Festival Maxxing
Max your Festival day with our curated itineraries—packed with shows, food, shopping, and adventures!
WEEKEND MAXXING
Make a weekend of it! Spend two full days exploring the Realm with iconic entertainment, legendary eats, thrilling jousts, handcrafted treasures, games, and Festival traditions. Follow this two-day itinerary to max out every moment of your Renaissance weekend.
Day One – The Legendary Festival Experience
9:00 AM – Enter the Realm
Be there when the gates open and the village comes to life! Grab a Festival schedule, explore the Realm, meet colorful characters, and take in the sights and sounds before the day’s legendary entertainment begins.
11:00 AM – Experience the Legendary Joust
No Festival adventure is complete without the clash of knights! Choose your champion and cheer them on as they battle for glory in an action-packed joust.
12:00 PM – Danger, Comedy & Chaos
Catch the Danger Committee for a must-see mix of comedy, juggling, and seriously daring stunts. Expect big laughs, impressive skills, and plenty of surprises along the way.
12:30 PM – Grand Parade
Make way for royalty! Watch the King, Queen, Royal Court, and Festival entertainers make their grand procession through the Realm in this beloved daily Festival tradition.
1:00 PM – A Meal Fit for a King
It wouldn’t be a Renaissance Festival day without a legendary turkey leg! Grab one of the Festival’s most iconic eats and refuel for an afternoon of adventure.
1:30 PM – Hunt for Marketplace Treasures
Explore the Artisan Marketplace and discover treasures around every corner. Browse handcrafted leatherwork, clothing, jewelry, artwork, and one-of-a-kind creations from talented Festival artisans.
4:30 PM – Let the Games Begin
Put your skills to the test at Kingdom Games! Take on classic Festival games, rides, and challenges and see whether you have what it takes to conquer the Realm.
6:00 PM – Shimmy & Spice
Wind down your first day with the music, movement, and energy of Shimmy & Spice Bellydancing—a lively finale to your first adventure through the Realm.
7:00 PM – The Closing Cannon
Stay until the cannon roars across the Realm. Day One may be over, but you’ve got an entire second day of adventure ahead!
Day Two – Discover More of the Realm
9:00 AM – Back for More
The gates are open and your second adventure begins! Use the quieter morning hours to explore a part of the Realm you missed yesterday and discover some of the hidden details that make the Festival worth a second day.
10:00 AM – Meet the Makers
Take time to experience the artistry behind the Festival. Watch artisans at work, discover handcrafted wares, and meet the talented makers who bring centuries-old crafts and one-of-a-kind creations to the Realm.
12:00 PM – Find a New Festival Favorite
Yesterday was for the legendary turkey leg. Today, branch out! Explore the Festival’s food booths and try something you’ve never had before, from savory specialties to over-the-top Renaissance treats.
1:00 PM – Take on the Realm
Get hands-on with some of the Festival’s interactive adventures. Battle for honor at Viking Invasion, test yourself at the Ninja Warrior Challenge, explore Adventures in Cardboard, or take on another challenge you passed by on Day One.
2:00 PM – Discover a New Stage
With entertainment happening throughout the Realm, use your second day to catch a performer you haven’t seen before. Comedy, music, juggling, storytelling, and more are waiting around every corner.
3:30 PM – Experience a Festival Legend
Head to the Legends Stage for Puke & Snot, the Festival’s longest-running act. Expect outrageous antics, quick-witted comedy, and a performance that has become part of Minnesota Renaissance Festival tradition.
5:30 PM – Your Final Festival Feast
There’s no leaving the Realm hungry. Revisit the food you loved most or make your final meal another opportunity to try something completely new.
6:00 PM – One Last Show
Choose one final performance and settle in for your last show of the weekend. Whether it’s comedy, music, danger, or something completely unexpected, make it one worth remembering.
7:00 PM – One Final Cannon
You came. You feasted. You cheered. You explored. You officially maxxed the weekend. Hear the closing cannon one final time and bid farewell to the Realm—until your next Festival adventure.
FOOD MAXXING
A perfect festival day for food lovers—sample a little bit of everything.
10:00 AM – Breakfast of Champions
The gates are open and the adventure begins with a classic Scotch Egg to fuel the day ahead.
10:30 AM – Sip & Stroll
With a refreshing bubble lemonade in hand, wander through the Artisan Marketplace and see what treasures await.
11:30 AM – Savory Snack Stop
Follow the fun to your next stop with cheese curds and cinnamon roasted nuts to snack on while enjoying a live show.
12:30 PM – The Main Feast
By midday, the feast is calling and a classic Turkey Leg is ready to take center stage.
1:30 PM – Joust & Refresh
Join the crowd at the joust with a cold drink in hand and cheer your knight on to victory.
3:00 PM – Adventure on a Plate
Keep the adventure going with pickle pizza or deep fried sushi on a stick before testing your skills at the Festival’s games and attractions.
4:30 PM – Thy Sweet Tooth Awaits
Satisfy your royal cravings with an apple tart, elephant ear, mini donuts, or a magical unicorn sundae.
5:30 PM – One Last Huzzah
Raise your last glass to a day deliciously spent, with plenty of adventure and merriment along the way. Huzzah!
FAMILY MAXXING
A family adventure across the Realm designed for all ages.
9:00 AM – Arrive Early
Beat the lines and pick up a festival schedule so you can plan your adventure.
9:30 AM – Explore Magical Crafts
Explore the enchanted Never Neverland and create a magical wand with fairies and trolls at the Enchanted Wand Workshop, step into a world of creativity and crafting with ARTrageous Adventures, or take up arms to defend the realm in Adventures in Cardboard.
11:00 AM – Children’s Costume Contest
Allow your little adventurer to show off their Renaissance outfit or try on unique costume pieces in the Palace Garden.
12:00 PM – Lunch Break
Refuel with kid-approved favorites like hot dogs or pizza alongside classic Festival fare.
12:30 PM – Tribucade
Watch the Royal Court and other Festival Entertainers joyously greet all Festival Goers in this daily parade.
1:00 PM – Jousting
Watch brave knights battle in a kid-friendly tournament, then stay to meet the joust horse and knights!
2:00 PM – Hands-On Adventures
Explore Mermaid Cove, battle for Honor at the Viking Invasion, attend Juggling School, test your skills at the Ninja Warrior Challenge, and visit the reptiles of Como Cottage!
3:30 PM – Children’s Knighting Ceremony
Receive the highest honor of being knighted by the King and his Royal Court.
4:30 PM – Sweet Treat Time
Take a break for something delicious—unicorn cake, ice cream, or warm, fresh-baked cookies.
5:00 PM – Marketplace Treasure Hunt
Visit the artisan marketplace and let your young adventurer choose one special souvenir to remember the day.
7:00 PM – The Closing Cannon
End your adventure with the traditional closing cannon—leaving with happy memories and probably some very sleepy kids.
ENTERTAINMENT MAXXING
From jousts and comedy to music and interactive adventures, experience the greatest entertainment in the Realm while starring in an unforgettable story of your own.
9:00 AM – The Stage is Set
Be there when the gates open and the story begins! Experience the Festival’s traditional opening ceremony as the Realm comes to life around you. Dress the part, step through the gates, and immerse yourself in a world of fun and fantasy.
9:30 AM – Embark on a Side Quest
The adventure is on, and there’s no better way to begin than by picking up a quest from the Sidequest Players! Set off on a one-of-a-kind journey designed to help you explore the Realm, meet colorful characters, and discover surprises along the way.
10:00 AM – The Realm Comes to Life
Keep your eyes open as you continue your quest—you never know who you’ll encounter! Discover wandering characters, spontaneous entertainment, and performances around every corner as the Festival becomes your stage.
11:00 AM – The Danger Committee
What happens when two international juggling champions meet the world’s greatest knife thrower at a comedy improv theater? The Danger Committee, of course! Equal parts laughs and thrills, this must-see performance is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.
12:00 PM – Refuel Between Acts
Every great adventure needs an intermission! Grab a Festival favorite like a nut roll, giant pickle, or legendary turkey leg before heading to the day’s next performance.
12:30 PM – Grand Parade
Make way for royalty! Watch as the King, Queen, Royal Court, and Festival entertainers make their grand procession through the Realm, greeting Festival guests along the way.
1:00 PM – The Main Event: Jousting
Experience entertainment fit for a King! Choose your champion and cheer them on as knights go head-to-head in full-armored combat, complete with clashing swords, splintering lances, and the promise that only one shall prevail.
2:00 PM – Become Part of the Action
It’s your turn to step into the spotlight! Put your skills to the test with hands-on activities and challenges throughout the Realm. Try your hand at archery, knife throwing, fencing, and more. You might even ride a mighty war horse or visit the reptiles of Como Cottage.
3:30 PM – A Festival Legend: Puke & Snot
One of the Festival’s most iconic and long-running acts takes the stage! Every now and then, a great comedy team comes along… and while you’re waiting for them, here’s Puke & Snot.
4:30 PM – Dinner and a Show
Grab a hearty meal and find a seat at one of the Festival’s pubs or taverns, where music and merriment fill the air. Catch acts such as Borrowed Days, Sycamore Gap, or Four Pints Shy and soak up the atmosphere of the Realm.
5:30 PM – One Final Performance
There’s still time for one more show! Seek out a performance you haven’t experienced yet, with acts such as The Naughty Bawdy Brigade, Brother Paul, Ramblin’ Ragamuffins, The Globe Players, and more. From comedy and music to dance and spectacle, let the final act of your adventure be one to remember.
7:00 PM – Curtain Call
The final act has arrived. Hear the closing cannon roar across the Realm, raise one last huzzah, and take your bow after a day spent experiencing the very best of Festival entertainment.
Times, entertainment, attractions, and food offerings are subject to change. Check the daily Festival schedule when you arrive.
