5 TIPS for a Better Ren Faire Experience 

We sincerely hope that the tips we have shared with you do indeed give you a more enjoyable experience when visiting a Renaissance Faire or Festival!! If you have any tips that we did not cover that you think are important, share them below! That way everyone can benefit and have the best time possible. 😁

Oh I got a tip: to the community please don’t gatekeep peoples outfits and costumes. I’m speaking as a cosplayer and costumer. I saw comments on other people’s outfits making really mean spirited comments on how fairs “should be” and they shouldn’t allow things like the mushroom dresses or dnd inspired stuff. I don’t know where people thing this is appropriate but people put a ton of effort into their costumes to have fun. I think as a tip from me, people shouldn’t gatekeep.

Tip #6: strategic zippers or elastic waistbands! If planning to imbibe and bladder communication is failing at middle age plan to make going to the loo expedient. Drinking coffee before leaving the house for an hour to hour and a half drive might put you in a bad spot in the parking lot also so might need to have containers in the car and a blanket or sun shields for privacy screens in the parking lot. Faire thee well!

Another reason for cash: most food vendors, stage performers, and street buskers rely on tips. Tipping is not required, but if you can afford the extra, I encourage you to plan for it. I usually bring an extra $20 in ones and fives specifically for performer tips, and add an extra dollar per food item because that's what I can afford. After years of attending Ren Faires, I prefer tipping over buying a souvenir and deliberately build that into my budget for the day.

I'm from Texas and frequent the Sherwood Forest Faire. These are things I've learned. Stay on grounds if possible. Or stay close. Our faire has camp grounds and it is super fun and really immerses you in the spirit. Make time to relax. Shows and events are great but make time for rest and breaks. Don't be afraid to split from the group if you came with one. Its ok to go enjoy an activity alone. (Provided you're old enough and feel safe) Be open to making friends. Whether actor, visitor, or staff, dont be afraid to reach out and be friendly. New friends make it a great experience and return trips extra special

I love rainy days at the faire…cuts down on crowds, dust, makes it moody, and I can wear my cloak with the hood up!

Regarding the third tip, there's a picture on the Internet of a guy who wanted to dress up as the Witch King, but he wanted his feet to be comfortable. So, he cleverly disguised his crocs with PLA foam as boots 😂

My biggest tip as a pale princess: SUNSCREEN AND SHADE! Get a parasol, hat, etc. Unless you apply sunscreen 10 times a day it won't be enough (depending how much shade the faire has) so I suggest avoiding sun exposure all together where possible.

Dressing for the weather can't can't be emphasized enough ... Me and my friends went to the PA Faire on opening day in August this year ... It was a so hot and humid I was pretty much down to my kilt and no shirt for the day ... And then we visited the NY Faire in Tuxedo Lake for their last day in October, And I total over estimated the weather and just wore my kilt and T-shirt. I froze the entire day.

I wish my local faire would have a "Coin of the Realm." That sounds really cool.

You can never have too many fans…they make a great “umbrella” too!

my favorite summer goth/faire garb tip is: bring a plant mister, plastic or aesthetic that you can hang on your belt, and mist your fishnet tights if you feel like you're getting too hot! it will cool you as it evaporates

One tip I would add, OK, a few, is get there early. Especially late in the season. All fairs work a little different, but PA does a soft opening, so you can get in and start the day early. I makes it easier to grab a bite to eat or check out some vendors before the heavy crowds hit. Along the same lines, get to shows early, particularly to big events like the joust.

If you have the time, I would recommend getting involved! My experience with character acting and stage combat in the local Medieval Faire are times that I will cherish forever!

I've never been to one of these, but from my recent research this community looks incredible. I've defiantly played my fair share of DnD and role playing games in my life. Which makes this even more appealing to me. Makes sense why most places there won't accept card. They probably see it as some sorta of dangerous witchcraft. "Behold, It's a card! All of my money is held here in this flimsy rectangular device in a world of digital banking, I need you to use it to complete our business"

I love the period "We're reaching out about your car's extended warranty" bit but I don't think they got it 😭

The MN Renaissance Festival has air conditioning at Safety Services, so if you are having heat issues you can go there.

For the Michigan Ren Fest, if you want to park close, come an hour or and hour and a half early. Also, pack some food in a cooler and keep it in your vehicle. I love the food BUT at peak times, the lines are LOOOOONG. My daughter is hypoglycemic and one year (after the pandemic shut down), we ended up in four lines that ran out of food before we got to the front. (There was also a labor shortage which caused issues in their kitchens.). The next year we ate some of the food before peak times, but ended up eating our main meals in our car. It was much more comfortable, and eased our minds, knowing that we could eat when necessary.

3:06 Sounds like an additional check *BEFORE* you get in line: check whether or not a vendor takes Cash Only or accepts Card. I've gotten in line before and waited for a good amount of time before I realized that I could *only* use cash

I always love having a roll of dollar coins. They are great to tip performers with, or pay for food, and are gold color so they totally keep with the theme. Can go to a bank in advance and ask for a roll of them. Nothing like dropping some "gold" for a good performance.

I also recommend a parasail, (sun Umbrellas) So worth it made my life that much better

A tip I follow is to always have small bills in case the vendors don’t necessarily have a lot of change on hand. I usually look like a stripper or server paying with ones and fives.

Michigan Renfest has themed weekends which are very fun to participate in. Opening weekend is always pirates I think, they always have a Viking weekend, and so on. By no means do you need to stick to the theme but it's fun to check the theme in advance to help you pick an outfit when you're indecisive or would like to be a part of the larger group/theme. Remember it's all about having fun so do what makes you happy. :)

These are all such helpful tips! Staying hydrated is key for me I find I can tolerate heat better if I hydrate and wear natural fabrics. Also love PARF!!! It’s such a great Faire

These were such great tips! Thank you! From my experience a couple I would add are to prehydrate. I bring packets of electrolytes to add to my water- it helps prevent emergencies when you notice you’re getting overheated. Last- it can be hard to sit in a port a potty with lots of skirts on & keep them clean. Teach yourself to use a stand to pee device before you go to the faire! Some have their own carrying case, some are disposable, find what works for you. After a day of drinking folks are hitting the floors walls and ceilings in those portables

No no no, TIP 1: Go to Ren Faire with Hailey and Nathan (Sage is a added bonus) 😂🥰

I am from Texas and love our Ren Fest at Mission Todd. It is a great time. Loved the part about money. I don’t think we have Coin of the Realm but it would be cool if they did.

All good tips. I noticed several things different about the PA Faire than the Michigan Renaissance Festival that we go to (and that we went to yesterday). Your crowds look TINY! Several time the Michigan Faire has had to stop admitting patrons because they were at capacity. Also, per the internet. The PA fair is 35 acres, while the Michigan fair is almost 10 times that! And there is no pavement for the Michigan Faire, and no Air conditioning that I am aware of. Your faire looks like it would be very fun to attend. You should come visit the Michigan faire sometime!

Parasol and fan are a must at the faire.

Permit me to share with all of you a story of how one venture to the faire proved to be a LITERAL wash out for my family and I. Once, many years ago (I forget exactly when;) the day started out pretty well. There were only some slight traces of clouds in the sky and according to the weather station, there was (supposedly) a 40% chance of rain. Things were going smoothly...until we felt some slight raindrops falling on our heads, which caused us to put the hoods of our coats up. At first, we thought it would just be a passing drizzle and that it would eventually clear up. THAT'S when it REALLY got bad...it soon rained so hard that we and two others had to seek refuge under the cover of a small booth (known as the Fairy Booth, I think.) It rained so hard that eventually, they had to close down the faire the rest of that day. Thankfully, we had rooms at the Hampton Inn right across the street; so, the drive back to there wasn't so long. But after that, we've been lucky on our visits to the faire...that is, until COVID hit and the Hampton Inn closed down permanently in 2018. The Viking Weekend on the 17th and 18th will be our first official return to the shire of Mount Hope in ages. I just hope the weather will hold up, when that time comes...but since it's the Fall, I doubt heavy downpours will be happening

The algorithm is what brought me here; I think a goal will be to someday pay a visit to PA in October. Bristol runs 9 weekends but all of them are July and August plus labor day weekend, and the heat and sun are NO JOKE! Reapply that sunscreen!

My tips everybody is to enjoy the fair get into it get into your second personality the one you dressed as engaged with people laugh and smile compliment other people's outfits but remember to get into the character you are dressed as and play That's what these😊days are for😊 and my last tip always always hydrate! Have fun no matter what fair you're at and enjoy the characters that are there

You two are truly special creators. These tips and tricks are amazing and they truly helped me further my knowledge about the ren faire. So thank you very much for making this.

OMG, I absolutely ♥LOVE ♥ that your faire has that Coin of the Realm option!! I wish my own faire did that, that is EXCELLENT. What a great option for getting that feeling of immersion!

Got to love ThyTube algorithms! Always enjoy when thee pop up on me list! Cheers and looking forward to another fun fulled adventure! Sláinte!

Season tix are the way to go! This is our first year with season tickets and are having a blast. Takes all the pressure off of trying to see everything in a day. We’ve been catching more of the smaller shows knowing we catch a crowded big show next time. We’ve already been there 4 times this season, so the rest of the season is just gravy. Even if we pop in for the awesome food and catch a show or two and head out, the pass makes it possible. Only regret is we didn’t know about the holiday open house discount, but we’ll be on it next year. Cool video. Only other tip I would have mentioned was purchasing return tickets before you leave which are a great discount. Hazzah!

I'm from Western Wa ,and this is perfect because I'm going to TudorCon this year and visiting the PA Rennfaire the first weekend in Sept. I'm so pumped!

Just found your channel. Love the Mt Hope Faire! Been there three times now. Unfortunately, my Fiance and I couldn't make it this year, but we'll be going next year for sure, and it'll be the first time I'll be going in costume. Cheers, gave you a sub!

Great video! Thank you for sharing. I love ren faires.

You guys are the perfect hosts for a Ren faire! You really look the part!

I had a great time at the Edgewood, NM Renaissance Fair today. I love Celtica the awesome celtic metal band and the other Viking band. They were badass.

Great tips young kids! Looking forward to the Celtic weekend so I can put in my kilt without any guilt and run through the shire like crazy young squire!

Great tips! Also, consider a good stretch before and/or after your day. 😀

I had the pleasure of visiting the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire back in the mid 80's. I would love to go back and see what has changed.

Great tips!!! Thank you!!!

This is my first video ever seeing of you guys and these are amazing tips to remember so than you so so much!

Tip #6: Let your hair down, enjoy yourself, get ito the swing of it. Don't go and be a stuck up sticky beak. Wear a costume! Doesn't have to be anything grand. Tip #7: Prepare for the weather - some days in Sept and Oct can be quite cool, sometimes it's rainy. Wear comfy shoes - be prepared to stand in line for food and especially drinks (beer and wine)...

I was just at the Colorado renaissance festival today, very fun

That one looks awesome! Way better then mine in the sun and heat and first with just mostly tents on the fairgrounds I think.

The coin of the realm concept is really cool! I wish they had that for the MI ren fest.

Great tips, thank you.

Just subscribe, great tidbits! I try to make the Renaissance Fest in my area myself, Maryland rocks! Continued success guys! 😉👍

So glad I came across your video! After being associated with the Arizona Renaissance Festival since 1999, I am now living in lower, slower Delaware (originally I am from Maryland and got the Ren faire hook @ Crownsville). Sold my royal costume but saved the peasant stuff for just this occasion. Hope to see you there in the fall - HUZZAH!

If The Anchor and Mermaid Tavern still has the Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes) meal, I HIGHLY recommend getting it! It's DELICIOUS!!!

I was 12 years old when I went to my first RenFaire in 1976. Been going ever since.

Great job guys I go to the Ohio Ren faire and most of your tips work there also.

I'm planning to bring my family to this faire on sunday (almost 2 1/2 hr trip from the poconos) (first timers) nice video , thank you

Parasols/umbrellas are very helpful for sunnier/hotter faires like the ones in CA.

9:40 yea speak with the entertainers and tell them how much you loved them. That’s cool.

Wow, I didn’t know u guys where from pa, I’m going this year for my first time, hope to see you guys

I go to the PA renfaire like every weekend so its awesome that i just found this channel...although now I have to go through all these vids and see if I can spot myself!

Great tips! Thank you!!! ❤️✨🙋🏻‍♀️🇺🇲

Im planning to go to the PA ren faire, knowing ahout the coin if the realm is super helpful!

I'm visiting family in VA starting next week, and we'll be attending the Faire on the 16th! I'm so excited to experience the faire for the first time.

I’m going to head to my first Ren Fair in June and I’m going to try to stay in character the whole time it’s gonna be interesting

It's been a few years since I've been to the PA Faire. Maybe I'll get there this year. We love going around Halloween as it is awesome to get to be in full garb and not swelter, lol. Great tips! I can attest to most of them. We used to get season passes (or Queens passes as they were called) for the NY Ren Faire back in the early 2000s when we had more disposable income and when we had more energy to go more than once a season. Sadly, we're not energetic enough for that anymore.

Rainy days can be fun too! No lines.

Beautiful couple🌛⭐✨✨🏹🏹 thanks for the tips!

Now I really wanna go there and the coin thing sounds amazing!

I hear Sponge Bob Square Pants in the background. Me thinks Jacques ze Whipper was nearby ;p

Great tips! I hope to make it out to the PA Faire after I wrap up at NYRF! 😊

I'd add one - come early enough to get good parking! At the KC Faire, the only parking lot that is surfaced at all (gravel) fills up very early. The rest are 'lines in a mowed field'. One year I twisted my ankle just getting to the front gate and hobbled my way from play to play the rest of the day LOL.

❤ so excited to see pa renfaire! It's a few hours away from. Me and the faire I go to every year! I had the best experience when dress as fairies with my friends. We were dressed as spring, summer and fall. The friend that was going to be winter couldn't make it. One cast member asked if the fairy hunter got winter, by the end of the day it felt like the whole cast was in on the joke.

I live in NC and this upcoming weekend I’ll be going to the Ren fair I’m so exited I just hope it’s good since it is the last weekend my costume is a female version of Robin Hood lol

One thing I was told was to call my credit card in advance to inform them I would be using it at a festival w/vendors from all over. Apparently many vendors travel and follow the Ren circuit. If a card bank sees multiple charges from various parts of the country they can cancel the card thinking it has been stolen. They said last year this happened to quite a few people. It was also encouraged to use cash over card, but to make sure your form of payment is secure so it doesn't fall out of your costume!

F YEAH KNIGHTWINGS!!!! Love them and the birbs

the ren faire at sleepy hollow Iowa is a lot smaller than the PA one and a lot flatter and since it's in the middle of Iowa it can get extremely hot like it could feel like you are in the Sahara Desert, but there are still a lot of activities and shops to see. the only downside to the faire here is that its only three weekends out of September and its already over. other than that, I'm looking forward to next year's ren faire because I might have an actual costume to wear. (If you've ever played the game for honor, I will be going for a war lord look, war lord is a Viking)

I'm going to my first ren faire in a few years in august but it's the one in Pittsburgh I would have loved to go the one in tuxedo NY because that's the one I grew up with, but Pittsburgh is closer to us now. I really feel like Im in my place at ren Faires. I can't wait!

All excellent tips. I would add if you come by bus, make sure you're there in plenty of time to not miss your ride home. That may be the last bus of the day

I was totally waiting for the hydration tip and I was saying, "hydrate hydrate hydrate" right along with you lol. Parasols are a life save, too, but I'm from Texas and our faires got HOOOTTTT, so they sell them. Do they have parasols at the PA faire? * chuckles * Stanley was feeling GOOD, wink wink. Season passes are 100000% the way to go! WHOA 40% discount is a bargain, dang! We've recently moved to NC. We're going to have to take a trip up to PA sometime and check out the faire! Tip: Also don't be afraid to interact with the paytrons wandering around in garb. We put a lot of time, effort, (and especially money!) into our hobby. It never hurts to tell someone you love their look.

Great tips guys! It's a bit overwhelming the first time you go.

You guys look like you are having a good time. :D

Awesome tips! (Going today actually lol)

PA renfaire sounds awesome! I love my local faire but I wish it to be open during Halloween

You make me want to move back to PA. Here in CO, we have a decent Renn Festival, but not as cool as PA!

Hahah, I love how much more affordable your Ren Fest is than the Texas Renaissance Festival!

My family and I are planning to go to the Ren fair. We are getting things on Amazon. Thank you for the tips. If I have few questions, may I ask?

I LOVE the PA Faire! My family goes every year! We know Tom and Joe at Royal Amber 😊

You are so good at this... what on the surfice looks simply like a 'plug' for the Fair, turn out to be a very entertaining video. I live in the UK and now I want to go to the Penn Fair (I can't spell Rennesance) AND to meet you! You seem to be there most weekends. ...and I would love to see real(!) Mermaids and real jesters. I would feel like 6 years old again. I wanted to be knight when I was 6, but when I was 18 it turned out there were not many knight jobs out there... sadly, so I became a Jabba de Hutt instead... at least on weekends!!!

Here's what I can recommend concerning footwear... 1. If you put the effort in to do a extensive cosplay, sneakers and Crocs WILL ruin it. Not gatekeeping, just a pro tip. People forget this for some reason. (No costume? Sneakers or hiking boots!) 2. Wear closed toe shoes, costume or not. Ghillies are fine. Ballet slippers make great cheap shoes. I have red, side lace ballet boots that I put soles on for my jester costume. Just protect your toes and soles. Rocks, sticks, mud...beer. it's all on the ground. 3. Avoid any type of heal if you can...or keep them low and wide if you can't. Guys, keep this in mind too. 4. Remember, the ground is uneven...like hiking on a trail. Test your shoes on uneven ground a bit...even in your yard. Just get a feel for them. 5. Be able to sprint a short distance in them should a dragon attack. [Note: Hobbits, this does not apply to you.] Don't let your feet and ankles...rain pain on the day that you play! Huzzah!

Went here for the first time today actually and it was fun! Wish I saw this before tho

Tip 8? Tips. Most food vendors and street performers do accept tips so be generous with your appreciation and be full of appreciation.

LOL. I attend Viking events, which get SERIOUSLY challenging during the hot months. There is little way to keep cool in layers of linen and wool. Keeping DAMP helps. It doesn't hurt the cloth, and goes a long way towards keeping you cool. Frequent light misting helps tremendously. I would go as far as making a set of "Viking" kit for the Renn faires that is made from more light modern materials. It wouldn't pass for the reenactor set, but there is self-defense involved. Full Icelandic kit is MISERABLE in southern California in the summer. It was never this hot in Reykjavik. 110 degrees f last time. you want to wear a tank top and shorts, but you are required to wear a full-length long-sleeve linen underdress under an overdress of wool. I own fur/wool outerwear but haven't worn it since I moved here. I so envy the Romans in the summertime. Thank you friends! Your tips are great. Just wanted to ADD one!

the dark ranger at the beginning was dope

can you go dressed as a plague doctor type thing? i have a costume of one and have been wanting to wear it out for some time,, would a ren faire be good or do i need something more whimsically

WOW!!! $125 bucks for a season pass…WOW !!!! Our home fair is The Texas Renaissance Festival and for the 2022 season a season pass was $300 bucks and a “Gold” season pass was $575 bucks which included preferred parking which is a little closer to the front gate which I believe is basically the first 10 rows of parking.

A tip I would give, next to shade and sunscreen. Cover your head when it's [really] sunny. Because your scalp is one of the last plaes you want burned, especially where your hair is. Also, it was very common to wear something on your head in that time of history.

Lol I worked there 9 years 🤣😂 just wear what you want!

Good tips, thank you. My daughter and I are transitioning from attending to vending. Do you have any vending at a Ren Faire videos? We are a little nervous, well I am any way.

Gods! We had so much fun with the cast of the faires we went to. And the laughs when the cast would mock peoples costumes and clothes. "It looks like your leather armor was made by master Goodyear." or "How be the weather in your country sir Duct Tape??" We would interact back at them and it would start our own little show. One of my friends even got into a magic duel with Merlin. And I still remember Merlin looking at one guest that was filming him and said "Sir, what is this eye infliction you have. Tis cause a box to protrude from your face." Anyone coming in something like star wars or superhero outfits would surely be heckled. And rightly they should be. But all in good fun. But likewise, there are some fashion snobs in the SCA that will less than jovially mock you, if your costume is "not period." They are to be avoided. But hey, our group was dressed in our RPG Adventurecore gear and we had fun with the cast. We got to escort the queen, asked to be part of the royal feast and were even asked to have our pics taken for Renaissance Magazine. The best was when we play fought with the Sheriff's men and I was asked to be part of the Merry Men for one of their scenes. I was shocked as S--- when Robin Hood looked at me and yelps "COUSIN????!" We improved a quick scene and the next thing I knew I was grabbed by the black guards and captured with two others. Gods! That was so much fun. So yeah, getting dressed up in general period of fantasy costumes has its perks. A tad bit of advice: When the royal procession shouts, "God Save the King!! " DO NOT shout back "God save the Queen, she married him!!!" My friend was literally (but jokingly) put in the stocks and on a torture device for that one.