I finally did it! I attended a Renaissance Festival this summer with Thing 1 – and I had much more fun than I expected.

The Middle Ages aren’t my favorite historical period. And frankly, walking around all day and eating turkey legs never appealed to me.

However, I soon changed my tune when I saw all the work and detail at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. I can’t compare it to festivals in other states, but this one occurs every weekend from mid-April through early June.

Atmosphere

After paying admission at the main gate, we entered the Village of Newcastle. The 32-acre village consists of four major sections: Olde Towne, Midlands, Royal Highlands, and Queen’s Garden. I always heard that people dressed in period costumes, but I thought that would just be the staff.

No – about 60% of attendees dressed in fairy wings, tall boots, low-cut blouses, leather, hats, swords, and any type of Renaissance clothing they could find. Before entering the main gate, people could rent costumes for the day. Inside the village, many stores sold Renaissance-style clothing.

Entertainment at Georgia Renaissance Fest

Before purchasing tickets online, we downloaded the entertainment schedule. As you can see below, choices abound. Fortunately, many performances occur several times throughout the day. And since everything is outdoors, you can catch lots of shows in mid-act as you walk around.

We picked a few shows to see and charted our course accordingly. Although the shows are included with the price of admission, the performers love tips. Many even have Venmo, Paypal, or Patreon Links for you to show your appreciation.

Puppies of Penzance

We headed to the Halfwit Harbour stage to see the Puppies of Penzance. As an owner of two dogs, I can really appreciate well-behaved dogs on stage.

The six pups hung out in a pirate ship until called by dog trainer, Carolyn Rice. Each puppy performed tricks such as walking a tightrope, pushing a barrel, and more. Bingo, Bonkers, and Polly entertained us during the 30-minute show.

Rota Temporis

Thing 1 requested to see Rota Temporis in concert. New to the Georgia Renaissance Festival in 2023, the medieval folk Celtic band hails from Italy.

The music was enjoyable. Think bagpipes with a fast rock beat accompanied by heavy drums. After the show, Thing 1 bought a CD and the band was nice enough to autograph it.

Barely Balanced Acrobatic Daredevils

I found the Barely Balanced Acrabatic troup the most entertaining. As with all the performers, they genuinely seemed glad to be there. Margaret, Cameron, and Arie (aka Small, Medium, and Large) performed different stunts for the audience.

In one daring feat, Large balanced in a handstand while Small blew up a balloon and put it in his mouth. Medium then shot an arrow, piercing the balloon and thankfully missing Large!

Jousting and Other Shows

We wanted to see the Royal Joust at 2:30. However, we got tied up looking at all the artisan shops – especially the medieval bookstore and the coin minting store. By the time we arrived at the Joust Field a few minutes after the show started, the crowds were so thick we couldn’t really see anything. The day was getting hot so we decided to see something different. 

Another popular show was the Washing Well Wenches, which was also standing-room only. However, we stood around and listened to the duo’s sketch comedy act for a few minutes. Walking around the Queen’s Garden area, we saw Cast in Bronze Carillon as we looked for something to eat. Later, we caught the Celtic music of Reelin’ Rogues on our way out the gates.

Food

We found three large food courts in Newcastle: Camelot, Olde Towne, and the King’s Food Court. Surprisingly,s we didn’t order Turkey Legs for lunch. They were huge – at 1.5 pounds! There was no way I could eat that alone and Thing 1 wasn’t interested. Instead, we found a vendor selling quesadillas and tacos. Other options included Bourbon Chicken, Steak on a Stake, meat pies, pretzels, and ice cream.

In addition to the food court areas, the festival offered several restaurants. These included the Drunk Monk Pub, Brewer’s Pub, and Peacock Tea Room. Since these places appeared to have long waits for tables, we opted for the Olde Towne Food Court.

Games and Other Entertainment

Throughout the day, we passed games and rides visitors could partake in for an additional fee. Most cost between $2-$5. While we didn’t do any of these, we had fun watching kids riding camels, sliding down the Corkscrew Slide, and tackling the Amazing Maze.

In the Royal Highlands section, people tried out throwing axes and knives while others tested their archery skills at Robin Hood Archery in the Queen’s Garden. Back in Olde Towne, the Barrel O’Bedlam swung guests back and forth high while spinning around. Free events included the Reptile Farm, Juggling School, and the playground at Kid’s Kingdom.

Conclusion

In its 38th year, the Georgia Renaissance Festival is a well-oiled machine. However, you may find the following tips helpful to make the experience even more enjoyable:

• Buy Georgia Renaissance Fair tickets in advance online.
• Download the entertainment schedule and plot out which shows and times to see before you arrive. Due to the popularity of the jousting tournament, head to Joust Field about 30-45 minutes before the show starts to secure a decent view.
• Wear lots of sunscreen. The tree canopy around the village offers many shady spots. However, most audience seating at the stages and pavillions is not shaded.
• Bring cash as many vendors don’t accept credit cards.
• Be prepared to walk a lot so wear comfortable shoes (even if you wear period clothing).
• Have fun!

For more information about Georiga Renaissance Festival, visit the website here.