A beginners guide to the NYS Renaissance Faire

Step back in time and imagine yourself in a different era at the New York State Renaissance Faire! This annual event is a joyful celebration of the Middle Ages, with costume parades, jousting tournaments, and interactive performances. The Renaissance Faire takes place in Sterling Forest, a beautiful tropical paradise located in Tuxedo, New York. The fair season usually runs from August to October, during which you'll have eight weekends to indulge in the festivities. Each weekend introduces a new storyline where performers dress up as various characters and engage with the visitors.

The New York State Renaissance Faire offers an array of entertainment options and activities that will keep visitors engaged and entertained throughout the day. From theatrical performances at the Fortune Stage to daring battles at the Roselawn Tournament Field, there is plenty of exciting live entertainment. The unique and quirky performances by the jugglers, fire-eaters, and comedians contribute to the festive and humorous ambience of the faire.

My husband and I go every year. We love seeing the costumes, and the shows, and wandering through the shops of all of the talented vendors. But if you've never been before, it can seem overwhelming. I'm here to break it down for you and give you all the things you need to know for your first adventure into the wonderful world of the New York State Renaissance Faire!

First things first, the Renaissance Faire costs about $45 a person but know it truly is an all day endeavor. There is so much to see and do that you won't even be able to get it all done in one day. Unfortunately, you're going to have to pick and choose if you only have one day to go so make sure to show up early!

This leads us to something very important to keep in mind - the traffic. We usually sit in traffic for about an hour trying to reach the fairgrounds and park the car and then it takes us about an hour to get out of the parking lot to go home at the end of the day. It's a chaotic nightmare every year. Also, know that there are many parking lots, some are quite far from the entrance and you're parked where they choose to park you. This year we had to walk close to a mile from our parking spot to the entrance of the fairgrounds. The Faire does offer much closer limited VIP parking across from the entrance on a first come, first serve basis for an extra fee whereas regular parking is free.

Once you get past this though, it's all fun! If you get there early enough, there is an opening gate ceremony with the Sheriff and Maid Marian! That happens about 10 minutes before the gate opens at 10 a.m. Once through the gates, make sure you grab a map that lists all of the events for the day right near the front of the fairgrounds. You'll see a street sign that says Spende Penny Lane and people swarmed around a small gazebo. Truthfully you can't miss it.

You'll be met right away with rows and rows of shops. Spend your time browsing through! I walk away having bought at least one thing every year. These shops are full of people working hard to bring their handmade products to you. You'll find everything from soaps to candles and incense, handmade jewelry, period pieces of clothing, art, and many more wonderfully made items to look through.

Be aware they do search your bags and do not allow any outside food inside. This year I managed to sneak in a bottled drink in my bag but you may not get much else inside. They do have plenty of food available but it is expensive to eat here and it's always crowded. Lunchtime is the worst time to get food but it's generally busy all day in the food area. You're going to end up waiting for a while and there are never enough tables to eat. We always end up having to find a spot in the grass to sit. There are plenty of food options though! The longest lines are always for their famous turkey leg. If you're not into turkey legs, there are plenty of other options including chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, sausage dishes, steak sandwiches, and pizza. There's also ice cream for us sweet-tooth people and exotic jerky if you're the adventurous type. Be aware that drinks are usually sold at a completely different booth. If you're with someone else and able to split up, I would recommend it. The food is also CASH ONLY.

Truthfully, I recommend paying everything in cash if you can. Some vendors do offer card services and cash but a lot of stuff is cash only. It's just the easier option.

Since there's so much to see and do, let me give you my list of must-sees:

1. The first thing is the Royal chess match. This happens towards the end of the day. All of your favorite characters like Robin Hood, Maid Marian, and the Sheriff all join together with the queen for a battle between the "good guys" and the "bad guys." There's plenty of seating and the actors are very interactive with the audience. It's a lot of fun! Plus there are events located at the chess board all day from Maid Marian's Archery to the Royal Archery Tournament and the Living Chess match.

2. If you're into daring feats and cringy jokes, catch Lynx the Sword Swallower. It's a 30-minute one-man show full of - you guessed it - sword swallowing. It's the same tricks every year but he's very crowd interactive and it's a good time. He's not always at the same stage but this year he was at the Tudor Rose Stage.

3. Along the lines of daring feats, if you're an animal lover make sure to catch the Cirque du Sewer show! This two person show does fun tricks with rats and cats. That might sound strange but it's always a full audience. Who doesn't love cute animal tricks? If you catch the last show of the day, there's a fun fire trick at the end: the Cirque du Sewer fire cat finale. As a cat lover myself, this is a must-see every year.

4. If you like cheap comedy, catch Ded Bob. We didn't catch him this year but have a few times in the past. It's another one-man show but instead of sword swallowing, it's ventriloquism. His shows are 30-minutes long, done a few times a day. He usually shares the same stage as Lynx the sword swallower. Ded Bob has a few shows throughout the day but his last show is Rated R.

5. The final must-see is the Joust to the Death! This show is considered PG-13 due to some fake blood. It's the last joust of the day and the audience is always VERY packed. There are only two small benched areas to sit so most people end up standing or sitting in the grass areas and around the stage. If you want a decent seat make sure to get there early. A lot of people gather for this show and then tend to leave for the day once it's over. If you're not interested in the Joust to the Death though, there are two other jousting shows throughout the day: the Joust of Skill and the Royal Joust.

These are just the few things we make sure to catch every year but there are so many more things to see! There's fire and sword throwing, contortionists, magicians, fortune tellers, and songs and story shows. If you have kids there's a pirate costume contest, a children's knighting ceremony, and a kids' quest. If you want to try your hand at archery and sword throwing then you can. Or pay to throw tomatoes at a guy whose only job is to try to insult you so you'll hit him! People love him every year.

There's a glassblowing show a few times a day that always garners a large audience and a pub crawl for the adults who wish to partake. Tickets for the pub crawl are always limited and can be found on their site at renfair.com/NY.

The Faire is also service animal friendly and there are service animal relief areas available for your furry helper.

Please also know for human bathroom needs that most of the Renaissance Faire bathroom areas are porta potties. There is one flushing restroom area that generally has long lines (for the women anyway) towards the back of the park. The lines are definitely worth it in my opinion.

The New York State Renaissance Faire creates a fantastic atmosphere that immerses you in the world of the Middle Ages. It's the perfect weekend to put on your Renaissance attire (so many people do!) and attend this joyful celebration of medieval times. For a day filled with excitement and fun, jousting tournaments, sword fights, and quirky activities, you won't find a better event than the New York State Renaissance Faire.

Have you ever been?? Let me know what you think!