Stepping into another place and time, I entered the charming medieval village of the Ohio Renaissance Festival in Harveysburg, Ohio. This festival was voted one of the best in nearby Warren County, and I imagined a day of eating overesized turkey legs and drinking lots of beer. What could be better than that? So, on a beautiful, sunny Saturday afternoon, I set out to enjoy a day in the Middle Ages.
The Ohio Renaissance Festival takes place yearly on the weekends running from late-August to October. Dating back to 1990, the venue eventually established a permanent location in Harveysburg and began building a medieval village.
What I found most fascinating about the festival was the number of people in costume. From wenches to rowdy pirates, lords and ladies, it was as though I had been transported to England in the 16th century. I was also surprised at the size of the venue which sits on about 30 acres displaying over 100 shops in the Medieval Marketplace and a large number of outdoor stages for entertainment.
As I wandered through the village, the smell of barbecue drew me to the food stalls where I started my feeding frenzy with, of course, that turkey leg and a beer. It was a difficult choice because there were so many options such as bread bowls filled with soup, fish ‘n chips and corn on the cob.
I could hear cheering from the jousting field and began to wander towards the Tournament Joust. The royal family was joined by their friends and watched the competition from their box seats. The excitement of the crowd was contagious, so I joined in to cheer on my favorite knight, jousting to the bitter end.
The shops were filled with medieval merchandise, including gorgeous gowns and armor. Made-to-order crafts were available for purchase and I enjoyed browsing through the leather goods, stone carvings and jewelry. High end, more expensive items were those made from glass and novelty items such as dragon eggs.
In addition to the shows and entertainment, children and adults played games, competed in feats of skill and enjoyed carnival-like rides. It was an opportunity for me to try my hand at archery, knife and ax throwing, a few tries to “drench a wench”, and a ride on the swinging ship called SeaDragon.
The admission covered most of the activities at the festival. Additional attractions not covered included the Premium Jousting Seating (the Royalty Box), Open House Mead Tasting and the Naughty Bawdy Pub Show and required a small fee.
I spent most of the day at the Festival and found myself browsing the shops, trying a few games and watching some of the shows. I joined in with the singing at the bar and was living the life of a serf. I was amazed at the amount of fun I was having and loved the camaraderie of the crowd.
What was even more amazing was how much time and effort that goes in to setting up the Renaissance Festival each year. The authenticity of the venue was so outstanding that I felt I was actually visiting a medieval village, immersed in the experience.
The Festival also hosts themed weekends, so check them out online to see if there is one that interests you. You may want to dress up and experience the Ohio Renaissance festival in a whole new way,
Have you visited the Ohio Renaissance Festival? What was your favorite part of the festivities? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below! Many thanks for reading my post about the Ohio Renaissance Festival and I wish you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds
10542 OH-73
Waynesville, OH 45068
Telephone: 513 897 7000
- Admission Fee: Tickets for Adults are $19 while General Admission tickets for Children (ages 13+) are $7.50.
- Hours: The 2019 festivities will begin the weekend of August 31st and continue until the weekend of October 26 – 27. The event opens at 10:30 AM to 6 PM each festival day.
- Amenities: Themed weekends, entertainment, food, crafts, games and rides as well as special events.
- Length of Visit: Full day of food, fun, activities and entertainment
- Tips for Your Visit: To immerse yourselves in the spirit of the festival, dress in medieval costume!
Where to Stay:
Holiday Inn Wilmington
123 Gano Road
Wilmington, OH 45177
Telephone: 937 283 3200
Where to Eat and What to Eat:
Ohio Renaissance Festival Grounds
10542 OH-73
Waynesville, OH 45068
Telephone: 513 897 7000
- 1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Q for Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Sausages, Baked Beans, Mac-N-Cheese, Peach and Blueberry Cobbler
- Aleing Knight Pub for King’s Weinie, Hot Dogs, Tots, Scotch Egg, Wedge Fries, Cheese Curds, Spicy Corn Nuggets, Chicken Sandwichies, Fried Mushrooms, Strawberry Cheesecake and Cheesecake on a Stick
- Archebald Drake’s for Fish and Chips
- Bourbon Chicken at the Dragon’s Lair
- Bread Bowls
- Davinci’s Pizza
- Garden of Eatin for bourmet burgers and Fries
- Jerky Stand for Beef Jerky
- Turkey Legs, Loaded Potatoes and Fried Pickles
- Corn Dogs, Brats and Pork Shops
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Some of the amazing merchants I met included Nay and Terry Dismore from Pretzels with a Twist. Their company offers miniature gourmet pretzels with lots of flavor. From ChipotleQue to Peppermint Cocoa, there is a fantastic combination for any pretzel lover.
JC’s Lemonade was such a refreshing drink and I absolutely loved the pineapple twist flavor.
