If you combined a comic book convention, a county fair and Medieval Times, you’d get the Texas Renaissance Festival. Sprawled across the 70 acres of land located in Magnolia, Texas, are castle towers, outdoor amphitheaters and thousands of guests. It’s a fairytale come to life that recently opened on Oct. 12 and will be going until Dec. 1, occurring every weekend.
The festival can be a lot of fun, but it can also be overwhelming, hot and exhausting. Therefore, it’s best to have a plan to enjoy a trip to the RenFest and make good use of your time.
First of all, know why you’re going. For some, the main draw of a renaissance festival is the entertainment. Musicians, acrobats and comedians all perform Renaissance-themed skits which will leave the audience gasping, laughing and applauding.
For others, shopping and exploring the fairgrounds is the most exciting part. The festival brings in hundreds of different shops, selling a wide range of trinkets and practical items. From medieval-themed clothing and accessories to modern anime merchandise and handmade art, there’s plenty to look through.
Finally, some go to get drunk with friends and enjoy the food — another key element of a renaissance festival. With alcohol on nearly every corner and many performances being held in pubs, it’s fairly common to attend just for the food and drinks.
Whatever reason you’re going, make sure to keep it in mind as you plan your trip so that you can select performers you want to see, shops you want to visit or food and drink you want to try. All of this information is available on the Texas Renaissance Festival’s website.
Don’t be afraid to dress up. All the actors at the festival will be in full costume, as well as many of the attendees. If you lack a historically-themed outfit, costumes such as Link, Jack Sparrow, Deadpool and various “Star Trek” characters are all fairly commonplace. Whatever you choose, have fun. In addition, don’t feel ashamed if you can’t dress up. There may even be a store at the fair where you can find your perfect Renaissance costume should you choose to attend next year.
However, keep in mind that you will be walking all day, and you’ll want to make sure your outfit is equipped for the weather and the hours on your feet. My personal choice for an outfit is loose-fitting pants, a peasant blouse and a belt that can hold all my necessities such as a water bottle, cell phone and wallet.
Come prepared. A water bottle is an absolute must, as you’ll be walking outside all day. If your legs become sore easily, be sure to pack any necessary pain medication. Also, be sure to have cash. While most stores accept cards or ApplePay, it’s considered polite to tip any performances you enjoy, and some of the snack stands only accept cash. I recommend having a minimum of $20 for both tipping and emergency funds.
The festival is expensive as entry starts at $41 and meals cost between $10 to $20. In addition, shopping, tipping performers and food and drink add up quickly. To get the best experience while spending the least amount of money, I recommend setting a budget ahead of time, so that you know exactly how much you’re allowed to spend. Many of the artisans are pricey as they’re high quality, so expect to buy a few high-end items at most if you’re hoping to spend less than $200.
A renaissance festival is a community-driven event, so make sure you drag your friends along. Just like going to a fair or shopping in the mall, your experience will be much better if you’re with others that you know. However, most at the fair are really friendly. Feel free to go up and compliment people’s costumes, interact with the actors across the festival and talk to the shop keepers. The experience is absolutely incredible, and the people, both attendees and employees, are what makes the Texas Renaissance Festival so great.
