If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable outing this spring, you really can’t beat an afternoon at the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. Now in its 39th year, a rural field in Arrington is transformed into the 16th-century village of Covington Glen, a colorful extravaganza of delicious food; fantastic live music; thrilling live performances; artisan tents filled with jewels, swords, art, and elaborate costumes; and even space for knights to joust on horseback for their ladies’ favor—a true festival highlight. It’s an annual tradition that draws thousands of visitors from across the region, many dressed in colorful, creative costumes that are as fun to check out as the festival itself! This year, organizers are giving special recognition to those who dress in costume by inviting them to participate in a special Costume Parade held at the end of each day.
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Whether or not you opt to dress up, there truly is something for everyone at the Renaissance Festival, from the littlest ‘littles’ to trendy teens and young adults, to seniors. There’s so much to do, in fact, that many guests return multiple times just to fit everything in!
One thing you’ll definitely want to make time for is browsing the Tennessee Renaissance Festival’s many vendor and artisan booths. Here, you’ll find decadent Renaissance gowns, corsets, and accessories, handcrafted leather costumes, footwear, and outerwear for women and men, handmade horns, elf ears, jewelry, wooden mugs, kilts, and candles. If you love the Renaissance period, bring plenty of cash since most vendors can’t accept cards due to the festival’s rural location. There are ATMs on site in case of a shopping emergency, but to avoid the surcharge, bring some green! You’ll also want to bring plenty of money for food and drinks. You’ll find lots of options at the festival, including barbecue, fried pies, ice cream, baked goods, and much more.
Live entertainment is included in the cost of your ticket, and it’s absolutely phenomenal. Many of the performers, like juggler Paolo Garbanzo and music group Empty Hats, are crowd favorites and return year after year. In addition to musicians, you can catch a knife-throwing show, a sword swallower, fairies, storytellers, and even Robin Hood and Queen Elizabeth I. New this year are four additional entertainers, including a fire dancer and rambling musicians who will be roaming the grounds. Organizers have also brought back a special street cast to engage with the crowds and expand on the Renaissance Festival story by performing specific pieces of monologue and scenes with other festival entertainers.
Special events this year include a “Flower Fairy Crown Craft” for kids ages 5-10. Participants will make their own whimsical flower crown with the help of magical fairy instructors. The workshop is held each festival day at noon in the Fairy Glen; tickets for this event are $20 and must be purchased in advance here.
For adults, there’s “The Queen’s Promenade,” an elegant dance course designed for those who want to master the art of Regency dance. Attendees will receive special instruction from a Master of Dance and learn about a time when the art of ballroom dancing had the power to determine the fate of young ladies and gentlemen. The Queen’s Promenade starts at 4 pm on the Joust Field and is offered May 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th, 24th, and 25th. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased here.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in May and on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26th. Daily general admission tickets start at $25 per adult and $5 for children ages 3-12. Children ages 2 and under are admitted for free. Attendees are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets in advance since numbers are often limited at the gate to ensure the grounds don’t get too crowded. Advance tickets are $10 less than those sold at the gate on the day of the event. Royal Court and Season Passes, good for admission on all nine days of the event, range from $100-$200 (depending on package benefits). Parking is free. The festival is held at Castle Park, 2135 New Castle Road in Arrington. For more information on this year’s festival and to purchase tickets, visit tnrenfest.com.
