The Arizona Renaissance Festival is an annual event in spring, usually between February and April. The festival celebrates all things medieval, with jousting knights, royal courts, and wandering minstrels. When you look at the festival schedule, you might find yourself overwhelmed by all the different things to see and do in one day! If you plan to attend the festival, here are the ten best things to see and do.
This shortlist is best for first-timers who are looking to get an introduction to the Ren Faire. I’ve also organized the list chronologically so you can use it as a schedule for the day. But if you want to make your own schedule feel free to use this as a thought starter. Read our Complete Ren Faire Guide for more tips on visiting the Ren Faire for the first time!
- #1 Breakfast and Bagpipes
- #2 Laugh and Lunge with Swordplay and Comedy
- #3 Admire the Artisans at the Glass Hut
- #4 Gnaw on a Turkey Leg
- #5 Shopping till you Drop!
- #6 Be Amazed by the Death-defying Sword Swallower
- #7 Try out Archery
- #8 Relax to some Renaissance Music
- #9 Learn all About life in the Medieval Times
- #10 Cheer on Your Knight at the Jousting Tournament
#1 Breakfast and Bagpipes
Try to arrive about 30 minutes before the gates open to ensure you get inside the festival right as it opens. This will give you enough time to head directly to the Cappucino Inn, where you can pick up a delicious iced coffee and sweet to enjoy while watching the Breakfast and Bagpipes show! Located in Falconer’s Heath, this show is one of the best ways to start your day! The band ‘Tartanic‘ starts the party by burning up their bagpipes and drums, creating this amazing barrage of sound throughout the entire festival. Dancers accompany the band, and lots of “bagpipe groupies,” who dance alongside!
#2 Laugh and Lunge with Swordplay and Comedy
Next, walk towards the ‘Theatre de la Rose’ stage where you can find the ‘Renaissance Men.‘ This hilarious duo of Rowland and Florian perform a thrilling and hilarious sword-fighting demonstration for an enraptured audience. I laughed so hard my face hurt by the end of the show and enjoyed both the comedic aspect as much as I was impressed by the wizardry with a sword. This performance felt very Shakespearean and was a great way to get into the medieval spirit.
#3 Admire the Artisans at the Glass Hut
Right next door to the theatre, you’ll find the glass blowers hut, where they put on demonstrations four times a day. Owners of Old Castle Glass, Dylan Crouch and Rob Beckham, set up their studio here are the Arizona Ren Faire for four months out of the year, working almost 7-days a week. Not only are the glass-blowing demons entertaining and informative, but it was also amazing to see that the art of glass-blowing hasn’t changed almost at all in over 500 years. It still feels like a truly Renaissance art form.
The only modern technology they use is a gas line to keep the fires burning instead of using wood. Watching these artisans at work, we got a glimpse into the hard labour and artistic talent it takes to create these pieces made of glass. And their prices are extremely reasonable for this type of glasswork, so buying a piece from them is a wonderful souvenir.
#4 Gnaw on a Turkey Leg
If you’re feeling pecking, it’s a good idea to head over to the King’s Kitchen to grab a bite for lunch. There are plenty of food and drink options available at the festival. But if you want to try one of the most iconic meals at the festival, you should try one of their traditional turkey legs! These things are MASSIVE, so plan to split it if you aren’t a huge meat eater. You can also pair this with corn on the cob and a glass of mead, a type of honey wine, to really complete that meal plucked from medieval times.
#5 Shopping till you Drop!
To work off all that food, spend some time meandering around the artisan marketplace. This area is a treasure trove of handmade crafts and unique gifts. Browse through booths selling everything from leather armour to hand-crafted jewelry. While there are definitely lots of booths that cater to Ren Faire clothing and costuming, there are also shops that feel on the theme while still being accessible to the everyday person. Places like the Apothecary shop sell soaps and teas that everyone can enjoy in their everyday life.
#6 Be Amazed by the Death-defying Sword Swallower
Lynx’s Comedy Sword Swallowing Show was one of those performances we were so keen to see, as it had been recommended to us by multiple people! Lynx is one of eight performers from around the world who can perform various death-defying feats! The show was hilarious, and I still am absolutely confounded about how he performed a myriad of those stunts.
#7 Try out Archery
Archery is one of those medieval skills that pop up in every movie set in that time. And most of us have seen many a bow and arrow but never had the chance to try it out. Well, the Ren Faire is the perfect place to do so. Twelve arrows will cost you only $6, which is a super fair price for this activity! We had a BLAST, and I was surprised how quickly you could pick it up. Alas, neither of us got bullseyes, but something to look forward to trying next year.
#8 Relax to some Renaissance Music
The festival features a variety of live music performances, from traditional Celtic tunes to medieval court music. While there are lots of planned performances on the schedule, one of my favourite things to do was simply to happen across the wandering minstrels you would find as you explored the festival grounds. Dora Viellette was my absolute favourite.
Dora Viellette plays on the hurdy-gurdy. Never heard of a hurdy-gurdy? Well, me neither. The hurdy-gurdy is a string instrument that produces sound by a hand crank that turns a wheel that rubs against the strings to make music. The sound is ethereal and enchanting. The music she plays combines classics of the Medieval and Renaissance era. She casts a spell upon all those who pass her by.
Another of my favourites was harpist Sarah Marie Mullen who played captivating Celtic tunes on her gorgeous harp. She can be found right outside the jousting arena. My dad’s favourite was the Iron Hill Vagabonds. This duo roams the fairgrounds playing songs on their fiddle that will definitely pluck at your heartstrings.
#9 Learn all About life in the Medieval Times
A section of the fairgrounds is dedicated to education, which I know sounds boring, but it was one of the most interesting parts of the festival. Towards the far end of the grounds, you’ll find the Yokel Village & Croft Thistlewood Cottage. Here are various members of the Celtic Reenactment Organization of Fellowship & Trades who aim to promote fellowship while researching the lifestyles and trades appropriate to the Celtic Peoples from 400 BC until 1746 AD. They work on handicrafts, recipes and other techniques employed in medieval times that people would have needed to know to survive their everyday life. If you have kids, making a little part of your day out educational is nice.
Also nearby the old village and cottage are Lady Tess, Countess of Trueheart. Lady Tess is, most importantly, the Fashion Advisor to Nobility. Lady Tess gives presentations to the public, explaining medieval bathing, hairdressing, and the application of make-up. She also demonstrates various garments and accessories worn by Noble men and women. Lady Tess is a performance unto herself and absolutely worth checking out!
#10 Cheer on Your Knight at the Jousting Tournament
To end your day at the festival, make your way toward the tournament arena, where you can watch the final joust of the day, the joust to the death! I like leaving the joust to the end of the day when the heat dies down slightly. Plus, it really feels like a finale you don’t want to miss. Choose your seat from the 5,000-seat arena of champions. Depending on where you’re seating will determine which knight you will be cheering on in the battle.
The joust pits two knights on horseback, wearing their finest armour, who gallop onto the field with their ten-foot lances to win the Queen’s honour. During the joust to the death, the knight also gets off their horses and fights with their swords to the literal death (ok not literally, but they pretend to do so) to the shock and awe of the crowd. You can buy flags with the banner of your chosen knight upon them to help cheer on your side of the arena. After the battle is over, you can also come down and say hello to the knights after the fight is won. Although it might just be a show, the skills required to perform it are genuine and a real sight to behold. The festival’s jousting tournaments are a must-see event. Watch knights on horseback compete in thrilling battles that will transport you back in time.
The Arizona Renaissance Festival is an unforgettable experience that’s sure to transport you back in time. With so many things to see and do, you’ll want to plan your visit carefully to make the most of your day. Don’t miss out on these ten must-see attractions, and have a blast at the festival!
Happy Travels, Adventurers
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