Huzzah, friends: the Minnesota Renaissance Festival returns for its 55th season, weekends from Aug. 22 through Oct. 4, 2026 — plus Labor Day Monday (Sept. 7) and a bonus Festival Friday on Oct. 2. King Henry’s 16th-century village in Shakopee is only about 40 minutes from downtown, which makes turkey legs, full-combat jousting, and 250-plus artisan shops a very doable day trip — and pairing it with a Minneapolis weekend is, frankly, the thing to do in Minneapolis this late summer.
The 2026 dates, hours, and tickets
The festival runs Saturdays and Sundays, Aug. 22 – Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine, with those two bonus days (Labor Day and Festival Friday, Oct. 2) tucked in. At the gate you’ll pay $29.95 for adults, $27.95 for seniors, and $19.95 for kids 5–12 (4 and under free) — but buy ahead and it drops to $26.95 online, with a Family 4 Pack at $79 and a two-day weekend pass at $48. All the options live on the official ticket pricing page. Ten hours of village time is more than you think; pace your mead accordingly.
Pick your themed weekend (this is the fun part)
Every weekend has its own personality, so match the trip to your people: Once Upon a Time kicks things off Aug. 22–23 for the fairy-tale crowd, Highland Fling (Aug. 29–30) brings the kilts and caber-tossing energy, and Woofstock (Sept. 5–7, Labor Day weekend) means yes, you can bring the dog — there’s a whole registration page for pups. Then come Bold North Adventure (Sept. 12–13), Wine, Chocolate & Romance (Sept. 19–20 — date-night material, more on that below), Art Affair (Sept. 26–27), and Oktoberfest (Oct. 2–4) to close the season. Sixteen stages, 500-plus food and drink options, and 50-plus games and rides run all season long, whatever weekend you pick.
Getting there: the parking-pass fine print
One local secret worth knowing before you roll up: parking passes are required to park on the festival grounds — this isn’t a pay-at-the-lot situation, so sort it out in advance on the on-site parking page, or skip the hassle entirely with the festival’s Park & Ride lots. From Minneapolis it’s a straight shot down US-169 to Shakopee, about 40 minutes with reasonable traffic — leave by 8:15 a.m. and you’ll hear the opening cannon.
Make Minneapolis your castle for the weekend
Here’s the play: fest by day, city by night. If you’re doing the Wine, Chocolate & Romance weekend properly, book the historic Carpenter Mansion at 300 Clifton in Loring Park — Gilded Age bedrooms, a garden hot tub for post-jousting recovery, and a genuinely royal breakfast situation. They’ve even written their own Renaissance Festival stay guide, mansion-fit-for-royalty angle very much included. Bringing the whole royal family, or staying several days? The furnished studios at Oakland’s on 9th downtown come with full kitchens — helpful when half the party wants cereal instead of a third turkey leg.
Round out the weekend back in the city
Your evenings deserve a plan too. Start fest day with the best breakfast in Minneapolis, then when you’re back in town, hop aboard a Minneapolis Trolley Tour — after a day on your feet in the village, a seat on a vintage trolley while someone else does the storytelling is medieval-grade luxury. Keep the costumed-characters energy going at the haunted Pillsbury Club, where the speakeasy bar and spooky drinks feel right at home after a day among knights and wenches, or toast the Oktoberfest weekend at one of the best breweries in Minneapolis. Making it a couples trip? Our list of Minneapolis date ideas has the rest of your itinerary covered.
And if you’re picking between late-summer spectacles: the fest overlaps with the Minnesota State Fair (Aug. 27 – Sept. 7), and ambitious weekenders have been known to do both. History buffs can keep the time-travel theme going with our guide to Minneapolis mansion tours you can actually go inside — the real Gilded Age, no costumes required. More ideas at Explore Minnesota if you’re building a longer trip.
Seven weekends goes faster than you’d think — grab those advance tickets, book your Minneapolis basecamp, and reserve a seat on the trolley for the city half of your kingdom. Huzzah and cheers!
Keep reading: What to Do in Minneapolis in September 2026: Vikings, Gophers, Fair Food, and Fall Color — Ren Fest runs right through the busiest month on the Minneapolis calendar.