A journey into the 16th century awaits at the Michigan Renaissance Festival

Take a time-travel adventure into the 16th century at the annual Michigan Renaissance Festival! Join our Queen Elizabeth in a jubilee! Inside our turreted gates, visitors enjoy the sights and sounds of a 17-acre village, complete with building reproductions of Renaissance shops, taverns and a magnificent castle.

Continuous entertainment takes place on the streets and on 17 themed stages, featuring full-contact armored jousting, comedy and theater shows, music, games, people-powered rides and so much more! Fabulous food and more than 150 artisans displaying their gallery-quality works complete the experience! 

For years, the Michigan Renaissance Festival has provided Holly with a unique venue that regularly attracts more than 250,000 visitors from Michigan, surrounding states and Canada. When the Festival first began back in 1979 on the grounds of Columbiere in Clarkston, Michigan, the Renaissance Festival attracted 11,000 patrons during its five-weekend event.

Years later the Festival found a more permanent home where it currently stands, just 12 miles south of Flint on Dixie Highway. The duration of the Festival has also extended to seven weekends, plus Labor Day Monday and Festival Friday. THE 2018 FESTIVAL SEASON IS OPEN FROM 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., on weekends through September 30 plus Festival Friday, September 28.

The pageantry of a 16th-century village is evident in the wide variety of activities. Entertainment is not only featured on 17stages, but in the lanes and on an interactive level with the patrons. From peasants to royalty, the people of the village of Hollygrove visit, entertain guests and provide a day to remember! Highlights include the thrilling full contact joust with armored knights and horses, the intensity of the Human Combat Chess Match and the hilarity of acts like the Washing Well Wenches and Ded Bob.

Music fills the air with Pictus and other talented bands. The Realm is filled with amazing artisans who offer their unique wares and often share their skills in craft demonstrations. Beautiful glassware, crafted leather, exotic jewelry and Renaissance clothing are just a few examples of the masterpieces that can be found in the marketplace.

Visitors are advised to skip breakfast and save their appetite for the fresh baked goods, soup in a bread bowl, Scotch eggs, apple dumplings and of course, the famous turkey legs that are cooked over an open flame. The array of foods is overwhelming and sure to satisfy any cravings! It is truly fun for the whole family since the Renaissance Festival also offers games, human-powered rides and a children’s realm that features a castle playscape, as well as free activities for younger visitors.

Are you ready to step back in time? Find out how atMichiganFest.com.