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Minnesota Renaissance Festival

12364 Chestnut Blvd · Shakopee, MN

Why you should go…

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival transforms grounds near Shakopee into a 16th-century European village for seven weekends each late summer and fall, drawing more than 300,000 visitors a year. Founded in 1971, it is one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the United States, with over 700 entertainers, artisan shopping and food vendors. The 2026 season runs from August 22 through October 4, with adult gate admission around $27 to $30.

  • #festival
  • #seasonal
  • #live entertainment
  • #family

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 Minnesota 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.

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Paisley Park

    $50+

    Step inside Prince's private studio and home, recording studios, costumes, motorcycles and all that purple.

    7.5 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Photo Op

    Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

    Under $25

    1,100+ acres of U of M gardens, forest, and prairie, Three-Mile Drive, seasonal blooms, and the breeding grounds of the Honeycrisp apple.

    7.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family favorite

    Valleyfair

    $25–$50

    Minnesota's big amusement park since 1976, 40+ rides, eight coasters, and the included Superior Shores Waterpark on the Minnesota River.

    7.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    General Store of Minnetonka

    Free

    A two-story gift and general store in Minnetonka with an on-site cafe, family-run since 1984.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Minnesota Zoo

    $25–$50

    4,800+ animals plus the Treetop Trail, the world's longest elevated pedestrian loop, on 485 wooded acres.

    20 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Historic

    Historic Fort Snelling

    Under $25

    Restored 1820s stone fort at the Mississippi–Minnesota confluence, where costumed interpreters unpack centuries of layered history.

    23 mi awayMore like this