Maryland Renaissance Festival 2017: Schedule, Tickets, Weapon Rules, Driving Directions

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Every fall weekend through Oct. 22 you can find costumed players re-creating days gone by at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, held at Revel Grove outside Annapolis. The 41st season of the country's second-largest renaissance festival is held every weekend at 1821 Crownsville Road, complete with jousting, minstrels, magicians and a re-creation of King Henry VIII and his court.

More than 200 professional performers take part on stage, in authentic combat armored jousting on steeds and streets filled with village characters. Join His Most Royal Highness King Henry VIII in the forests and glades with over 140 artisans exhibiting crafts in their own renaissance shops, five taverns featuring cool libations, 42 food and beverage emporiums providing a vast array of succulent and sweet treats.

Returning favorite performers include Shakespeare’s Skum in its 33rd year with renditions of the Bard’s most popular plays in 20 minutes; Sword Swallower Extraordinaire Johnny Fox in his 37th season at the festival; the charming talent of A Fool Named “O”, the mime; and walk with nobility through the village with King Henry and his Royal Court. (For more events and local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alertsand newsletters from Annapolis Patch, and click here to find your local Maryland Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

New to the festival this season is the jousting troupe Debracey Productions with a field full of horses, men in armor, chariots, trick riding and thrills for all ages. Other acts include: Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy amazes and confuses; the Danger Committee thrills with knife throwing and whip snappery; London Broil cooks up rare juggling well done; and in the 44th year of their popular comedy sword fighting and witty repartee Puke and Snot bedazzle with their fast paced humor.

The grounds includes eight stages, jousting, street entertainment and pub/tavern performances. Parking is free; all beverages, foods, and games require cash only. Some crafts stands have the ability to accept credit/debit cards, but not all.

Rain or shine, the festival will remain open and continue with its normal operation.

While costumes are not required, they are encouraged. So come decked out as your favorite warrior or queen, rake or rogue; costumes can be rented at the festival.

Theme Weekends

The weekend of Sept. 23-24 is a salute to playwright William Shakespeare; Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 is pirate weekend; Oct. 8 is American Sign Language Day;

Ticket/Admissions

The festival is open weekends (Saturdays and Sundays through October 22. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Ticket prices:

Sept. 16 – October 22:

• Adult (Ages 16- 61) $25
• Senior (Ages 62+) $21
• Children (Ages 7- 15) $10

**Children 6 and under free and do not require a ticket**
Multi-Day tickets/passes

• Season Pass $135
• 9 Day Pass $100
• 6 Day Pass $75
• 2 Day Pass $38

All multi-day passes can be purchased online, over the phone during the week or at the gate, except 2 Day passes can only be purchased online or at the gate.

Directions/Parking

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is located at: 1821 Crownsville Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401. You can find more information about how to get to the festival by visiting its website. Driving directions from Washington D.C., Baltimore, Eastern Shore/Annapolis, Southern Maryland (St Mary’s and Waldorf areas), Dahlgren, VA, Frederick/Western MD, and from New York/New Jersey/Harford County (MD) are all posted online.

To avoid traffic and waiting to park, organizers suggesting arriving early in the morning. Peak traffic hours coming in are from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and leaving between 6:30 p.m. and closing.

Gate Restrictions On Weapons, Toys

No weapons (blades, firearms, explosives) are allowed on festival grounds. While artisans at the festival sell real weaponry, those items may not be brandished on the grounds, the event website says. Any weapons purchased within the festival grounds must remain within the original packaging when purchased.

Obvious toy weapons are limited based on the discretion of the festival security staff. If the prop weapon looks realistic to their real weaponry counterparts, it must be returned to your vehicle. Toy weapons permitted are the wooden swords sold at the festival (with the exception of Hollow Earth weaponry, those are classified as a training weapons), foam weapons, and Nerf toys.

Pets, Food And More

• Attendees may bring in one sealed water bottle per person through the main gate. All other beverages are not allowed. The festival offers a wide selection of both beverages (Nonalcoholic and Alcoholic) and foods.
• Pets are not allowed on the grounds, with the exception of trained and legally identified service working animals.
• Smoking is allowed only in five designated areas.

What are the bathroom facilities at the festival?

The festival bathroom facilities are located in six locations, utilizing individual port-a-johns in each location. Five locations are equipped with a baby changing/nursing station, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and currently one hand washing station located in the center privies location (more to come in other locations). Locations can be found on the map within the brochure when you visit the festival.

PHOTO: Come see unscripted full contact jousting, the official state sport. "Clashing Knights" 2015 Maryland Renaissance Festival Submitted By: Donna Headlee