Renaissance fair Waynesville $$
Ohio Renaissance Festival
Full-day drive south to Waynesville for jousts, costumes, and a village that rewards wearing comfortable shoes. Worth planning around.
Awards
Why Ohio Renaissance Festival why was this picked
We made the Waynesville day trip for jousts and stage loops and wore through a pair of comfortable shoes. Costume culture lets first-timers join lightly. It suits regional day-trippers from Columbus who want a full afternoon in Waynesville, not a two-hour fairgrounds loop. It is a practical Columbus pick we would send a friend to without hedging.
- Jousts and stages for a whole afternoon
- Costume culture first-timers can join lightly
- Regional day trip worth the south drive
Know before you go
The Ohio Renaissance Festival rebuilds a 16th-century village on weekends from early September through early November in Waynesville. Expect jousts, stage shows, artisan shops, and turkey-leg midways across themed weekends from pirates to highland games. Pets and outside food stay off the grounds per village policy.
Gates run 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on operating days; confirm which themed weekend you are buying before you leave Columbus. Park in the on-site fields and budget highway time from I-71. Read the local context on our Waynesville page. Then compare other seasonal events on our best festivals and fairs list. Call or check the business site the day you go because seasonal schedules and posted hours change. Call or check the business site the day you go because seasonal schedules and posted hours change.
- Parking
- On-site festival parking fields at 10542 E State Route 73 in Waynesville; arrive early on themed weekends when lots fill.
- Reservations
- No table reservations; buy festival tickets online or at the gate.
- Tip
- Buy tickets online before themed weekends and wear closed-toe shoes for the village paths.