North Carolina Renaissance Festivals and Faires

• When: A Single Weekend in December
• Where:
  1025 Blue Ridge Rd
  Raleigh, NC 27607
  See a map to this festival.

A Winter festival of merriment, joy, song, dance, entertainment and the most unique gifts of the season. Join us by The Old Yule Log...as we celebrate medieval traditions that are a part of our Christmas season today. You'll meet King Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin, Morgana and more...

• When: Weekends, October-November
• Where:
  16445 Poplar Tent Church Rd
  Huntersville, NC 28078
  See a map to this festival.

The Festival's permanent multi-acre Village features music and comedy, hearty food and drink, fine hand-craft exhibits, games and rides for young and old, and the excitement of chivalrous Knights engaged in tournament jousting in the King's equestrian arena.

• When: A Single Weekend in December
• Where:
  1025 Blue Ridge Rd
  Raleigh, NC 27607
  See a map to this festival.

At The North Carolina Renaissance Faire, you can step back 400 years into time and history! This full scale, interactive theater experience is like no other. The Faire offers you a chance to visit the days of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth I!

At this 16th Century Faire, you'll find over 110 artisans hawking their wares, you'll enjoy musicians, jugglers, and the ribaldry of actors in many distinct staging areas. You'll see brave and bold knights competing for the favor of the Her Majesty's Court (and for their lady's affection) during any one of three full-contact jousts held in the Queen's Tiltyard. http://camelot-treasures.com/

• When: A Single Weekend in October
• Where:
  Roanoke Island Festival Park
  1 Festival Park
  Manteo, NC
  See a map to this festival.

A Faire Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, will feature the Baronial Court arriving at the Town of Manteo docks. The Court will be escorted across the Cora Mae Basnight Bridge to open the dayÆs festivities at Roanoke Island Festival Park. The Faire will be held, rain or shine, on April 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open the public. The admission price to the Faire is included in Roanoke Island Festival ParkÆs general admission ticket and is good for both days of the event.

• When: A Single Day in November
• Where:
  Jackson Park
  Hendersonville, NC
  See a map to this festival.

Steeped in history and culture for nearly a thousand years, clansmen and chiefs have gathered to compete in one of the most rigorous competitions in the world...the Scottish Highland Games. Celebrate the Celtic heritage at the Foothills Highland Games and Festival featuring Scottish athletics competition (caber toss, tugs of war and other feats of strength) Highland dancers, sheep herding demonstrations, bagpipe bands, children's games, parade of tartons, Scottish music & entertainment, food and much more.

• When: A Single Weekend in June
• Where:
  The Weeping Radish Brewery
  6810 Caratoke Hwy
  Grandy, NC
  See a map to this festival.

Enjoy Medieval Foods, Music, Gifts, Games and Feats of Arms. Fun and adventure for the entire family!

Do you regularly visit ren fests or have a festival that I should post? Have you sewn together a difficult renaissance festival costume or accessories? Ever bought a costume that was outrageously expensive? Have a bad experience you want to dish on?

Tell us about it. Ask questions on where to get gowns, how to sew bodices. The forum awaits thee.