Calling all Lord and Ladies! The Maryland Renaissance Festival kicks off on Saturday, August 23, with nine weekends full of feasting, merriment, and the chance to live like kings and queens for a day.
The Maryland Renaissance Festival implements a storyline progressing each year forward in the timeline of Henry VIII, including his reign and all six of his wives. This season will be year 1536 with the king’s love life as interesting as ever.
About the Maryland Renaissance Festival
Each weekend of the festival features more than 200 performers entertaining across 10 stages. It also includes jousting shows and a bustling 16th century English village filled with stilt walkers, beggars, hermits, and wenches.
Taking place on 27 acres, the Village of Revel Grove comes to life with more than 140 artisans exhibiting their crafts, five taverns with unique libations to try, and a whole array of sweet and savory treats such as fresh crapes, smoked turkey legs, ribs, and more.
Crafters this year include metal work, sculpture, jewelry, clothing, stained glass, and headwear.
Among the performers this season are Shakespeare’s Skum, A Fool Named “O” and LaLa mime show, and the Bad Idea Variety Show. There will also be minstrels, magicians, musicians, and jugglers.
The jousting troupe includes horses, men in armor, chariots, and trick riding.
Special Themed Weekends and Free Ticket Offers
There are several special weekends for the 2025 season. Children’s weekend will be August 23 and 24. During the weekend, one child age 7 to 15 will be admitted free with each adult ticket purchased.
Labor Day Monday, September 1, is a special seniors day where all attendees ages 62 and up get free entry.
The weekend of September 6 and 7 is “Myth & Magic” weekend. Come celebrate myths and legends of the British Isles and see special magic performances. “Pirate Adventure” weekend will be September 13 and 14 with pirate-themed music and mayhem. September 20 and 21 will be the “Celtic Celebration”
And October 4 and 5 is the weekend for romance. Saturday features a singles party with a no-pressure meet and mingle near Blackfriar’s Stage & the Dragon Inn from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Note that the party will be cancelled if there in inclement weather. On Sunday, a renewal of vows ceremony will be held at the Blackfriar’s Theatre. This 12-minute, nonreligious ceremony is a large group event and not for individual couples.
All of the weekends in October will be Revel Grove’s Harvest Hollow. The festival will include seasonal decorations and special performers for a spooky autumn feel.
September 6 and October 5 will be ASL days with sign language interpretation for many of the shows.
The first three weekends will have special admission pricing. Child, senior, and group adult ticket options are also available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit rennfest.com.
Feature image courtesy Valeriy Lukyanenko
