Travel back in time every spring at the Georgia Renaissance Festival in Fairburn, Georgia, about a half-hour drive from Atlanta. During the eight weekends from mid-April to early June, visitors can step through the gates of Newcastle into 16th-century England. The 13-hectare (32-acre) village hosts over 150 artisan shops, dozens of taverns, and pubs alongside 10 stages for performances.
Festival's program
Plenty of fun activities keep the entire family busy all day long. Over 1,000 characters on the streets offer a unique interactive and immersive experience. Don't miss ancient craft demonstrations like weaving, coin making, glass blowing, and spinning. In addition, entertainment includes jousting tournaments and sword-swallowing performances. Young visitors of the Georgia Renaissance Festival can enjoy human-powered rides, games, and activities like a rock climbing wall, a fairy tea party, or a haunted ship.
One of the biggest attractions of the fair is DeBracey Joust Productions. A large arena hosts the knights in their shining armour, challenging each other for a fight with a crossbow, lance, sword, and chariot. The show features plenty of stunts, horseback riding tricks, and much more. Tournaments begin at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 5:30 pm. Other shows include comedy, acrobatics, theatre, and hypnosis. Not to mention jugglers, musicians, magicians, wandering minstrels, and bards.
Themed weekends
The opening weekend of the festival is dedicated to Romance of the Renaissance. Chivalry and courtship will be the main focus of all activities in the Village of Newcastle. Pet owners will be thrilled to discover that the second themed weekend of the festival is pet-friendly. Dogs and cats on leashes are welcome! Their owners will just need to fill in the Registration Form and check in at the tent near the Front Gate. Coming up next is Highland Fling weekend, dedicated to Scottish and Irish cultures. Time Traveler is a cosplay weekend with a costume contest. Viking theme, Wizard, Pirate, and Fairy themes await visitors in May and June.
Festival food
Feast like royalty on hundreds of tasty items on the menu. You can start off with an appetizer like pretzels, potato skins, and cheese on a stick and then move to a giant roasted turkey leg or steak on a stake. Wash it all down with a refreshing soft drink or a hearty ale. Then top it all off with a dessert. You'll not go hungry at the Festival Village!
Artisans Market
Dozens of vendors have their unique wares on display, including belts, hats, caps, gauntlets, doublets, vests, pouches & armory, musical instruments, sculptures, jewelry, pottery, kilts, flower and feather garlands, silk scarves, soaps, oils and perfumes, fantasy headpieces, wood and stone items for the home, handblown glass vases, tankards, sun catchers, paperweights, and fun costumes for all ages.
Hours and tickets
The Georgia Renaissance Festival's gates open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the gate and online (slightly cheaper). Admission at the gate is $30.55 for adults and $16.56 for children, ages 6-12. Children 5 and under enjoy free admission. Moreover, companies can apply for promo codes for their employees.
