2020 Guide to The Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Huzzah! Fairies, Kings, Queens, & everything in between will be at one of our favorite Fall things to do -The Kansas City Renaissance Festival!
KC Ren Fest is a long-standing Fall tradition in KC, so be sure you don’t miss the live shows & tournaments, authentic rides, unique arts and crafts, and of course amazing food and drinks!
…it is so magical.
2020 Kansas City Renaissance Festival Guide
** CANCELLED for 2020. We will see you at the 2021 festival!
THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE A DRIVE THRU PARADE INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL! Check out the details to grab your tickets…
This is the largest renaissance festival in KC!
The KC Ren Fest is open August 31st through October 14th on Saturday and Sundays, except for Labor Day and Columbus Day. Find hours, themes, events & more info at the KC Ren Fest Website.
There are discounted tickets at ticket outlets like, Dillons, Menard’s, Enchanted Gifts and Hy-Vee stores, as well as discounts found on their website (i.e., College Student day discount, Military Day discount, Scouts Day discount, City of Residence discounts, etc.) Group discounts also available for 10 or more people – get 2 or 3 families and you’re ready!
It is always a great bonus that there is free parking too.
Pets are welcome, but there is a $10 charge per pet – cash only.
Pro tip: It’s better to order in advance by purchasing online or calling – the tickets are $2-3 cheaper that way
NEW this year at KC Ren Fest: Viking Invasion & Aerial Act
Kansas City Ren Fest Themes:
Each week, there is a new KC Ren Fest theme. Dress up in the theme, or come to enjoy the costumes of others!
Kansas City Renaissance Festival – Full of Fun Things to Do
Most kids activities are free with fest admission, so you will not be paying a lot for additional things to do.
New for 2019, there are 50 free kids activities including fairy wand making, the Grand March Parade, visiting the petting zoo & the many shows. Your kids can be knighted in a knighting ceremony in the kids’ realm too!
There are some things that cost money like the giant bungee bounce or swing, but I think it is totally worth it. You find a guide to games & activities online.
You can also see this time period in action through chain mail making, blacksmithing, jewelry making, woodcarving, cooking, leather works, and more trades. IHES even offers classes in many of these trades from 8 am to 4:30 pm at the festival. You can learn first hand how people worked back then! visit the Historic Arts website for additional class info and pricing.
Pro Tip: Crack open a Dragon Egg with your kids to get a beautiful crystal to take home with you!
Daily Royal Events & Themes
There are “Daily Royal events” you can add to ticket prices:
- Queen’s Tea
- Fairy Time Treats
- Royal Pub Crawl
- Beer and Bacon Tasting
- Royal Wine Tasting
- Chocolate and Mead Tasting
- Royal Romance Package
You can find learn more about Daily Royal Events online.
The KC Ren Fest also improved the Battle Axe Pub, Giant Puppet Troupe, Bow Blast, Bloody Mary Bar, new performers, more opportunities for photo ops.
There are also daily contests based on the theme weekends! So, get dressed up to enjoy the festival.
Columbus Day Weekend is Kids Day, where adult tickets will be discounted to $15, students grades 7-12 $13, and grades 1-6 $9. These deals are only available if you purchase KC Ren Fest tickets online.
Top Five Reasons to Take Your Kids to the Renaissance Festival
If you’re looking for something a fun autumn family activity, I highly recommend loading up the SUV and heading to the Renaissance Festival. There are many reasons I love the festival, but here are my top five:
5. Get Some (relatively) Fresh Air.
Too many of our children spend their free time glued to electronic devices. So, get out and explore the renaissance festival!
The KC Ren Festival is completely outside, with the exception of a few of the shops. Plus, it’s a circle so you can walk around without having to go too far…
4. Stretch Your Legs
You’ll get plenty of exercise walking from booth to booth and between shows. There is also a free kids’ area where kids can run, jump, climb and slide.
It’s a great way to burn calories, which you will need to do because of all the delicious food there. Plus, the kids will be ready for a nap when you get home!
3. The Food!
…Need I say more?
My favorite Renaissance festival foods are the apple dumpling & turkey leg…weird combo?
Who doesn’t love a deep-fried apple, served with ice cream and caramel syrup? If apple dumplings are not your thing, there are plenty of KC Ren Fest favorites. You can get deep fried everything, from cauliflower to cookies…but without a doubt, the KC Renaissance Festival’s most popular food item is the Giant Turkey Leg.
2. The shows
There are gymnastic feats and acrobatic arts, people hula-hooping with fire, and some of the funniest pub songs you will ever hear.
Take your kids to watch a jousting match and let them cheer for their favorite knight. The shows also serve as a great way to rest your well-exercised legs between stretches of walking. KC Ren Fest definitely has great quality shows for your family to enjoy!
1. Character Bingo
Collect a bingo card at the gate, and let each of the characters you meet sign mark your card.
There’s a prize for winning bingo cards at the end of the game. It will keep your children observant for the day, but there’s also a secret history lesson. The actors are not supposed to break character have researched their roles. Last weekend, Queen Isabella, explained to my daughter each of her official royal titles. It was impressive.
And it’s a great way to see the entire festival…
We hope your family enjoys the Kansas City Renaissance Festival this Fall! There are tons of fun things to do for the whole family. From giant turkey legs to shopping for ornate eggs, this is the best renaissance festival near us. We hope you get to explore it…
For more things to do in Kansas City with kids, sign-up for The Scoop to get it sent straight to you!
From our family to yours, iFamilyKC.
