Welcome, travelers, to my incomplete and entirely subjective guide to the renaissance festival. If you’re a lover of fantasy, an enjoyer of spectacle, a collector of shinies, or just want to have an excuse to dress up and devour a turkey leg, then I cannot recommend enough that you find the nearest festival and go!
Preparations
Your first step in attending a renaissance festival (which really should be called a medieval or fantasy festival, in my opinion, but that’s a topic for another time) is getting a ticket! This can be easily accomplished online, but before you buy, I recommend checking for any discounts or deals. Knowing I would be frequenting the Michigan Renaissance Festival, I purchased a royal pass for the season, which gave me unlimited entry and covered the parking fees. For me, this was the best deal, but if you’re only going once or twice getting single tickets may be the better option. Be on the lookout for offers! There are often options for discounts or even free tickets if you look, especially for students, seniors, and veterans.
After you have your tickets, the most important thing you have decide when you embark on your renaissance fair journey is, of course, what to wear! It can seem intimidating- many people go all in, whether that means donning their finest armor or painting themselves green to live their best goblin life. (Seriously- last time I went we encountered a gang of them, and it was glorious). However, there are no requirements for wearing an outfit. You don’t even have to if that really isn’t your cup of tea- plenty of people at the festival walk around in their everyday clothes. Personally, I highly recommend pulling something together; dressing the part assists the immersion in the festival, and it’s not difficult to do!
Here’s the proof: these are a few examples of outfits I have worn to the festival. Would you have been able to guess that almost everything I’m wearing was thrifted? With the exception of the green bodice in the top two photos, I thrifted or already owned these clothes, and used them for low effort (and low cost!) outfits. It really is a small effort to make, but it bolsters the whole experience.
When thrifting for ren fair clothes, I like to look for solid-colored shirts, comfortable pants, and long skirts as bases. From there, you have all kinds of freedom to layer your outfit with accessories like vests or scarves. Another thing to consider is how well your clothing will serve you in weather; at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, your outfit needs to be light enough to keep you from overheating when the sun is out, or able to withstand the rain, or both on the same day. Another important consideration is your footwear- I have found comfortable, close toed shoes to be best due to the amount of walking to, from, and in the unpaved grounds.
As you plan, be sure to check the weather! Being prepared for blazing sun or downpours can make all the difference in your experience. Believe me when I say that you will regret your black pants and long-sleeved shirt (no matter how cool they look) when you sit in direct sunlight to watch the joust, and you will wish you brought an umbrella when you wear a short dress in the rain. Layers are your friend, and the weather-predicting wizards can have your back if you mind the forecast before you go. The weather can also be indicative of the crowds you can expect- on nice days, the festival will almost certainly be busy, but when there’s a consistent precipitation it is quite likely that people will head home, leaving only the most dedicated of attendees.
Now it’s time to embark on your journey to the festival grounds. Plan for what you want to bring, and whether there are any restrictions on bag sizes. Unless you’re attending with children, you likely won’t need to carry much on your person. I like to keep my personal belongings minimal; I know I won’t want to carry around a large, heavy bag all day. My only necessities are cash, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer. As you plan and pack, make sure you check ahead of time what you can and cannot bring with you, like beverages, outside food, and weapons. For example, I know I can only bring a water bottle in with me if it is in a sealed container, so often I just bring my reusable bottle and leave it in my car for afterward. Additionally, at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, if you bring a weapon that can be drawn or fired as part of your outfit, you will have to get it peace tied upon entry, meaning it will be zip tied to its holster, preventing its use as an actual weapon for the duration of your visit.
At the Festival
Huzzah! You survived all the planning and preparations, you cajoled your buddies into coming with, and you made the perilous journey to the festival. Now what?
As you step onto the bustling festival grounds, you can have one of two approaches: going in with a plan or exploring on a whim. Personally, I fall into the latter category, but you really can’t go wrong with either. If there are performances or events you know you don’t want to miss, or you have a limited time to get to your big-ticket items, you should probably grab a map and a schedule and form a plan of attack. If you have plenty of time, or don’t have anything in particular you need to see, wandering might be more rewarding. There are a few things I would say everyone should absolutely see and do while at a renaissance festival, like the joust, but let’s start with some of the other highlights, hidden gems, and my favorite ways to spend the day.
Probably the easiest thing to do (but most painful for the wallet) is to shop. Shopping at the festival can also be a great way to add to your costume (or find inspiration, if you’re not willing to spend too much). I have supplemented my thrift store outfits with stuff I found at the festival, like a belt, leather pouches, a walking stick, and a bodice. Even if you’re not in the market for some gear, wandering the shops is an experience on its own; you’ll see clothing, hats, jewelry, candles, teas, leather work, pottery- and that’s just the beginning. The renaissance festival is home to a plethora of artisans with some truly stunning stuff that can be difficult to turn down. I find myself having to pick one item each visit to prioritize, lest I spend my entire week’s paycheck in a day, and I am not a person who typically enjoys shopping. I could spend an eternity looking through the stalls, picking through the various wares, and chatting with the crafters. Truly, I cannot do justice here to the incredibly fun things you can find at a festival. You can fill the day by exploring the stalls without ever spending a cent (believe it or not, I have successfully done this) and have a blast doing it.
If you needed more temptation to spend, you’ll also run into all kinds of food and drink. The staples are, of course, the turkey legs and pickles. However, there are so many delicious options, even for those of us with dietary restrictions. I was pleasantly surprised that the food and beverage prices weren’t exorbitant at the Michigan Renaissance Festival, so I usually plan on having a meal there. However, there is also the option to bring food with you and keep it in your vehicle for a lunch or dinner break.
A word of advice on the turkey legs: get in line early! They will sell out, especially if you wait until just before the joust. There are multiple stands selling them, and usually the lines are somewhat shorter further from the arena, but they will all get long very quickly. If a turkey leg is a must, get it as soon as you can! Be (bee?) aware that you will gain some insect friends as you enjoy your prize meal, especially if you stay in one place for a little while.
As you explore the shops and snack on some goodies, you’ll also run into all kinds of performances. There are stages all over the festival grounds with exciting acts. Especially if you’ve been on your feet for a good chunk of the day, taking a seat to enjoy a show is always a great time. Whether you stop by a tavern to enjoy a musical performance, cheer on your favorite contender in a duel, or see skillful feats of acrobatics, you can find magic and excitement wherever you roam. The performance times for each group are usually posted at the stages as well as in the schedule, so if you see something that sounds especially intriguing, you can easily plan when to return to make sure you catch it.
In addition to the shows, you can take part in all kinds of activities yourself. I love attempting to throw different weapons- I’ve had the most success with spears, and the least with knives, and axes fall somewhere in the middle. There are also games similar to those you might find at a carnival, like a strength test (I am proud to announce that I received the rank of Viking, although I did fall just short of ringing the bell) or target shooting challenges. If you’ve always dreamed of throwing tomatoes at some poor heckler, you can even do that. No matter what you want to try, you’ll be able to find something exciting to occupy your time, and you’re likely to discover new ways to do it with every visit. Just on my last trip, I stumbled upon a stall where you could make your own knife! That definitely went straight to the top of my list of things to save for (although the dice that were sitting at the top of that list might still win out on my next trip).
A final thing I think everyone should take the time to notice is the costumes of the people around you! As I mentioned earlier, people really do go all in for the renaissance festival. You can find excellent costumes and intricate cosplays anywhere you look, and more often than not those people are glad to stop and talk if you let them know how much you like their look. Sometimes you can even get a photo with them, like these nice Baldur’s Gate 3 characters I encountered.
The Joust
Alright, I know what you’ve been waiting for. By far the most exciting event of the renaissance festival is the joust- watching the Knights of the New Order stab hay bales, spear flaming targets, and charge each other with wooden poles draws a crowd for good reason. Are you ready for some violence?
If you attend a renaissance festival and skip the joust, what are you even doing? Even if you have to stand at the back of crowd to see it, it’s an event no one should miss. (If you want to avoid being at the edge of the crowd, get to the arena a good half hour before the event to find a seat!) As the audience gathers and people claim their seats before it all fills, the squires are preparing the lances and working the crowds. Soon, the knights themselves appear, riding around the arena and endearing themselves to their section of the audience. Before the event begins, each knight chooses a lord or lady for whom they will ride, and the lucky spectator receives a rose from their champion. After introductions, the knights take their stations, and the squires assist them in donning their helmet and affixing armor- things are about to get serious. As a precursor to the real action, the knights get warmed up with a spear throwing challenge; they must ride at and spear a hay bale through the target. Next, their aim is challenged further; rings are suspended above the lane, which they must charge and catch on their spear. By this point, one of the knights has usually claimed a point or two above his challenger, and the stakes are set for the joust. The spears are returned, the lances are taken, and the crowds are louder than ever.
Each knight takes his end of the arena, and on the mark of the announcer, they charge. The lances lower, then splinter with a crack as they make contact- or not. 2 points for a broken lance, 1 point for contact, 0 for a miss. The squires scramble to retrieve the broken pieces as others trade off the broken lance for a fresh one, and the action begins again. The audience cheers for their champion, boos as their opponent comes around, and watches eagerly as the battle commences. As we reach the final round, while scores are being determined, we are treated to a battle on foot, usually ending with one of the knights on horseback striking down the standing enemy in whatever fashion he deems fit- but always with flair. Finally, the victor is announced, the crowd goes wild, and the knights disembark their horses to come see the audience for photos and signing memorabilia (like the broken lance pieces).
Farewell
With that, you have accomplished a day at the renaissance festival. Presumably with an empty wallet, a full stomach, and sore feet, you return to your car. Hopefully your parking spot wasn’t too remote. Sadly, it is time to return to the real world- at least for now.
“The Road goes ever on and on
Out from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone.
Let others follow, if they can!
Let them a journey new begin.
But I at last with weary feet
Will turn towards the lighted inn,
My evening-rest and sleep to meet.”J.R.R Tolkien, The lord of the rings
Ella Hebrard, Bassoonist 
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