Scarborough Renaissance Festival® returns April 8th for its 42nd season and will runs eight consecutive weeks every Saturday & Sunday through Memorial Day Monday, May 29th. Scarborough Renaissance Festival® is one of the most unique, one-of-a-kind Festival experiences in North Texas offering interactive fun for everyone set in the 16th Century days of King Henry VIII. You will step back in time in our 35-acre re-creation of an English village filled with more than 20 stages of non-stop entertainment, an amazing Artisan Marketplace with 200 shoppes filled with exquisite treasures and authentic artisan demonstrations. Plus, there are Games of Skill, Renaissance Rides, food & drink fit for a King, and much, much more!

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A big part of what sets Scarborough Renaissance Festival® apart from other festivals is the extraordinary entertainment. Cheer on knights jousting for honor and learn about Birds of Prey and their amazing prowess. Be amazed by sword swallowers, acrobats, jugglers, a 30+ time world-record holding whip artist, belly dancers, and so many more. There’s rocking Scottish bagpipes and Renaissance style music on age old instruments such as mandolins, harps, and hammered dulcimers. In 2023 the Festival is also introducing half a dozen new shows. Where else can you see fairies, meet King Henry VIII and Queen Katherine Parr (number 6 for those who are counting), watch a Cat & Rat Circus, or meet live mermaids? Plus, it’s all interactive – you never know when you might have a one-on-one conversation with a performer or even become a part of a show! For more mature visitors, there are also several stages dedicated to PG-16 entertainment.

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The 90+ members of Scarborough’s performing company can also be found throughout the Festival bringing the “Village of Scarborough” to life with cannon drill & ancient weapons demonstrations, lessons in History, Customs & Manners, competing in Combat Competitions, or teaching you how to dance a Court Dance!

You can enjoy the human-powered Renaissance rides, games of skill, a Petting Zoo, pony rides, and the Grande Parade.

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Entertainment is not the only thing to enjoy at Scarborough Renaissance Festival®. The Festival’s Artisan Marketplace is one of the largest outdoor juried craft shows in the country with over 200 shoppes filled with exquisite one-of-a-kind handmade treasures. These are not your ordinary “crafts”, these are unique treasures that you simply cannot find at any other art show or event such as glass sculptures, pottery, life castings, masks, stone carvings, metal works, apparel, handmade soaps, blown glass, tapestries, and handwoven hammocks just to name a few. There are also demonstrations by many of the artisans showcasing age-old crafts such as glass sculpting, candle making, glass blowing, stone carving, weaving, pottery, and metal works throughout each day of the Festival.

When you are ready to take a break, enjoy food fit for a king! The food at Scarborough Renaissance Festival® is a step above traditional “fair” food in both quality and variety. Feast on our signature giant smoked Turkey legs (the best you will ever eat) and Scottish Eggs. Don’t miss out on the handmade pastas at the Pasta Palace, the tasty treats made from scratch at the Scarborough Bakery each day, and the largest selection of food-on-a-stick in Texas! Indulge on crab cakes, fresh fruit, salads, Italian nachos, stir-fry, gyros, giant fajitas, stuffed spuds, tempura delights, fresh hummus, crepes, quiches, and fish & chips. You can also try some of the featured items and weekly specials at our full-service restaurant – the Rose & Crown Inn – like Shepard’s Pie, Muffulettas, and seasoned meat pies.

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Adults can enjoy Scarborough’s new mead selection from North Texas’ own Breaking Brew Meadery along with craft beers and other libations at the twelve pubs and taverns. Those with a more discerning pallets can partake in the daily wine or beer tasting events. Each week of the Festival, the tastings have a different theme and variety of wine or beer so each week is a different experience. The tastings are separate ticketed events ($35 per person in addition to Festival admission) and space is limited, so you will want to get your discounted tickets at www.SRFestival.com ahead of time. Of course, you must be at least 21 to enjoy the adult beverages or participate in the tasting events.

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Each weekend also has a different theme and a variety of special events such as Kid’s Free and the $10 off discount for Seniors on the opening weekend (April 8 & 9), the Artisans Showcase and Celtic Weekend just to name a few. Some of the special events such as the Chocolate Sensations Tasting Event (May13 & 14) require a separate ticket and space can be extremely limited, so get your tickets early. If you are into cosplay and/or costumes, you don’t want to miss the Viking & Ale Weekend (April 22 & 23), Live the Fantasy Weekend (April 29 & 30) and Legends of the Seas Weekend (May 20 & 21) where you can compete in costume contests and other fun events! Keep in mind that while costumes are welcome every day of the Festival, they are definitely not required.

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Festival tickets are $37 for adults and $17 for children. Kids 4 and under are always free. Discount tickets can be found at Tom Thumb & Albertsons starting April 1st. Get all the details at www.SRFestival.com. You can also find Scarborough Renaissance Festival® at SRFestival on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter and TheSRFestival on Instagram.

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So come, step back in time for the time of your life at the most unique festival in North Texas – the 42nd Annual Scarborough Renaissance Festival®! For eight weeks only – Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day Monday - April 8– May 29. Just 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas off I-35E in Waxahachie.