Tickle Thy Fancy With A Great Day At The Michigan Renaissance Festival!
Join the villagers of Hollygrove as they invite one and all to the magical 16th Century European village featuring 17 stages of exciting entertainment including: musicians, magicians, jugglers and jousting. Over 100 artisans will fill the Festival marketplace to display and sell their handcrafted goods for a truly fabulous and endless shopping experience. Patrons will interact with memorable characters and enjoy full-contact live armored jousting, 7 theme weekends, and fabulous food fit for royalty!
The Michigan Renaissance Festival is returning to the medieval themed village of Hollygrove which transports visitors back in time to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in the later half of the 16th century. Merriment, jousting and feasting will take place each weekend from August 21 through October 3 on the Michigan Renaissance Festival faire grounds off Dixie Highway in northern Oakland County. Art thou ready for a good time?!
My family went to our first RenFest in 2019 and had a splendid time. We were bummed not to be able to go again last year. So we are geeked the Michigan Renaissance Festival is returning in 2021!
Bring your dog & pirate pals for Pirates & Pups weekend! This weekend will showcase pup rescue groups, pup training demonstrations & contests for dogs. Not only are there activities for your pups, but also for you!
AUG 28 - 29: HIGHLAND FLING
The Highland Games will have you cheering for your favorite athlete in this 8 series event. Championships on Saturday and State Masters on Sunday. Don’t forget to attend the Men in Kilts contest to see who can sport the best kilt.
SEPT 4 - 6: VIKING INVASION
All barbarians are invited to participate in pillaging the village. This will be a weekend filled with competitive spirit and new experiences. Do you have a awesome beard or mustache to showcase, well enter into this weekend's contest to win some great prizes!
SEPT 11 - 12: WONDERS OF THE WORLD
This weekend will feature a world market and entertainment from around the globe. Also all individuals and dance troupes are invited to the Michigan State Belly Dance Championship. If you don’t feel like competing, you can take a dance lesson or show off your steampunk attire.
SEPT 18 - 19: SHAMROCKS AND SHENANIGENS
Transport yourseld to Ireland this weekend, where you can find local Irish vendors & fun for all ages. Kick up your heels with traditional Irish music & dance. Got a Kilt? Enter the Men in Kilts contest to discover who can wear it best. This is the largest shenanigans party in Michigan!
SEPT 25 - 26: HARVEST HUZZAH
Be on the look out for interpreters for Deaf Awareness weekend, signs will be posted at the stages they will be featured at. Don’t forget to visit the Valley of Aberdare for the BBQ competition and just to get some good ole’ delicious food. Plus there is an Archery Competition held in the parking lot outside the front gate entrance.
OCT 2 - 3: SWEET ENDINGS
This weekend is destined to satisfy your sweet tooth. Stay for the fencing competition to see whose the best fencer in Michigan. There is something for everyone this weekend, so don’t miss out!
Adult admission is $24.95 and children are $15.95 at the gate but there are discounted prices for tickets if you purchase them online in advance of your visit to Hollygrove at michrenfest.com. Parking is FREE! Have yourself a good ole time at the 2021 Michigan Renaissance Festival. Huzzah!
No jest! We had ourselves a festive time last summer at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Comedy skits, musical performances, and knightly jousts provide for a carefree day living like royalty. And with the event's reliance on porta potties it really is like stepping back into medieval times.
Unfortunately with the pandemic this annual Metro Detroit event was cancelled ... or was it? Based upon popular demand a special social distancing format was put in place. Because with a diehard fanbase you can't keep a good Renaissance Festival down!
For the last few weeks, the Village of Hollygrove has been hosting a drive through festival. A limited number of cars each weekend can traverse the Renaissance Festival grounds partaking in food stations, perusing artistic vendors and enjoying the entertainment that has made this an iconic Michigan event. If you missed out on this, there is still a chance to participate. There is one more weekend to join in the fun!
For more information or to purchase tickets go to michiganrenfest.com. Don't miss out on the huzzah and cheers!
A GEEK DADDY RECEIVED COMPLIMENTARY ADMISSION TO THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL
It is that time of year again when the Michigan Renaissance Festival rides into town for its annual appearance. Adventure awaits during weekends filled with jousts, sword fights, and mythical creatures. On Saturdays and Sundays from August 17 through September 27, the festival grounds in Holly, Michigan are transformed into a realm filled with royal courts and knightly heroes, bandits and pirates, as well as bards, jesters and Shakespearean actors. Join in the merriment and festivities of the 2019 Michigan Renaissance Festival.
Your adventure begins with a walk through a wooded path leading from the parking lot to the gates of the Renaissance era village of Hollygrove. As you begin your trek to the Renaissance Fest it starts off as a leisurely nature hike with no sign of modern life around you and the sound of birds and the wind whistling through tree leaves drifting in the air. Eventually the woods begins to fill with the sounds of festivities taking place as you emerge from the forest and come upon the gates to a realm of entertainment and excitement. Let your adventure begin!
Take in shows that include sword battles with comedic flair, dancing and musical performances and acrobatic feats. They even have a Birds of Prey presentation that provides audiences close up views of these raptors as trainers have them fly through the crowd. Stages with a variety of activities taking place throughout the day are spread out across the Renaissance village so there is always something going on as you wander around.
Discover mythical creatures with Pegasus, Mermaids, and Unicorns calling the Renaissance Festival home. We even came across some trolls that seemed friendly despite the menacing spiked teeth in their grins as they sang ballads along side a path. Transform into a magical being yourself by having some wax ears affixed to your head turning you into an elf or fairy. If feeling a bit naughty you can choose to have horns placed on your forehead to show others that you are a little devil.
The Renaissance Fest is a family-friendly experience with activities dedicated specifically to keeping young lords and ladies amused. There are pony rides and carnival games just for the kids. Plus medieval thrill rides like the Flying Dragon!
My favorite part of the Michigan Renaissance Festival though are the live armored jousts. Knights in shiny suits of metal compete on horseback in games and jousting battles to be honored as the Queen's champion. The jousting tournaments are held three times per day at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm. Get into the spirit of the day by shouting out Huzzah! to rally the knight representing your seating section to victory.
They didn't have the sweets and treats of modern civilization during medieval times, so being that the Renaissance Fest is meant to transport you back in history this dad blogger snacked on some delicious pickles during the jousting tournament that vendors were selling. They were really good! I highly recommend you stop by one of the carts selling these on your way to the jousts.
Stick around after the jousting concludes because the knights will approach the crowd for pictures and to allow their horses to be petted. The cast of knights is great at staying in character and their boisterous attitudes are invigorating at getting people into a festive attitude. Interacting with the festival's cast of characters allows visitors whether or not they dress in cos-play to really immerse themselves within the Renaissance Festival experience.
Get into the action yourself trying out the weapons of the time. Give archery a shot! Show off your inner Robin Hood with a bow and arrow on the Michigan Renaissance Festival archery range.
Other options include throwing axes and spears at targets. While they weren't used in Europe during Renaissance times, you can also toss Ninja throwing stars there too. Be a weekend warrior shooting bows and arrows and throwing weapons at the Renaissance Festival.
Or you can Pester a Jester! Throw tomatoes at some obnoxious jesters while they hurl insults back at you. If you are easily offended you either need to walk away or have great aim because they jesters are really mean though their intent is to provide fun and amusement through rude repertoire.
Please note that there is limited use of credit cards at the festival, primarily accessible for select food vendors. Cash is king at the Renaissance Festival! So come prepared to have some spending money for activities and vendors as well as to provide tips to performers.
Oh yes! An adventure does await you at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Huzzah! For more information, go to MichRenFest.com.
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