The Maryland Renaissance Festival 2026 runs August 29 through October 25 — the festival's 50th anniversary season — at the 27-acre Village of Revel Grove, 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis, MD 21401, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from most of the DC/Maryland/Virginia region. Tickets went on sale July 27 through a new vendor, Big Tickets, after years of frustration with prior sellouts and long online queues — some categories have historically sold out within hours. This guide covers current dates, all nine themed weekends, parking, directions from DC, and transportation options for groups making the trip from across the region.
- Dates: August 29 – October 25, 2026 — Saturdays, Sundays, and Labor Day Monday, 10 AM–7 PM.
- 50th season: Storyline follows King Henry VIII through 1540 with a "50th Harvest Festival" theme.
- Tickets: On sale now via Big Tickets (new 2026 vendor) — some categories historically sell out within hours.
- Location: Village of Revel Grove, 1821 Crownsville Road, Crownsville (Anne Arundel County), MD 21401.
- Parking: On-site at the festival grounds — expect delays at closing time (7 PM) when thousands of cars exit simultaneously.
- Best day to visit: Early in the run (late August/early September) or a themed weekend matching your group's interests.
in 2026
Village of Revel Grove
ten stages
attendance
Maryland Renaissance Festival 2026 at a Glance
| Weekend | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Weekend | Aug 29–30 | Children's Weekend — one child (ages 7–15) free with each paying adult; kids 6 and under always free |
| Weekend 2 | Sept 5–7 | Includes Labor Day Monday |
| Myth & Magic Weekend | Sept 12–13 | British Isles folklore performances |
| Weekends 4–5 | Sept 19–27 | Standard weekends |
| Harvest Hollow | Oct 3–25 | Autumn decorations and seasonal performances across the final four weekends through Halloween season |
How to Buy Maryland Renaissance Festival Tickets
Maryland Renaissance Festival tickets for the 2026 50th-anniversary season went on sale Monday, July 27, through a new ticketing vendor called Big Tickets — designed to make the buying process more transparent after years of frustration with sellouts and long online queues. In past seasons, some ticket categories have sold out within hours, with buyers reporting online queues stacked with thousands of people. Booking as early as possible, rather than waiting for a specific weekend to get closer, is the most reliable approach.
-
Tickets are sold by specific single day. Not as general festival-wide admission — pick the exact date you want before starting the checkout process.
-
Multi-day and season-pass options go earliest. These are typically released first in the sales window — check at the start of the sale rather than after a few weeks have passed.
-
Popular themed weekends sell out fastest. Halloween-adjacent October dates and Harvest Hollow weekends consistently draw the highest demand — buy before peak season builds.
-
Children's Weekend pricing on Aug 29–30. One child ages 7–15 admitted free with each paying adult. Children 6 and under are always free at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.
Maryland Renaissance Festival Dates & Hours
The Maryland Renaissance Festival 2026 dates are August 29–30; September 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27; and October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 — nine consecutive weekends plus Labor Day Monday. Hours are 10 AM to 7 PM on every open day, with no weekday hours outside the Labor Day exception. For confirmed dates and any updates, the official schedule is posted at rennfest.com.
Parking at the Maryland Renaissance Festival
Parking at the Maryland Renaissance Festival is available directly on the festival grounds, with handicapped parking next to the Main Gate. With roughly 15,800 average daily attendees, expect meaningful delays both arriving and leaving during the busiest weekend afternoon windows — particularly on Harvest Hollow weekends closest to Halloween.
| Solo or couple, flexible timing | Drive yourself — arrive near the 10 AM opening to minimize lot congestion and avoid the 7 PM exit crunch. |
| Family with young kids | Drive and park early — Children's Weekend (Aug 29–30) offers the best crowd levels for a first visit with kids. |
| Group of 6–20 from DC/Baltimore/Northern Virginia | Pre-booked party bus or group transport — one vehicle, one fixed price, no exit-crunch coordination across multiple cars. Call: (410) 451-0000 |
| Group that wants a guaranteed post-festival pickup | Pre-booked car service timed to your actual departure — avoids the lot exit and rideshare availability gaps in a rural Crownsville location. |
Getting to the Maryland Renaissance Festival From DC
The festival is located on Crownsville Road in Anne Arundel County, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from most of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region depending on Route 301 and Route 50 traffic.
Shows, Jousting & Entertainment
The 2026 season features more than 200 professional performers across ten stages, with armored jousting as the marquee event in a dedicated 3,000-seat arena. Beyond jousting: comedy sword fighting, daring feats of skill, and a constant flow of street performers — minstrels, magicians, musicians, and jugglers — moving through the village throughout the day, alongside 140+ demonstrating craftsmen working in Renaissance-era shops and studios. With 42 food and beverage vendors on-site, the festival leans heavily into period-themed fare — turkey legs, meat pies — alongside modern options.
Tips for First-Time Visitors
-
Buy tickets as early as possible. Given the 50th-anniversary season and the new Big Tickets vendor, demand is expected to be high — don't wait for your weekend to get closer.
-
Arrive close to the 10 AM opening. Minimizes parking lot congestion and gives you first access to the stages and artisan shops before crowds build through the afternoon.
-
Plan for the 7 PM exit to be slow. The closing-time parking lot exit is the single most predictable delay of the day — a pre-booked vehicle timed to your departure removes this entirely for groups.
-
Wear comfortable walking shoes. The 27-acre grounds involve significant walking — costume or not, footwear matters more than almost anything else for a full-day visit.
-
Layer for variable weather. Late August can be hot; late October can be cold. The two-month run spans a wide weather range — plan accordingly rather than assuming summer conditions through October.
Professional Group Transportation Across the DMV
Bayside Limousines has served the Maryland, D.C., and Northern Virginia area for over 33 years. For the Maryland Renaissance Festival — a group day trip from DC, Baltimore, or Northern Virginia — we handle the drive both ways at a fixed rate, so no one has to coordinate multiple cars or sit in the closing-time parking crunch. We own every vehicle and employ every chauffeur directly. No brokers, no surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tickets for the 50th season confirmed on sale July 27, 2026 through Big Tickets. Dates, themed weekends, and directions confirmed against official festival sources. Parking fee details and bag policy should be verified at rennfest.com ahead of your visit.