Maryland Renaissance Festival

What is the Faire?

What is the Faire?

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a recreation of a 16th century English village. Our village is named Revel Grove, and is set on a beautiful 25-acre wooded site with 85 acres of free parking. The village consists of craft and food booths, five pubs, ten major stages, a Jousting Arena and lots of games.

Every day is a Festival Day in Revel Grove, in honor of a visit by Henry VIII and his Royal Court. As such, the village will have entertainment, crafts, food, and frivolity fit for a king!

The gates open at 10:00 am, but you'll want to start the day with the King's Welcome outside the front gate at 9:45am. Once inside the gates, you may want to check your program for a listing of all the shows, but part of the fun of our Renaissance Festival is taking your time to stroll through the lanes and let the experience unfold before you.

Pause for a moment to listen to a musician. Watch a demonstration of glass blowing. Quench your thirst with a mug of ale and whet your appetite with a gigantic turkey leg. Pick up the latest gossip from the fishmonger. Thrill to the combat joust and then browse through the wares at one of the many fine craft booths. There's too much to do in a single day!

Performers from across the North America entertain on the Festival's many stages while the streets and woods are filled with characters to amuse and delight. Watch authentic jousting in full armor, listen to music and choral groups, thrill at jugglers, magicians, and comely wenches. Our streets and stages are filled with nonstop entertainment for all ages.

Shops, displaying the finest crafts and works of art, invite you to see their wares. Stained glass, sculptures, original jewelry, pottery, wood-butchery, leather-work, inlay, clothing, glass-blowing, original prints, and soft sculpture are but some of the artistry displayed.

Enjoy the shops and shows while sampling the feast of foods the Festival has to offer. Favorites include succulent Steak-on-a-Stake, massive smoked turkey legs, cool Italian ices, tasty meat pies, sweet desserts, barbequed pork pockets, Knave sandwiches, and fried cheeses. Quench you thirst with ales, mead, soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, and assorted wines. Games of chance and skill are at every turn of the Festival. Free pony rides, a free children's activities area, a maze, and archery are only some of the offerings for fun for all ages.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a perfect family outing, in easy reach from both Baltimore and Washington, D.C. We are in operation from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Come early, for a full day of fun awaits!

Because the Maryland Renaissance Festival is located just minutes away from historic Annapolis, visitors from all across the United States will find that the Maryland Renaissance Festival can be part of a wonderful vacation adventure. Spend a day or two at the Festival, then visit Annapolis, Baltimore, and Washington. Don't miss the chance to experience the wonderful Maryland seafood and hospitality.

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A Brief Background of our Show

The Maryland Renaissance Festival has become the region's premier outdoor event and the second largest Renaissance Festival in the country. Since the Festival's first season as a ramshackle village in 1977, the event has matured into a large theme show with more than 1,300 participants and 280,000 guests per season.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival employs more than 600 people during each season, working in entertainment and customer service. Eighty-five acres of parking space handle an average of 14,700 customers daily. The English Tudor village is 25 acres of woods and field that transport patrons to an era of chivalry, bawdiness, and good fun. There are more than 130 craft shops displaying many wares handmade by the village artisans. Forty-two food outlets provide a feast of foods rarely seen at other festivals. Each season, more than half a million beverages are served at the Festival's eight soft drink stands, five beer stands, and five taverns.

More than a single business, the Festival attracts thousands of tourists and tour groups to the region. The Festival has twice been recognized by the American Bus Association as one of the 100 best events in North America. United States Department of Commerce figures show that special events generate $2.40 in the local economy for each $1.00 spent at the show. An exit poll reveals an extremely satisfied customer base with 99.6% saying they will return the following year.

The Maryland Renaissance Festival, more than a fun event of entertainment, food, crafts, and attractions, is a success that has exhibited continued growth without compromising customer satisfaction.

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New to the Faire?

Welcome to another season of the Maryland Renaissance Festival! There is so much to see that it's impossible to do everything in one visit. There's something for everyone in Revel Grove.

The village is comprised of pubs, stages, food booths and more than 130 craft shops. Eat, drink, wander through the village and enjoy the atmosphere.

The entertainment schedule (available soon) shows a master grid of the shows and performances on the main staging areas. In addition to the stage shows, there are musical and theatrical performances that take place in the pathways. There's also a free juggling school near the Royal Stage (children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult), and the Village Stocks where you can lock up your loved ones.

Villagers and courtiers of King Henry VIII populate Revel Grove. Character interaction with patrons is the cornerstone of a visit to the Renaissance Festival. Enjoy the close-up entertainment from a strolling magician, mingle with a mime, or listen to court gossip from a noble Lady - you're part of the show at Revel Grove. Our performers all wear a ribboned badge, to distinguish them from costumed patrons.

You may find it helpful to take a moment to look through the program you will receive at main gate, or to peruse the information listed on the pages of this website. The entertainment is varied and there's something for every age and taste. If you are unsure of the content of any show and wish to know if it would be appropriate for children, you can obtain a detailed description and rating of any show at the Customer Service Pavilion (located near the Front Gate). Each season the Maryland Renaissance Festival moves its story forward in history. The Court and Village shows tell a complete story throughout the day - but each event can be enjoyed on its own. You don't have to see all of the shows to understand what's going on.

We suggest you leave ample time to stroll about the village and enjoy the many fine craft shops. Start your holiday shopping early with exquisite handcrafted items sure to please anyone on your gift list - and don't forget a treat for yourself!

So grab a turkey leg, quaff an ale and step back in time to where fun begins!

Free Activities for the Wee Lads and Lassies

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is pleased to provide a variety of entertainment especially for your children. Visit our Customer Service Pavilion on arrival to receive the daily "Children's Program" which will list activities and shows suitable for younger (under 10) children.

Rides:
Our ponies are located near the Fortune Stage.

Children's Knighting Ceremony:
11:30 & 1pm at the Royal Pavilion. Due to the King's hectic schedule, he is only available to perform knightings for 1/2 hour.

Children's Theatre & Sing Alongs
Each year the festival produces a short theatrical piece for younger children. This year we present "The Elephant's Child", which is based on a story by Rudyard Kipling. And for the wee lads and lasses who like to sing - join Maudie and Mother Goose in an old-fashioned sing-along. Both shows are at the Gatehouse Stage.

Juggling School:
Located near Royal Stage. Children and adults can learn to juggle free. Parents take note - you must accompany and stay with your child while they are at the juggling school. To properly teach juggling, children should be of an age where they can grasp the concept - and 3 tennis balls.

Children's Play Area:
A children's Play Area is located near the climbing wall at the end of Mary's Dale Way. Children must be accompanied by an adult.