The Ohio Renaissance Festival opened their gates for the season this past Labor Day weekend and had record-breaking attendance making this their biggest opening weekend in history (no pun intended)! Travel back in time to 16th-century England and enjoy a full day of entertainment and excitement at the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg, Ohio. With nearly 100 shows daily on 11 stages there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Meet the villagers of Willy-Nilly and explore the many shops, shows and games the village has to offer. Here are 12 things you do not want to miss at the Ohio Renaissance Festival:
1. Theatre in the Ground: The Mudde Show
Get a front row seat at the Muditorium to see The Mudde Show's rendition of literary classics with quite the muddy twist! Their show is good, "clean" fun for the whole family to enjoy! The Mudde Show performs Beowulf, Dante's Inferno and The Viking Show daily. Their Beowulf show has always been my favorite and is definitely a must-see for the Festival!
2. The Pirate Comedy Stunt Show
The Pirate Comedy Stunt Show is exactly what it sounds like, a side splitting action-packed stunt show on a giant Pirate ship! This show includes pirates, nobles and even a jester! Watch Sir Francis Drake and his band of Pirates as they search for his new First Mate at 11:15am and 01:30pm every Festival day.
3. Human Combat Chess Match
At three and thirty every Faire day the villagers of Willy Nilly gather at the human chess board and fight in a Human Combat Chess Match for the entertainment of the Queen and patrons. All classes fight in the match against one another from Nobles to Pirates to Peasants; using swords, daggers, mallets and even a whip!
4. KamiKaze FireFlies
The Kamikaze FireFlies show is a juggling act filled with comedy and audience interaction. The spunky performers in this show really bring the stage to life. It's a fun show for all ages and is performed 4 times daily on the Kamikaze FireFlies stage in the gaming area of the Festival.
5. The Full-Armored Joust
The full-armored joust is held three times daily and is performed just as it was done over 400 years ago by real Knights in shining armor. There is new seating and premium seating around the Guinness Arena of Champions this year. Premium seating is $10 per person which allows you to enjoy the joust from the comfort of a padded seat cushion, under a shaded overhang, with a bottle of water, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke or Mellow Yellow. Those comfortable seats also get you a meet and greet with your knight after the tournament as well as a backstage tour!! The full-armored joust is presided over by the Queen and her court and is the most popular attraction at the Festival for patrons of all ages!
6. Wenches A'Wailing
Wenches A'Wailing is a comedic singing pub show for a mature audience. Their entertaining performance will have you raising your glass for a toast, laughing hysterically and singing along to their songs! They perform once a day at the 3 Fools Pub and twice daily at the Aleing Knight Pub; a must see show at the Ohio Renaissance Festival!
7. The Naughty Bawdy Pub Show
8. The Knighting Ceremony – St. Peter’s Church
At one and thirty every Faire day the Queen arrives at St. Peter's Church to perform the Knighting Ceremony! This is by far one of the most popular events for children to attend. Before the ceremony begins you and your children will be instructed on how to address her Majesty and the proper way to bow. When the Queen arrives, your child will have the opportunity to be knighted or princessed or whatever they would like to be! If you're coming to the Festival with children I would definitely not miss the Knighting Ceremony!
9. Eight Hands Round
Eight Hands Round is Willy Nilly's wandering dance group. They perform outside of the opening gate and then right inside the gate in the courtyard after the cannon fires. Their second dance of the day is their court dance where you and your children have the opportunity to dance with the Queen! Eight Hands Round also performs twice a day at the Maypole which ends in an interactive dance that you and your children can join in on to weave the Maypole!
10. The Queen’s Choice
The Queen's Choice is the village's traveling choir. They perform English period pieces as well as some Scottish and Latin pieces. You can catch the Queen's Choice right before Knighting Ceremony in the St. Peter's Church or at the Lorelei Biergarten at 02:30pm on any Faire day!
11. Artisans
Over 140 world-class artisans and craftsmen have their wares on display and for sale. These artisans and craftsmen range from metalsmiths, candle makers, blacksmiths, glassblowers, artists, stone carvers, face painting, stained glass, leatherworking, boot making, armor, weapons, clothing, jewelry and even musical instruments. This is definitely a unique shopping experience that you will want to see for yourself.
12. Food & Drink
Stop by the Festival this year and get one of their signature turkey legs or choose from over 20 other food and beverage options around the grounds. Their wide menu ranges from bread bowls, burgers & fries, loaded tots, fish & chips, gyros, spicy pickle spears, fried mushrooms, soft serve ice cream, pizza, and at the new 1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Q & 3 Fools Pub they have pulled pork, chicken, ribs, sides and desserts.
Also new this year is the mead tasting at the 3 Fools Pub from noon until 02:00pm daily. You will receive a flight of five samples of mead with a full glass of your choice at the end. There are also beer (04:00pm) and cider (02:00pm) tastings at Henry’s Hideaway daily; you will receive a flight of six samples with a full glass of your choice at the end.
The Ohio Renaissance Festival is open every weekend until October 23rd this season, with a different theme every weekend! Make sure to head out to Harveysburg and check it out before the season ends!
