How much does it cost to go to the Texas Renaissance Festival?

The 48th annual Texas Renaissance Festival will be open on Saturdays, Sundays and Thanksgiving Friday from Oct. 8 through Nov. 27, 2022. Established in 1974, the event attracts more than half a million visitors each year to its 55-acre New Market Village and Fields of New Market Campgrounds in Todd Mission, Texas.

The 48th season of the Texas Renaissance Festival returns this weekend and we've got your easy guide to when, where, what and how many dragons.

The annual event offers shops, demonstrations, activities, lots of chain mail and turkey legs. Here's the rundown of everything you need to know.

When does Ren Fest open?

The Texas Renaissance Festival kicks off Friday at 21778 FM 1774 in Todd Mission. It opens at 9 a.m. with the sounding of the village cannon and closes at 8 p.m. with fireworks every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 27. (The ground will also be open the Friday after Thanksgiving.)

How much are tickets?

Tickets start at $20 for adults and $10 for kids. Admission is free Sundays for kids 12 and younger.

What's new this year?

Lester "Les" Jesterson is a juggler, clown, comic and storyteller. Chaste Treasures will croon originals and parody songs. Tease of the Seas is a burlesque and variety show for ages 21 and older. This year will also feature four escape room adventures amid the familiar daily entertainment.

What can kids do?

Ren Fest offers lots of sights and sounds for families, including candle-making, glass-blowing, weaving and spinning. There's also a carousel, catapult, maze, pony rides and Slayer's Castle 3-D House & Torture Museum.

What is Wyrmwood Public House?

Wyrmwood is Ren Fest's first "multi-sensory entertainment and social experience" that combines French Bohemia, steampunk, copper mining saloon, burlesque, magic and more. Wyrmwood features a craft cocktail bar, absinthe and tequila-tasting parties. The bar is open 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

What about parking? 

General parking is free, preferred parking in the first few rows is $25 and valet is $40. Only general parking is available after 4 p.m. Handicap-accessible parking is free and located near the front gate. There is no overnight parking at the festival.

What else?

No pets. 

Camping and glamping tents are available to rent.

All stage shows and entertainment are included with admission.

Get your hand stamped for reentry.

No guns are allowed under any circumstances. Any weapons that are part of a costume must be sheated and peace tied with leather straps or zip ties.

• Joey Guerra

  Follow:

  Joey Guerra

  Joey Guerra is the music critic for the Houston Chronicle. He also covers various aspects of pop culture. He has reviewed hundreds of concerts and interviewed hundreds of celebrities, from Justin Bieber to Dolly Parton to Beyonce. He's appeared as a regular correspondent on Fox26 and was head judge and director of the Pride Superstar singing competition for a decade. He has been named journalist of the year multiple times by both OutSmart Magazine and the FACE Awards. He also covers various aspects of pop culture, including the local drag scene and "RuPaul's Drag Race."

  The answer is, it depends. Yes food is expensive, but not as much as at professional ball games. Next is souvenirs. Everything from really cheap (less than $3) to the sky's the limit. They have excellent costuming you will find hard to get elsewhere. Edges weapons of all kind from cheap to high grade combat pieces. Unique items for home and yard decor. You have to appreciate that there are many fine craftsmen at both TRF and SC. My wife and I have never spent more than $100 each on food, shows, drinks, and trinkets. Of course I did see a Knights helmet and shirt of chain mail that I really wanted for everyday wear. It was only $1800. Somehow I didn't get out with it, but the wife did get some nice wind chimes to hang in one of the trees for about $40. By the way, the hotels in Magnolia have discount tickets to get into the place if you stay at their place. Saved us quite a bit. Also the free shuttle saved us a lot of walking.

  The annual Texas Renaissance Festival attracts more than 500,000 people to partake in Medieval role-playing on a grand scale every autumn.

  The 2022 Texas Renaissance Festival marks the 48th year of food, fantasy, and fun in the woods of Todd Mission, TX, about an hour north of Houston.

  
  Dave with King Henry VIII and his sister Princess Mary Rose Tudor (photo by Kelly Lemons)

  Hot on the heels of my first State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Kel was eager to introduce me to the nation's largest Renaissance Festival.

  Before we get to our experience, including all the delicious food in this enchanted world, I'd like to share some important info for this year's Ren Fest.

  Key Info

  When is the Texas Renaissance Festival?

  Saturdays and Sundays only from October 7 to November 27, 2022, plus Thanksgiving Friday (November 25).

  The gates open at 9 a.m. with a canon blast, and the festival ends each night at 8 p.m. with the Royal Fireworks Show (weather permitting).

  Where is the Festival?

  Dedicated fairgrounds in Todd Mission, TX, about 50 miles north of Houston. It's about an hour's drive from downtown Houston, or 2.5 hours from Austin, without traffic.

  What's the parking situation?

  Parking is free, and there's tons of it on unpaved lots lined by trees. You can pay $20 to park in priority rows closer to the entrance or $40 for valet. After 4 p.m., only general parking is available.

  
  Entrance

  How much are the tickets?

  Tickets are date-specific, and prices vary by day, weekend, and whether you pay in advance.

  Adults (13+) are about $22 to $27 when purchased in advance. It's $5 more if you buy same-day, online, or at the entrance.

  Children 12 and under are free on Sundays, and children four and under are free every day.

  Season passes are also available. Tickets are non-refundable, and there are no exchanges or rainchecks.

  Can you bring a water bottle? Pet? Gun?

  You can bring one unopened bottle of water or an empty bottle that you fill once inside. Pets and guns are not allowed.

  Can you camp overnight?

  Yes! The 200-acre Fields of New Market campground has glamping tents, cabins, RV pads, and RV rentals available for a fee.

  Services and facilities include restrooms, showers in the King's Bath House, a convenience store, a paid shuttle to get you to/from the festival, and security.

  My Renaissance Festival Experience

  
  Kingdom of Heidelburg

  On the day before Hallows Eve, we drove from Austin to the fairgrounds in Todd Mission, which took about 2.5 hours non-stop.

  We arrived at about 9:45 a.m. and parked in one of the free lots a few minutes' walk from the entrance.

  I'd reached out in advance to Carl Foy, Director of Marketing, about covering the festival for Feastio and was given two free tickets.

  Before entering the grounds, I met Carl in the press room and asked about his favorite Festival foods.

  He recommended the Scotch egg and drunken chicken and added that this was Ren Fest's first year with an on-site meadery; I made a mental note to look for it.

  Food

  
  Scotch egg

  Scotch Egg and Biscuit

  Within a minute or two of entering the grounds, we spotted the Queen's Pantry selling Scotch eggs for $8 a pop.

  I paid for one with my AMEX Gold card, while Kel bought a giant biscuit.

  A Scotch egg is a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, covered with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried till golden.

  The result is a crunchy exterior and a soft, juicy center. It was a nice hit of protein to start the day.

  
  Giant biscuit

  I was glad the Texas Renaissance Festival doesn't trade in coupons like the Texas State Fair, which requires attendees to buy them to pay for food.

  In keeping with Medieval times, however, the vendors at the Renaissance Festival will refer to the cost of everything in "pounds." Don't let that confuse you.

  One pound is one U.S. dollar. We could pay for everything using credit cards, and cash was also accepted.

  There may be some cash-only vendors, but we didn't encounter them. Carrying small bills can be helpful in tipping service staff and performers.

  
  Dave with bacon on a stick (photo by Kelly Lemons)

  Bacon on a Stick

  When I saw "bacon on a stick" for sale, I wondered how they managed such a feat, and I moved in closer to investigate.

  Then I saw the gentleman ahead of me handed an enormous slab of bacon on a slender stick.

  I giddily paid the $12 and was handed a thick piece of bacon to gnaw on.

  After a few photos to capture the enormity of what was before us, I took the first bite off the top.

  
  Back on a Stick

  The delicious pork, and fat, were highly satisfying. Well worth the cost.

  The same vendor was selling Cuban sandwiches for $13, tamales for $8, and another ubiquitous festival food, turkey legs, for $18 each.

  Plus, they had the $7 "Potato Tornado," a popular South Korean street food consisting of a deep-fried spiral-cut potato on a skewer.

  I wanted to try one, but my hands were full of bacon.

  
  Food and drinks available in Heidelburg

  Drunken Chicken

  As we walked around the festival grounds, we passed through numerous kingdoms, each reflecting a different region of Europe.

  There was the Kingdom of Tuscany, serving Italian foods, and The Kingdom of Heidelburg, with traditional German foods like wiener schnitzel, bratwurst, and black forest cake for sale.

  
  Drunken Chicken

  I don't know if "Drunken Chicken" is German, but since we got a tip that it was good, I bought a plate for a very reasonable $8.

  The chicken came with cooked onions, a fluffy bun, and green dipping sauce. Kel and I tore into it and were both happy with the purchase.

  
  Chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick

  Cheesecake on a Stick

  I was starting to crave something sweet, and having seen cheesecake on a stick all over the Texas State Fair, I was keen to try it here.

  Unfortunately, the chocolate-dipped cheesecake slice I received was frozen solid. I went back and asked for a paper plate because it was heavy.

  I tried in vain to nibble on it, but there was no use. We had to wait 10-15 minutes for it to soften up and become easier to eat.

  Once it had defrosted somewhat, the cheesecake tasted great. I liked that there was even a bit of crust in there.

  My takeaway is to ask vendors in the future whether their cheesecake is frozen and only buy if it isn't.

  Related: How to Eat Alone and Enjoy Yourself

  
  Menu for the Feast of the Harvest

  The King's Feast

  The King's Feast is described as "a forkin' good time," but tickets to this 8-course lunch with prime rib and pork loin sell out quickly.

  The cost is $119 per person, with VIP packages including festival admission and preferred seating for $229. The Feast includes live entertainment.

  I would've enjoyed going. However, by the time we knew which day we'd be attending the Texas Renaissance Festival, seats had already sold out.

  Check availability and make King's Feast reservations.

  Drinks

  In addition to eating well, we saved some room in our budget and bellies for a few drinks.

  
  Wyrmwood Public House

  Wyrmwood Public House

  In researching food and drink experiences ahead of time, I became aware of the Wyrmwood Public House.

  This new addition for 2022 is described on the Texas Renaissance Festival website as a "multi-sensory entertainment and social experience, where the worlds of French Bohemia, retro-futuristic steampunk, and copper mining saloon culture collide with burlesque, sideshow, magic, and more."

  That sounds like fun, and they're open early. The bar operates from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., so we walked right in around 10 a.m. for a drink.

  
  Cocktail menu

  The second-floor drinking establishment fits the description well.

  We were shown to a table for two opposite the bar and given cocktail menus with absinthe, gin, whiskey, rum, and tequila drinks.

  I ordered Death in the Afternoon with absinthe, simple syrup, chilled champagne, and lemon twist for $17.

  
  Death in the Afternoon, an absinthe cocktail

  The absinthe's anise flavor was a little strong for me, but I liked the bubbles.

  While sipping on our drink, a performer was on stage strumming an acoustic guitar and singing for the small crowd that'd entered the Public House so early.

  Related: Best Bars in New Orleans

  
  Kel and Dave

  An outdoor balcony offered views of the people walking the grounds below. Kel and I took the opportunity to get a selfie before exiting.

  
  Mead menu

  Meadery

  The Heorot Mead Hall offers lords and ladies a choice of six draft and six still meads. I noticed the draft meads were about half the alcohol content of the still ones.

  Flavors like orange vanilla, strawberry lemon, and apple pie sounded appealing. We settled on a black cherry draft mead with a rosy red hue. We both felt it was a little too sweet.

  
  Black cherry draft mead

  To avoid dropping money on a full cup of mead that doesn't suit your taste, you can opt for a mead tasting instead and sample a handful of their offerings.

  Renaissance Festival Performances

  
  Singing group

  Beyond the food and drinks at the 2022 Texas Renaissance Festival, there's plenty of free entertainment.

  I loved that almost all of it is included with the cost of admission.

  Groups of singers serenaded the crowd, a fire dancer in a purple corset backed up by an energetic band, and birds of prey (falconry) demonstrations.

  
  Fire dancer

  More adult-oriented entertainment includes shows by the Barbarian Bombshells and Dangerous Curves.

  Near the Italian village, there's a black castle called the Museum of Cruelty with a guillotine outside its entrance, a precursor of the torture devices one will see inside. Admission is a few dollars.

  I've seen Medieval torture equipment during my travels in Europe, so I didn't feel too much of a need to go here.

  
  Arena Stage schedule

  The Arena Stage

  Marquee events, including jousts, full steel combat, a fire show, and nightly fireworks, occur at The Arena Stage.

  We caught two shows. The first was full steel combat, where knights in full body armor engaged in hand-to-hand combat with axes, swords, and maces.

  This involved a lot of metal clanking sounds. It was a little hard to see from the back row, so I'd recommend getting as close as possible to the action.

  
  Armored knights fighting

  The second show we caught was jousting, an activity I remember watching at a renaissance festival in New York my parents took me to as a kid.

  I don't know if it was because a few hours had passed or it was simply a bigger draw, but the Arena Stage was packed for this one.

  
  Jousting

  The knights on horseback gallop toward each other with wooden lances aimed at the opponent and a metal shield to protect themselves.

  After a few passes, one of the knights typically gets knocked (or falls purposefully) from the horse. This goes on until there's one knight left standing (or should I say sitting on their horse).

  It's a realistic re-enactment and my top pick for things to do at the Texas Renaissance Festival.

  ***

  Kel and I spent nearly four hours at Ren Fest, and it could've easily been more.

  The people watching is a lot of fun. The fact that it was Halloween weekend only added to the variety of costumes we saw.

  Additional themed weekends encourage visitors to dress up. The complete entertainment schedule is on the website.

  Here's what remains of the 2022 season:

  • Nov 5 and 6 - Heroes and Villains
  • Nov 12 and 13 - Barbarian Invasion
  • Nov 19 and 20 - Highland Fling
  • Nov 25, 26, and 27 - Celtic Christmas

  As you can see, there's reason to return week after week, so those season passes can start to look appealing.

  How expensive is the Texas Renaissance Festival?

  Cost: $10-$25; $5 ticket insurance. Children age 12 and younger receive free admission on Sundays and half-price admission on Saturdays; tickets are date specific. Premium tickets that are not date-specific are $40.

  How much are Renfest tickets at the gate?

  Book Now.

  Adult (13+) $19.95. BUY TICKETS ➩.

  Seniors (65+) $15.95. BUY TICKETS ➩.

  Child (5 – 12) $11.95. BUY TICKETS ➩.

  Does HEB sell Texas Renaissance Festival tickets?

  Texas Renaissance Festival - Discount tickets are now on sale at all @HEB Business Centers! All tickets are date specific. #TexRenFest #HEB #TRFDiscountTickets | Facebook.

  Where can you buy Texas Renaissance tickets?

  Tickets can be purchased at any Houston area Walgreens, Randalls or Woodforest National Bank....as well at http://texrenfest.com/buy-tickets or by calling 800.458. 3435.