Carolina Renaissance Festival: dates, tickets and parking

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Updated each year. Every detail below comes from the festival’s own website, carolina.renfestinfo.com. Confirm before you go.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is open Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3 to Nov. 22, 2026, at 16445 Poplar Tent Road, on the east side of Huntersville near the Concord line. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.; it runs rain or shine, parking is free and pets stay home. Buy tickets on the festival’s site or call 704-896-5555.

The festival says it began in 1994 on six acres and has grown into a 25-acre village of cottages, castles, kitchens and pubs set in 325 acres of woods, one of the largest Renaissance fairs in the country.

2026 dates and themed weekends

Every weekend has the full program of shows. On top of that, the festival runs a themed weekend most weeks:

On free child admission days, the adults with them still need a ticket if the date has sold out.

Hours. A pre-opening gate show starts at 9:05 a.m. and gates open at 9:30 a.m. The festival lists closing as 5:30 p.m.; its driving page says it closes at about 6:15 p.m. in October and always at 5:30 p.m. in November, after clocks fall back.

Tickets and prices for 2026

From the festival’s ticket price page:

• Adults, 13 and up: $37.99 plus sales tax ($36 plus a $1.99 service fee).
• Children, 5 to 12: $23.99 plus sales tax ($22 plus a $1.99 service fee).
• Children 4 and under: free.
• VIP joust seats: $23.99 plus tax for any age. General seating at the joust is free.
• The Hops! Pub Crawl: $89.99 plus tax, ages 21 and up only; includes admission, ale samples at four pubs and VIP joust seats.
• Adult season pass: $226.99 plus tax. Online sales ran Aug. 1 to Oct. 1. There is no child season pass.
• Groups of 15 or more: $2 off each ticket with a promo code from tickets@renfestinfo.com.
• Seniors 65 and up and military: show ID at the onsite ticket office for a voucher for one free soda, iced tea or bottled water.

Tickets are date-specific and limited, and the festival says dates often sell out, so buy before you drive. Admission covers every show, including the tournament joust, falconry, the swimming mermaids and the petting farm; rides, games, food and crafts cost extra.

Getting there and parking

• Parking is free, courtesy of Harris Teeter.
• The festival sits between I-77 and I-85 and asks drivers not to rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps; use its printed directions instead.
• Do not park in or cut through neighboring subdivisions.
• Arrive before opening and leave before closing to miss the worst traffic.
• When Charlotte Motor Speedway has an event the same day, use I-77 instead of I-85.
• Uber, Lyft and taxis: drop-off is at 16445 Poplar Tent Road from I-85, or 15619 Davidson-Concord Road from I-77 by way of N.C. 73 (Sam Furr Road). Pick-up is only at Poplar Tent Road. Details on the ride share page.

The festival does not list any road closures; the issue on a busy weekend is traffic.

What to know before you go

All from the festival’s fast facts:

• Food and drink: no outside food or drink, except one factory-sealed bottle of water a person. Festival food and drink stands take cards; many craft vendors prefer cash, and there are 20 ATMs on site.
• Pets: not allowed. Trained service dogs and miniature horses are welcome; emotional support animals are not.
• Strollers and wheelchairs: rent them first come, first served at the Belrose Costume Rentals shop outside the gates: strollers $20, wagons $25, wheelchairs $30.
• Accessibility: paths are grass, dirt and gravel on a mild grade, with accessible parking and accessible portable restrooms.
• Costumes: welcome. Rentals outside the gates run $39 to $70 for adults and $18 to $25 for children.
• Prop weapons: blades must be blunt, sheathed and peace-tied with red twine or ribbon, and shown at the main gate. Prop guns and crossbows that fire are banned, and firearms are not allowed on the property.
• Re-entry: get your hand stamped to come back in the same day. Drinks cannot leave the village.
• Weather: open rain or shine unless conditions make it unsafe to park cars or operate.

More

Other fall events are in our fall festivals and pumpkin patches guide and things to do this month. This weekend’s picks are on things to do this weekend.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Carolina Renaissance Festival in 2026?

Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 3 to Nov. 22, 2026, with gates open at 9:30 a.m., at 16445 Poplar Tent Road in Huntersville. It is open rain or shine.

How much are Carolina Renaissance Festival tickets?

For 2026, adults 13 and up pay $37.99 plus sales tax and children 5 to 12 pay $23.99 plus tax. Children 4 and under are free. Tickets are date-specific and dates often sell out.

Is parking free at the Carolina Renaissance Festival?

Yes. Parking is free, courtesy of Harris Teeter. The festival asks visitors not to rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps and not to park in neighboring subdivisions.

Can I bring my dog to the Renaissance Festival?

No. Pets are not allowed because of the festival’s performing animals. Trained service animals are welcome; emotional support animals are not.

Can you bring food into the Carolina Renaissance Festival?

No outside food or drink is allowed, except one factory-sealed bottle of water per person.