The Arizona Renaissance Festival

Do you want to go back in time?

If your answer is “yes,” you have two options.

Your first option is to master time, space, and relatively and build a time machine.

Your second option is to attend the Arizona Renaissance Festival.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival will whisk you back to a time where chivalry wasn't dead, and the most popular sport was played with a lance.

This renowned Renaissance festival is held in Apache Junction. You'll find Apache Junction near Gold Canyon in the Phoenix metro area.

The festival is held every Saturday and Sunday from Feb. 10 to April 1, as well as Presidents' Day.

egardless of the weather, festivities begin at 10am and end at 6pm.

The Arizona Renaissance Festival began in 1989 and welcomes about a quarter of a million visitors every year. Festival grounds span 30-acres and contain 13 stages.

Visitors can enjoy 200 unique artisan shops, games, jousting, performances, and rides. The festival serves delicious food, delectable desserts, and refreshing beverages. And yes, you can get a large turkey leg.

Directions

If you're coming from Phoenix, use the Superstition Freeway.

The festival is located past the Gold Canyon Golf Resort.

If you're coming from Tucson, take the Pinal Pioneer Parkway to the Florence Junction. Then travel west for seven miles on U.S. Highway 60.

Get Directions with Google Maps

Before beginning your journey, you may want to consult the festival's website for detailed directions.

The festival does offer free parking. Also, leave Fido and Fluffy at home. Pets are not allowed.

If you're looking to make a weekend of the festival, the Gold Canyon Golf Resort is just a couple of miles from the festival grounds.

The resort has 85 rooms and all the amenities you'll want after a long day of Renaissance-ing.

Music

Live music is a major attraction at the festival. This includes everything you'd expect at a Renaissance festival from wandering minstrels to folk dancing.

One of the most interesting musical acts is Cast in Bronze.

In fact, it's one of the most interesting musical acts in the world.

Cast in Bronze plays a carillon or a huge set of bells. This unique instrument was invented about 500 years ago in Northern Europe.

The 35 bells that make up Cast in Bronze's carillon weigh four tons and are played with a modified keyboard. Playing the keyboard is the mysterious and masked, Spirit of The Bells.

He doesn't tickle the ivories but strikes the them with his fists and feet.

Cast in Bronze has been invited to play for the Pope and the president.

Selected Music Acts Scheduled to Perform

The Angels
Bathos the Muse
Cast in Bronze
The Danseries
Fairhaven Morris Dancers
Far From Home
Ghazaal Beledi World Music & Dance
Hey Nunnie Nunnie
Jamila Lotus
Lady Prudence
Mistress Bawd
Harpist Sarah Mullen
Nightingale
The Puckerbrush Players
Tartanic
Three Guys & a Bunch of Drums
Zilch the Torysteller

Other Acts

Besides music, attendees can also enjoy acrobats, jugglers, and hilarious comedy acts. These performers will delight and dazzle knights and ladies of all ages.

One act you'll definitely want to check out is Adam Crack. He's a jaw-dropping, mind-blowing bullwhip expert who holds multiple Guinness World Records.

We know what you're asking, “Does he use a flaming whip?” He certainly does.

Selected Acts Scheduled to Perform

Adam Crack, Fire Whip Show
Barely Balanced
Cale the Juggler
Cirque du Sewer
The Clan Tynker Circus
The Ded Bob Show
Don Juan & Miguel
Gypsy Geoff
Jeremiah Wiggins
Knotty Nauticals - Travis Dewey and Alicia Grant
The London Broil Show
The Raven
Shamus the Insulter
Thom Selectomy Comedy & Sword Swallowing
Tortuga Twins
The Wyld Men

Other Attractions

In between performances, partake in an exciting assortment of rides and games. As for the games, there's paintball, target shooting, and a climbing tower.

Thrice daily, attendees can enjoy the “original sport of kings,” jousting. Each joust is unique, authentic, and thoroughly enjoyable. After the final joust, combatants recreate a Renaissance-style fight to the death.

Selected Announced Attractions

Ancient Art of Falconry
Captain Francis Drake
We are CROFT
Daniel the Fox
Fireflicker
Green Man
The Jousters
Lady Tess, The Countess Trueheart
The Living Fountain
Mother & Father Goose
Statue Comedius de Marbleous
Twig the Fairy
Washing Well Wenches

The Pleasure Feast

The Pleasure Feast occurs twice a day at noon and 2:30pm. This Renaissance inspired-feast is a five-course meal replete with outrageous entertainment (which may not be suitable for young audiences).

At this feast, you'll be treated like royalty and served by wenches and knaves. You'll also receive a souvenir goblet.

To attend, you'll need to procure tickets. Seats are assigned, so let organizers know if you wish to be seated with a large group.

Weddings

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a great place to tie the knot. Organizers offer several wedding packages include the Sir Lancelot, Queen's Reception, and King's Pavilion.

One of the available options is having costumed entertainers escort your wedding party to the Joust Arena. How cool is that?