Columbus, OH

If you have an entire day to kill any weekend before the end of the month, take a trip south to Harveysburg where the Ohio Renaissance Festival is going on every weekend through October.

The festival is held in a permanent “city” built on approximately 30 acres. It is intended to look like a 16th. century English village. There are shops, stages, a pirate ship, a “castle” filled with midevil torture devices and even some “thrill” rides. You can try your hand at jousting, watch a gypsy show and then go and chow down on enormous turkey legs. Never had mead? This is your chance–aah, nothing like a nice glass of fermented honey. It’s enough to make you want to join the Society for Creative Anachronism.

Some things you will not want to miss at the Festival are:

The Joust: Queen Elizabeth I herself watches over the knights as they joust for her, and your, entertainment.

Steven K. Smith: on the mountain dulcimer. If you’ve never heard one of these played, you will never forget it once you have. Steven K. Smith is Ohio’s reigning master.

The Mudde Show: at the mudde pit. Do yourself a favor and settle for the back row, unless you are wearing full rain gear that is. You will laugh your arse off.

Entertainment abounds at the Aleing Knight Pub & Lorely Tavern Biergarten, the food is incredible (leave your diet at home) and the shopping is amazing. Speaking of shopping, this is the place I like to go to purchase gifts for those hard to shop for people. Even when buying for those people who seem to have everything (you know who I mean, for me it’s my aunt and uncle, everyone has at least one) I know that they probably don’t have anything like the gifts I get them here. Many of the shops sell one of a kind and handcrafted items.

Good to know before you go:

The festival is held outdoors, dress for the weather. If it is wet, wear shoes you don’t mind losing to the mud.

The atmosphere is midevil, but the prices are thoroughly modern. Take plenty of money if you intend to eat and drink, and plenty more if you intend to shop. Most shops are ‘a takin’ the plastic’ though, and there is an ATM just as you enter.

No pets, no matter how adorable-leave Fido at home.

Besides mead, they do serve beer and wine. Plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments as well.

Be prepared to see people in all manner of dress. If you have some fairy wings you’d like to pull out of the closet, feel free to wear them.

If you think this would be a fun place to be married, you can! See the website for details.

Ohio Renaissance Festival
Sat. & Sun. through October
10:30 AM to 6 PM Rain or Shine

From Columbus take I71 S to the Waynesville Exit (45), and follow the signs.

Tickets at the gate are $16.99 for adults & $9.99 for kids. Kids under 5 are free.
If you can, purchase your tickets ahead of time online for a nice discount.
Click HERE for online ticket information.