Waynesville OH
8-31-2026 10:24pm

Ohio Renaissance Festival Named America's #1 Renaissance Festival, Opens 2026 Season September 5

Story courtey of Ohio Renaisance Festival

WAYNESVILLE, OH -- The Ohio Renaissance Festival (ORF) throws open its castle gates for the 2026 season on September 5, welcoming guests back to its 30-acre re-created 16th-century English village for nine weekends of live entertainment, artisan shopping, hearty food and drink, and family-friendly games and rides. The festival runs Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day through November 1, with gates open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. each event day.

This season carries extra fanfare: the Ohio Renaissance Festival was recently voted the #1 Renaissance Festival in the country in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice poll for 2026, earning the title of Best Renaissance Festival in the Nation. Set in the fictional Elizabethan village of Willy Nilly-on-the-Wash, the festival welcomes Queen Elizabeth and more than 150 costumed characters to Renaissance Park in Waynesville, Ohio, located along State Route 73 between I-71 and I-75.

ENTERTAINMENT AROUND EVERY CORNER

Guests can catch dozens of live shows across more than 20 stages throughout the day, headlined by the heart-pounding Full-Armored Tournament Joust. The entertainment lineup ranges from comedy and sword-fighting duels in the streets to acrobatics, music, and daring stunts on stage, plus more than 150 costumed characters — knights, pirates, nobles, and jesters among them — who bring the village to life from gate to gate.

A MARKETPLACE OF WORLD-CLASS ARTISANS

The festival's Medieval Marketplace is home to hundreds of independent artisan shoppes offering handcrafted clothing, jewelry, pottery, weaponry, leather goods, home décor, and art. Guests can watch master craftspeople at work, with live demonstrations of glassblowing, blacksmithing, leatherworking, boot making, candle making, stone carving, and weaving throughout the village.

FOOD FIT FOR A KING (AND QUEEN)

No day in the village is complete without a proper feast. Festival fare includes giant turkey legs, steak on a stake, barbecue, wraps, stuffed spuds, bread bowl stews, pizza, and sweet treats, with vegetarian options available throughout. To drink, guests can raise a glass of ale, wine, mead, or cider from a rotating lineup of Ohio breweries and meaderies.

GAMES AND HUMAN-POWERED RIDES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

  • Human-powered rides — including Ship Swings, the Crow's Nest, Barrel of Bedlam, the Round About, and pony rides.
  • Games of skill — test your aim with archery, axe throwing, knife throwing, and spear throwing.
  • Carnival games — family favorites like Catapulting Frogs, Jacob's Ladder, and Drench a Wench.

“Being named the nation's #1 Renaissance Festival by USA TODAY readers is a tremendous honor, and it belongs to our cast, artisans, and guests who make Willy Nilly-on-the-Wash come alive every weekend. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to the village this fall," noted Dave Ashcraft, Managing Partner, Ohio Renaissance Festival

EVENT DETAILS AT A GLANCE 

  • Dates: September 5 – November 1, 2026 (Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day)
  • Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Location: Renaissance Park, 10542 E. State Route 73, Waynesville, OH 45032 (Warren County, between I-71 and I-75)
  • Parking: Free
  • Tickets: Available at renfestival.com

ABOUT THE OHIO RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is Ohio's premier Renaissance faire, welcoming guests to a 30-acre re-created 16th-century English village in Waynesville, Ohio since 1990. Owned and operated by Brimstone & Fire, LLC, the festival features live jousting, dozens of stages of continuous entertainment, hundreds of artisans shoppes, and seasonal food and drink across nine themed weekends each fall. In 2026, USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice poll named the Ohio Renaissance Festival the #1 Best Renaissance Festival in the country. For more information, visit renfestival.com.

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