FREE). FREE parking is available. Four Winds Faire is located just 11 miles south of Tyler, Texas off Hwy. 110 South, between Whitehouse and Troup, Texas. For more information on Four Winds Faire or call (903) 839-5271.

The Scarborough Renaissance Festival

The Scarborough RenFest opens its gates for its 29th season Saturday, April 10th. The 2010 season of Scarborough RenFest includes themed weekends such as Magic Weekend April 17 & 18, the Highland Games April 24 & 25, the Royal Ale Festival May 1 & 2, a special Renaissance Romance theme for Mother's Day Weekend, May 8 & 9, Chivalry Weekend May 15 & 16 and the Pirates Invade May 22 & 23. Entertainment is nearly constant across the 35-acre grounds and takes place in Holly Field, Crown Meadow and Pecan Grove both on and off one of the 10 stages. This season of Scarborough Faire runs for 8 weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) April 10 - May 31, 2010. Gates are open 10 am – 7 pm, rain or shine. Tickets are $18.75 for adults and $7.50 for children ages 5-12 (children 4 & under are FREE) and can be purchased online. Discount Tickets are available at Dallas/Fort Worth area Tom Thumb and Austin area Randalls locations. FREE parking is available. Scarborough Renaissance Festival is located just 30 minutes south of Dallas/Fort Worth, in Waxahachie, Texas. For more information on The Scarborough RenFest Festival or call toll-free 888-5-FESTIVAL or (972) 938-3247.

Middlefaire Renaissance Festival

Middlefaire comes to life Saturday, September 18. Taking place in a mid-seventeeth century English village occupied with minstrels, swashbuckling swordsmen, gypsies, rogues, pirates and buccaneers, there are craft booths, merchants and food and drink fit for aristocracy. Don't miss the Royal Parade, the Irish Bards and much more! The Middlefaire Renaissance Festival runs for 3 weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) September 18 through October 3, 2010. Gates are open 11 am – 7 pm Saturdays and 11 am - 6 pm Sundays, rain or shine. Tickets are $12.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 7-12 (children 6 & under are FREE). FREE parking is available. Middlefaire Renaissance Festival is located just 5 miles north of Hillsboro, Texas on Hwy. 171 at the intersection of Highway 171 and County Road 1458. For more information on Middlefaire Renaissance Festival or call (254) 548-6238.

Central Texas Renaissance Faire

The Central Texas Renaissance Faire opens November 13. Featured entertainers may include the Typsy Gypsys, Gypsy Hips and Joined At The Hip. This year's Central Texas Renaissance Faire season runs for 2 weekends, November 13 - 21, 2010. Gates are open 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Saturdays and 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Sundays. Tickets are $6 for adults and children ages 13 and older, $3 for children ages 8 - 12 and free for children ages 7 and under. There are discounts for senior citizens, retired and reserve military and EMS, Fire and Police. The Central Texas Renaissance Faire is located at 1345 Pebblestone Road, Dale, Texas 78616. For more information about the Central Texas Renaissance Faire or call (512) 447-5309.

Ingleside Renaissance Faire

The eleventh annual Ingleside Renaissance Faire will be held December 12 & 13. Watch for the Vikings, jousters, and recreations of the past as you wind your way through the massive Live Oak trees. You will encounter dragons, elves, Kings and Queens as you travel through the forest. Prepare yourself for a journey through the forest filled with entertainers and reenactors. Gates are open 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 - 12 and free for children ages 5 and under. The Ingleside Renaissance Faire is located in the heart of Ingleside, Texas at Live Oak Park. For more information about the, Ingleside Renaissance Faire or call toll free 888-899-2906 or (361) 776-2906.

Here at Woodlands Events, we want to help you plan your day! If that involves traveling to one of the Renaissance Festivals or Faires in the surrounding communities listed here, please use this map to assist you in finding your way.