April 8 & 9 was opening weekend for the 37th year of Scarborough Renaissance Festival, a lavish spread of characters in costume, games, shows, jousting, parades, wine and beer tastings, turkey legs, adult beverages, adult cleavage, and so much more. What began in 1981 as a patch of pasture with a few tents and artisans is now one of the largest Renaissance festivals AND juried craft shows in the country.
Bonus Fun Stuff:I Just Never Got Into Cooking Shows … Until I Was “In” One.
It’s $28 per adult at the gate, $13 for children 5-12 and children under 5 are free (2017 prices).
Where the horses dress up all fanceh.
New to the Ren Fest scene? The people in costume who work there stay in character, with accents, lilt, brogue, gesture and form. There’s a lot of hand-kissing for the females, those rogues. It’s vogue to go rogue with a brogue. (Sorry.)
Foods on Ye Ole Sticke, with less Black Plague than in the real Renaissance.
Fun Facts
- They generally host more than 20 weddings per season.
- You can rent costumes there, wear your own period attire, or just your street clothes. Comfortable shoes are a must – it’s outdoors on grass/rocks/dirt.
- The 35-acre grounds have 226 PERMANENT Renaissance-style structures.
- More than 20 TONS of the infamous Turkey Legs are consumed during the eight-week period. Hopefully not by one guy.
- Many of the craftspeople and artisans give live demos of their work: pottery, metalsmith, glass-blowing, painters, weaving, hair braiding, leather- and woodworking.
- Touted as having the largest offering of Food On A Stick in Texas: Chicken, steak, sausage, fruit, macaroni & cheese, mushrooms, key lime pie, and more. Dallas Observer covered some of their new food options for 2017 here.
Foods on Ye Ole Sticke, with less Black Plague than in the real Renaissance
Fun Stuff
- Celtic and Easter Weekend April 15 & 16. Full daily schedule here.
- Carriage rides around the festival grounds. (Treat Mom for Mother’s Day Brunch too May 13 & 14.)
- Vow Renewal Reception on May 13 & 14 for $35/couple (above ticket price) that includes cake, mead toast, souvenir glasses.
- 157 cast members – the largest performing cast ever, many of whom are volunteers.
- The London Broil Show – Improvisational comedy and juggling with knives, clubs & fire. Sounds like election season to me.
- Mermaid Lagoon, petting zoo and other attractions
- Ember Rosenflame – This Fire Fairy was raised by dragons and is visiting the human world. (I wonder how many will be walking around in GoT Khalisi costumes.)
- Don Juan & Miguel – Scarborough long-timers featuring stage swordwork.
Wine, beer and mead tastings FOR M’LADY!!
Things To Remember
Arrive early to avoid a long walk to the gate and expect to be on the grounds for at least four to five hours. (Sweet: Free Parking!) There’s a lot of shopping and food to try so bring cash — you have to budget for the necessities like costume rentals, henna arts, jewelry, hair weaving and swords. (There are ATMs on the grounds.) Outside food and drink are not allowed in except for infant foods, but you can picnic outside the gates. Follow their Twitter for daily weather updates that could affect the Festival.
LOCATION
2511 FM 66
Waxahachie, TX | Route Map
TURF: Outskirts of the metroplex
WHAT MAKES IT FUN?
Jousting, ye olde tyme costumes & arts, foods on a stick; open every Weekend through Memorial Day Monday.
Categories: Fun Places
A WINNER HAS BEEN DRAWN AND NOTIFIED! Congratulations Georgeanne T. of Corinth, Texas!
Want to go back in time for the time of your life for the low, low price of NO CHARGE?? Leave a comment for your chance to win 2 tickets to any day of the 2017 season of Scarborough Renaissance Festival in Waxahachie! Drawing ends April 25th! Drawing is now CLOSED to entries for 2017. THANK YOU FOR ENTERING!
Love the jousting, so exciting! Also, Don Juan & Miguel are hilarious and Birds of Prey show is awesome!
We are really looking forward to this year’s festivities! Thank you for your entry, Cindy!
Festivals like this are the best place to people watch, especially with some of those elaborate costumes. My favorite is the mermaid (I hope she’s still a regular performer).
She’s still there! Here’s a link to her show as well as other attractions, like a petting zoo, monster museum and a dungeon! Thank you for your entry!
This festival is so much fun. My favorites are the jousting, whip demos, and birds of prey.
But do you have to keep to the gender conformity?!
I’d say the beauty of cosplay is no one really knows (or maybe cares) which gender one may call their own. 🙂 Thanks for your entry!
I went to the very first Scarborough Faire and then every year for 10 years. I haven’t been for several years now and would love to see how it’s changed!
Our all day visit to Scarborough Renaissance Festival was visiting another time and being welcomed like a family of royalty! I’ve never seen such chivalry and long to go back again soon! What a world you’ve created. ?
It’s always great to see long standing acts like Don Juan and Miguel as well as see what new things are added every year. The food is so tasty and affordable! Thanks for the chance to go again!
It’s always so much fun! I haven’t been since my daughter was 5. It would be so much fun to go back with her now that she’s older!
Looks like so much fun. I’d love to take my husband and 6 year old twins. Hopefully they have disability access for my daughter. So excited to go this year!
4 Free tickets pretty please!
I have such great memories of this festival when I was a kid, can’t wait to take my little people!
I have lots of great memories of this place, and I can’t wait to return.
Love Scarborough! Always a load of fun! My kids are excited to go back this year.
Would love to be able to take my family to Scarborough! Amazing trip back in time!
We have always wanted to go to the Faire! Maybe this will be our year!!
Love the Ren Faire! It’s always a special outing for me and my friends to get yummy festival foods and see the period costumes and shows!