Skip to content
visitorfun
BusinessesGrow
AttractionsFamily FavoriteQuirky Fun

Maryland Renaissance Festival

1821 Crownsville Road · Annapolis, MD

Why you should go…

Set in a permanent Renaissance-era village in Crownsville, the Maryland Renaissance Festival runs weekends from late August through October. Visitors watch jousting tournaments and stage performers, browse handmade crafts from resident artisans, and eat turkey legs and other festival fare.

  • #renaissance-fair
  • #jousting
  • #seasonal
  • #costumes
  • #artisans

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Maryland Renaissance Festival, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Annapolis & Anne Arundel County

    Free

    Maryland's historic capital region on the Chesapeake Bay, home to the Naval Academy and a walkable colonial downtown.

    5.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Tours
    Local Gem

    Watermark Journey

    $25–$50

    Harbor cruises, sunset sails, and water taxis on the Chesapeake out of Annapolis and Baltimore, running since 1972.

    5.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Tours
    Iconic

    US Naval Academy Visitor Center

    Under $25

    The official visitor center for the US Naval Academy, with exhibits, a gift shop and guided walking tours.

    5.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Attractions
    Hidden-in-plain-sight

    Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

    Free

    The world's largest library, and arguably DC's most beautiful interior, the Great Hall, the Main Reading Room, and a Gutenberg Bible.

    24 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    International Spy Museum

    $25–$50

    Crack codes, adopt a cover identity, and squeeze through ductwork at the world's largest espionage museum.

    25 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    History Buff

    George Washington's Mount Vernon

    $25–$50

    George Washington's riverside estate: mansion tours, gardens, farm animals, and sweeping Potomac views.

    34 mi awayMore like this