Ever get tired of the day to day mundane and wish you could escape into another time and place to add some adventure into your life?

Me, too!

While I consider just stepping outside the house as an actual adventures nowadays, there are many fun festivals that give you the opportunity to experience something mystical and fun. You could enjoy dressing as your favorite anime or comic book character for a comic con, or jump into the past by visiting a renaissance festival.

Here in Texas there are two main renaissance festivals that I have been to: Sherwood Forest Faire in McDade during the spring and the Texas Renaissance Festival in Todd Mission in the fall. This past weekend I attended the Texas Renaissance Festival with some friends, and we had a blast getting to see all sorts of ye old shoppes and entertainment. The theme for the weekend was Heroes and Villains, but we just had fun dressing the part instead of focusing on the theme.

I dressed like my Dungeons and Dragon character, a Spring Eladrin drakewarden ranger (now, that’s a mouthful). More on the outfit coming soon in another post!

But let’s move on to the fun part: what is there to do when you attend the Texas Renaissance Festival? Short answer: A LOT. There’s literally too much to do – so if you want to get through everything, it requires doing a whole weekend or coming back another weekend.

If you’re trying to decide what to add to your schedule, keep reading to see some of my suggestions.

Entertainment: Hanlon-Lees Action Theatre (Jousting!)

One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the renaissance festival is jousting. I mean, it’s just so medieval, isn’t it? Located in the Arena, the Hanlon-Lees Action Theatre provides a great performance with four knights jousting. Make some noise as you cheer on your knight – and see if they win the competition. There’s plenty of seating, so it makes for a little bit of relief if you want the opportunity to rest and enjoy a performance before wandering around again.

This is one that my friends and I saw last year, so we didn’t add it to our itinerary this past weekend due to our packed schedule – but it’s a must-see, especially if it’s your first time at a renaissance festival!

Activity: Tastings

This is, as one would suspect, a 21+ activity. There are a variety of different tastings at the Texas Renaissance Festival, including Odin’s Table Wine Tasting, RenMead Mead Tasting, Bourbon and Rum Tastings, High Tea, and more! Last year, we did the wine tasting, which had a fun production and included 5 types of wine. This year, we mixed it up and tried out the mead tasting, which included 12 types of mead. It was my first time tasting mead and I really enjoyed it – all the flavors were very fruity (from apple pie to cranberry and more) and didn’t really taste like alcohol.

No matter which tasting you choose, make sure to either book in advance online or stop in early by the tasting venue to sign up for a time slot.

Entertainment: Birds of Prey

This is a great performance that’s fun for the entire family. Learn about and watch hawks, eagles, owls, and vultures as they fly on stage and above you. It’s a mesmerizing show and so fun to see these beautiful birds of prey in person. There is limited seating here that can fill up, so make sure to arrive a little early or you might have to stand to watch the performance. Like the jousting, I think this is a must-see for first timers at the renaissance festival.

Activity: Dragon Forge Experience

If you’ve ever wanted to forge your own blade, this is your opportunity to do it! The Dragon Forge Experience is a new addition to the renaissance festival this year. As someone who’s always wanted to try out blacksmithing, I was absolutely thrilled to see this was added to the lineup. There are a variety of items that you can choose from, including a dagger, knives, rune pendant, magic wand, and hairpin. Items run from $35 – $150, depending on what you choose, so make sure to check out their website to see what works with your budget. There are 45 minute time slots, and we booked in advance to make it easier day of. Learn more about my experience in this blog post!

Activity: Slayer’s Castle 3-D House

Slayer’s Castle 3-D House is fun little stop, which is a self-paced walk through the blacklight 3-D extravaganza! You’ll get a cool pair of glasses to bring with you to make all the colorful details in the building come to life.

The Know Before You Go

Here are a few tips to help get you through the festival:

• If you purchase your ticket in advance online, make sure to take a screenshot of the ticket before you arrive in case the internet is acting slow. It’ll help get you through the line quicker.
• If you are attending the Texas Renaissance Festival for the first time, keep in mind that you’ll do a fair amount of walking throughout your visit. I recommend wearing flat shoes, like tennis shoes or sturdy boots that will help support your feet while you walk.
• Additionally, make sure to keep an eye on the weather before you go. We’re in Texas, so it’s still hot in October – especially if you’re wearing the number of layers that often come with renaissance festival outfits.
• Parking is free, which is fabulous, but you can do valet parking for an additional fee. The Texas Renaissance Festival team keeps everything really organized for parking, with signs and team members directing you where to go and which parking spot to take.
• There are ATMs at the festival, but I recommend bringing cash in case you find any activities that are cash only.