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Michigan Renaissance Festival
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- Good for Kids:
- Yes
8 reviews for Michigan Renaissance Festival
I'm a big fan of the Renaissance Festival in Michigan. It's a wonderful location that they really transform into a beautiful setting. I think it is one of the most popular in the US, since it comes up as one of the first choices in google.
As a child, this festival is 5 stars. As a little girl, 10 stars. If you get a princess hat and face painting a billion stars. Haha. I have so many fond memories of this place.
It's still amusing as an adult, I barely even feel like one. One thing that really irked me was how costly it was.
You pay $17 to get in. This includes parking, though parking is not really too close (we parked well over a mile away from the 'front gate'). And the rest I guess is for the upkeep of the grounds during the time that you're there. Everything that you see, requires a tip/charge.
I saw Manolette, or the fire performing guy and it was really cool. He snuck jokes in for the adult crowd and appeased to the the children who wanted to see fire and doom. Afterward, he compared his entertainment to a waitress. I hadn't realized how these people were pretty much organized street performers.
So, my friends, if you plan on going to the Renaissance festival, plan on spending at least another $30 tipping your entertainers. Or don't, and be like punk kids.
So, as I left the Renaissance festival I felt bad for these performers who were trying to get money to support themselves.
Otherwise, enjoy the pretty things, get your hair did, get your face painted, eat a turkey leg, cheer on your knight.
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I had an awesome time coming here as a first timer! Lots to see, and at least now I know what the fuss is all about. I loved people watching and checking out all of the costumes. There are lots of activities for kids like face painting and rock climbing. Pets are welcome. I also noticed a few people who did bring their dogs included them in costume by adding fairly wings...I guess it's the thing to do...not sure my dog would like it! I was mainly looking forward to micro brew sampling! But when I got to the beer tent the offer turned out to be 5 samples for $5 of brews like Molson XXX and Fosters... a bit misleading! I guess it didn't matter since the 5 sample cups equate the size and price of one full regular beer.
I watched three shows, Washing Well Wenches, Manolete, and of course Jousting. All were funny and entertaining. The wenches were by far the most raunchy, but it was great! The merchandise for swords, costumes and belts are a bit pricy. I looked at a gypsy sash/belt (the kind with coins dangling from it) and it was $55! The food and drink is actually reasonable however, soft drinks cost about $2, beer is $5 and the popular huge primitive turkey leg is only $5. The turkey leg looked delicious but I didn't get to try it, I did however get to pose next to a gnome...good times!
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Spent a beautiful fall day at the Michigan Renaissance festival. Enjoyed all of the traditional favorites (jousting, fair foods), but we especially enjoyed some of the music. I'm a huge fan of Tartanic!! Nothing rocks like a Scottish mosh-pit.
I love the Renaissance Festival!
This was the first year we were also able to take our daughter in costume, and that made it even more fun! She toddled around in her little tutu and got almost as many oohs and aahs as my cleavage falling out of my wench costume.
The first thing to do when you get there is check out the schedules of your favorite performers. I highly recommend Ded Bob, the Washing Wenches and the Zucchini Bros. We tried to be there a bit early for each show we wanted to watch so we could get good seats on the end of aisles and be able to keep the baby controlled in her stroller.
The food is also unique and tasty. I always get a giant pickle and soup in a bread bowl. Turkey legs used to be a standby, but I think I've gotten tired of them over the years, although I'll still have a couple bites if hubby gets one.
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I have to say that i love, this festival! Hands down one of the best in the US! There is so much to do, see and particiapte in here when you do step foot into this place. As someone who loves the SCA, History, and all that i have to say that you can immerse yourself here for days.
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Take a trip back in time to an era filled with knights in shiny armor and fair maidens at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. Located in Holly, the Michigan Renaissance Festival is one of the best of its kind and has been pleasing time travelers for decades.
This family fun venue will cost you, but its definitely worth the bucks. With a wide range of vendors selling everything from art to incense to candle wax molds of your hands, there's something to please anyone. And the food, the greasy, wonderful festival food. Most popular is the gigantic roasted turkey leg, but the festival also offers soup in bread bowls, ice cream, and beer, lots and lots of beer. And for entertainment everything from live jousting matches, face painting for the kids, and century specific music. So, load up the car, fill your pocket with the big bucks and take the trip to Holly, MI about 50 minutes out of Detroit to the Michigan Renaissance Festival, fair maiden and knights.
Ren fest is an awesome place to spend the day for families, nerds, LARPers, and the randomly bored looking for something new.
What I enjoy most about Ren fest is the people watching. Everyone seems to turn into someone else when they come here, and it's a real treat to see people who come dressed up for no other reason than this "stepping outside onself."
They have a massive amount of vendors peddling anything from clothing, armor (yes, armor), swords, handmade journals and stationery, accessories, angel wings, musical instruments... you name it! There's even a medieval pub selling honey mead and old-style brews... which is always a treat in the hot sun.
I love the food here. It seems ridiculous to walk around with a whole turkey leg, but there's just some charm in it. Maybe it's because I can eat it, or maybe I feel like an English peasant, but either way, it's a wonderful snack. (or meal, depending on your appetite.)
They have an arena in the middle that has a theatrical joust, which ends up being a cross between a joust and WWE, but is no doubt entertaining. I think I've seen all of the "acts", and like most people I know, Ded Bob is still my favorite of the bunch. You absolutely must catch Ded Bob if you're here!
In all, it's fantastical and fun for anyone and everyone.
I would suggest, given the time of year that it is, to wear light colors and shorts. That is, unless you're going in costume!
Knights in shining armor, jousting, guys (& gals) in kilts, gypsies, juggling fire...
I started going to the Renaissance Festival when I lived in the Detroit area. Actually, I'd been to one other one before during college when one of my roommates took me...somewhere in southern CA, I don't remember where, but much smaller. From what I understand, this one is one of the bigger ones, with about 200 booths. This one is usually towards the end of summer...August-September, each year. There's usually ads in the local newspapers & weeklies.
Be prepared for a dusty, hot, but good time! It's entertaining to see all the people in costume, & it's not just the people who work there, but a lot of the people who attend the festival! It was always funny to see people in costume with their modern day accessories, such as cell phones & watches, etc. You can even buy a costume there, if you'd like (I did). There's a ton of arts & crafts booths selling all sorts of stuff from jewelry to costumes to prints to potpourri to ceramics/pottery. There's various food (some of your typical fair stuff & other more unique things, like a Scotch egg & turkey leg) & drink (including some alcohol, I think it was all beer). There are stages located throughout with various performances throughout the day too. There's some rides for kids too. My friend's mom had a booth there (she's a weaver), so we'd make that our base camp & venture out from there, & if we got tired, we'd go hang out on the patio in the back of her booth, so I got a behind the scenes look at things too.
Be careful if you've got kids with you & they want stuff...Aunt Linda (or "Aunt Yinda" as I was called) was taking one of her friend's daughters around (she must've been about 4 or 5 at the time) who is full of energy, & as we walked past a pickle vendor, she proclaimed "I want one of those," so the vendor promptly handed her one, & all I could do was just pay for it. Oh well. Good thing her parents & I didn't really care that much what she eats. I also got her to pick out a ribbon & flower garland that went with her princess outfit. She got her face painted when she wandered around with her grandma. So, there's lots to keep kids entertained & occupied.
Parking is free in this huge field nearby.
Downside...bathrooms are porta-potties.
So, I went to this one for a couple years until I moved back to CA. I haven't had a chance to check out the ones in northern California yet.
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