Key Policies

Alcohol service is available only to guests 21 years of age or older who present an acceptable, valid form of identification in accordance with Festival alcohol service policies. Identification is required for all alcohol purchases. Guests whose identification includes a restriction prohibiting the purchase or consumption of alcohol will not be served. Alcohol purchases are limited to one alcoholic beverage per person, per valid ID, per transaction.

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival reserves the right to refuse alcohol service, including when a guest appears, in the sole judgment of the Festival, impaired or intoxicated, cannot provide acceptable identification, or when Festival staff determine that service would violate Festival policy or applicable law.

Purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol for an underage person is prohibited, as is misrepresenting one’s age for the purpose of purchasing alcohol.

Outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted. Alcohol purchased at the Festival must be consumed on Festival grounds and may not be removed from the Festival.

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival welcomes guests to dress in costume. To help ensure a safe, family-friendly experience for everyone, all costumes, masks, and props must comply with the following guidelines.

Costume Policy

• All costumes and attire must be family-friendly and may not be offensive, indecent, excessively revealing, violent, gory, or otherwise objectionable.
• Nudity or the illusion of nudity is prohibited.
• Proper footwear is required at all times.
• Guests wearing bulky or layered clothing may be subject to additional security screening.
• Guests may not wear costumes or accessories that create the impression they are Festival employees, performers, security personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency responders, military personnel, or other public safety officials.
• Guests may not impersonate Festival staff or otherwise disrupt the experience of other guests.
• Oversized costumes, long trains, stilts, or other costume elements that create a safety hazard or obstruct walkways are prohibited.
• Costumes may not include smoke, fog, flames, pyrotechnics, balloons, powered effects, sound effects, or other special effects.

Mask Policy

• Guests 13 years of age and older may not wear masks, helmets, prosthetic makeup, face paint, or other coverings that completely obscure their identity.
• Masks and face coverings worn for religious or documented medical reasons are permitted.
• Masks and face coverings must be removable and must be removed upon request by Festival staff or security.
• The Minnesota Renaissance Festival reserves the right to refuse entry or remove guests who do not comply with this policy unless the costume or attire can be modified to meet Festival requirements.

Prop Policy

Props are permitted as part of a costume provided, they are appropriate for a family-friendly event and do not present a safety risk. All props are subject to inspection upon entry and at any time while on Festival grounds.

Permitted Props

• Swords and daggers, provided they remain fully sheathed with no portion of the blade visible and are secured with a visible plastic zip tie (“peace tied”). Weapons may not be removed from the sheath while on Festival grounds.
• Walking sticks and staffs are permitted provided they are not used or brandished as weapons.
• Non-functional prop weapons constructed of lightweight materials that have no sharp edges or pointed tips and clearly appear incapable of causing injury, and are not mistakeable for a real weapon from a distance.
• Weapons purchased at the Festival must have their blades encased in cardboard or some other covering, which may not be removed while on Festival grounds.
• Toy weapons carried by children 12 years of age and under are permitted, provided they are not used in a manner that could endanger or strike another guest or employee.

Prohibited Props

• Functional or sharpened weapons of any kind.
• Firearms, ammunition, replica or imitation firearms, or any object that could reasonably be mistaken for a firearm.
• Explosives, fireworks, chemical dispensing devices, or other incendiary devices.
• Bows, crossbows, slingshots, or other projectile-launching devices. (Competitors
  at authorized Festival events may transport a bow, provided it is unstrung.)
• Metal blades, sharpened edges, or pointed objects capable of causing injury.
• Props that are excessively large, obstruct walkways, interfere with other guests, cannot be safely controlled by the guest, or may be used in a threatening manner.
• Any item determined by Festival management or security to present a safety concern.

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival reserves the right to inspect any costume or prop, require modifications, refuse entry, or remove any guest whose costume, mask, or prop does not comply with this policy or is determined to be unsafe, disruptive, or inconsistent with the family-friendly nature of the Festival.

Purpose: Mid-America Festivals, Corp. (“Festival”) desires to provide a positive and productive business and entertainment environment. To that end, the Festival is committed to providing a business and entertainment environment that is free of discrimination and harassment, and to provide a means of dealing with such incidents should they occur.

Policy: Harassment or discrimination, in any form, will not be tolerated at the Festival by any of its employees, vendors, or independent contractors and Licensee’s. This includes harassment based upon a person’s race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, creed, marital status, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance and/or sexual orientation and any other category protected by law. This policy applies to all employees, supervisors, managers and officers of the Festival, as well as to any vendor or independent contractor of the Festival. If, after appropriate investigation, harassment or discrimination is found to have occurred, the initiator will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, depending on the circumstances, up to and including termination of the employment and/or business relationship.

Harassment is verbal or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual because of his/her race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, creed, marital status, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance or sexual orientation and any other category protected by law, or that of his/her relatives, friends, or associates and that:

1. Has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive business or entertainment environment;
2. Has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance; or
3. Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment opportunities.

Sexual harassment is defined in accordance with the Equal-Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Guidelines, issued November 10, 1980 as:

“Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment;
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting such individual;
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.”

Harassment can occur intentionally or unintentionally. Some examples of conduct that is prohibited by this policy are listed below. Please note that these are not the only examples.

1. Epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping, or threatening, intimidating or hostile acts that relate to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, creed, marital status, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance or sexual orientation and any other category protected by law;
2. Written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of their race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, creed, marital status, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance or sexual orientation and any other category protected by law that is placed on walls, bulletin boards or elsewhere on the Festival’s premises or circulated throughout the workplace or entertainment areas;
3. Unwanted sexual comments, innuendoes, flirtations, propositions, or suggestions;
4. Use of offensive words of a sexual nature describing body parts or the sexual act, telling “suggestive” jokes or stories, and conversations about sexual exploits, sexual preferences, and desires or suggestive or sexist remarks about a person’s clothing or body;
5. Unwanted and unnecessary touching, brushing against, patting or pinching;
6. Displaying, in the work or entertainment area, pictures, objects, cartoons, pornographic magazines, or representations of any action or subject which is sexual in nature, depicting nude, scantily clad or suggestively posed women or men and which can be perceived as offensive;
7. Sabotaging another’s character, reputation, work effects, or property because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, creed, marital status, veteran’s status, status with regard to public assistance or sexual orientation and any other category protected by law;
8. Direct and/or indirect suggestions, requests, or demands that an employee’s job security, job assignment, conditions of employment, or opportunities for advancement depend in any way on the granting of sexual favors; or
9. Sexual relations accompanied by implied or overt threats or promises.

Procedure: Persons who believe they have been victimized through or witnessed harassment or discrimination should report those incidents so that we may promptly address the problem. You may report your concerns to any of the following:

1. Immediate supervisor; or
2. Any member of management; or
3. General Manager; or
4. The President.

All complaints of harassment and/or discrimination will be examined impartially without prejudice and without malice toward the reporting party regardless of the status of the person accused. Information provided will be released only on a need to know basis. After an investigation of the allegations, a determination will be made, and resulting action will be recommended to management. The investigation may include interviews with the individual making the charges, the accused individual and appropriate witnesses. All employees or contractors with information are required to participate in an investigation if asked to do so by the Festival.

All determinations are made on an individual basis. The Festival has the discretion to apply any sanctions or a combination of sanctions to eliminate any unlawful conduct and remedy the impact of any harassment or discrimination, such as:

1. Counseling the offender;
2. Transferring the offender to another position;
3. Placing the offender on probation, with a warning of suspension or discharge for continuing or recurring offenses;
4. Placing the offender on suspension with or without pay;
5. Discharging the offender; or
6. Terminating the business relationship with the offender.

The Festival encourages individuals to make accurate reports of harassment and/or discrimination and provide as much information to the Festival as possible so that it may properly and thoroughly investigate the report.

The Festival will not condone retaliation against any individual who reports possible harassment or discrimination or assists in an investigation of possible harassment or discrimination.

If you have questions about whether conduct is permissible under this policy, you should discuss it with your supervisor, department manager or the Event Manager.

I HEREBY REPRESENT THAT I HAVE NEVER COMMITTED AN ACT OF VIOLENCE CAUSING INJURY OR POSING A SERIOUS RISK OR INJURY NOR ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT TOWARD A MINOR OR VULNERABLE ADULT AND THAT NO ONE WHO IS AT THE EVENT BY MY INVITATION OR UNDER MY DIRECTION HAS EVER ENGAGED IN ANY SUCH CONDUCT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY AND OR ORGANIZATION’S AFFILIATION WITH FESTIVAL IS CONDITIONED UPON THIS REPRESENTATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT IF FESTIVAL DETERMINES, IN ITS SOLE JUDGMENT, THAT THIS REPRESENTATION IS FALSE, OR THAT SUCH PROHIBITED CONDUCT OCURS AFTER THE SIGNING OF THIS CONTRACT, THEN THIS CONTRACT MAY BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT NOTICE TO ME, AND WITH NO FURTHER REMUNERATION OR CONTRIBUTION DUE ME OR ORGANIZATION (EXCEPT PAYMENT FOR SERVICES ALREADY PERFORMED).

Individuals may bring small items of negligible value to give away or swap with others. This practice is
known as “trinket trading.”

Trinket trading of the following is prohibited:

1. Edible or consumable products.
2. Offensive, sexual, or otherwise inappropriate items.
3. Items that are the same or similar to those sold by the Festival or by artisans at the Festival
4. Items that are given to or traded with a child without the knowledge and permission of the child’s
parent/guardian
5. Dangerous, unsafe, or unsanitary items
6. Items bearing the name, logo, or likeness of a person, entity, or act without the permission of that
person, entity, or act.
7. Items bearing the name or logo of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival or Mid-America Festivals.

No items may be sold or exchanged for monetary compensation at the Festival except by authorized
Festival vendors. Trading in a manner that is disruptive, unruly, gives the impression of busking, or is
otherwise problematic is prohibited.

Mid-America Festivals reserves the right to prohibit any additional items or types of trinket trading.

Smoking at the Festival

•    Smoking and vaping are not allowed inside any buildings, booths, or enclosed structures.
•    Outside of these areas, smoking and vaping are permitted on festival grounds.
•    Please be considerate of fellow guests and dispose of smoking materials safely.

Cannabis at the Festival

•    Cannabis use is not allowed anywhere on festival grounds, indoors or outdoors.
•    This includes smoking, vaping, or consuming cannabis products.
•    This policy follows Scott County Ordinance No. 34, which prohibits public use of cannabis and hemp products.
•    Guests who do not follow this policy may be asked to leave the festival.

Photography & Video Footage Guidelines

Note: If you are looking to take photographs or video footage outside of festival dates, please contact the Marketing & Communications department at pr@renaissancefest.com

For Individuals or Crews During the 7-Weekend, 16-Day Minnesota Renaissance Festival

1. General Policy Photography and video are permitted on festival grounds during the 16 official festival days, provided the following guidelines are followed:
   • Video footage or photography of free entertainment and shows is strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the marketing & communications department. To request permission, contact: pr@renaissancefest.com
2. Equipment & Mobility
   • All individuals or crews taking photographs or video must be self-contained and mobile.
   • The use of freestanding equipment (such as light stands, backdrops, electrical cords, tripods that block walkways, etc.) is not allowed.
3. Public Safety & Guest Experience
   • Photography or videography must not impede foot or vehicle traffic or interfere with any attraction, vendor space, performance, or patron experience.
   • Requests to pause or disrupt performances, vendor activity, or attractions for the sake of filming are not permitted.
4. Equipment Use on Attractions
   • Unauthorized use of photo, video, or sound equipment is not permitted on any festival games, rides, or attractions.
   • For specific questions about equipment use, contact the marketing & communications department at pr@renaissancefest.com
5. UAV/Drone Policy
   • The unauthorized operation or use of any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)—including drones—is strictly prohibited on or above festival grounds year-round.
   • Any UAV(s) observed at or near the Minnesota Renaissance Festival will be reported to local law enforcement, regardless of commercial or recreational intent.
6. Promotional Material & Distribution
   • Individuals or crews may not advertise or distribute any promotional materials while on festival grounds. This includes flyers, stickers, buttons, brochures, or other materials.
7. Logos, Individuals & Media Rights
   • The Minnesota Renaissance Festival cannot grant permission to photograph vendor spaces or business logos. Photographers and videographers are solely responsible for obtaining written permission from individual business owners.
   • The Minnesota Renaissance Festival does not grant permission on behalf of individuals being photographed, recorded, filmed, or interviewed. It is your responsibility to obtain consent from any individual(s) featured in your media.
8. Commercial Use Restrictions
   • Any use of photos or video for commercial purposes (such as advertising, merchandise, or sponsored content) requires prior written approval from the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Contact pr@renaissancefest.com for licensing inquiries.
9. Right to Terminate
   • The Minnesota Renaissance Festival reserves the right to terminate, without prior notice, any photography or filming that is deemed inappropriate, intrusive, or disruptive.
10. Special Media Requests: If you plan to gather footage or conduct interviews for any of the following:
    • Television show
    • Commercial
    • News segment or feature
    • Documentary
    • Film or broadcast program

You must contact the Marketing & Communications department in advance to request special permission.

Please include the date, purpose, intended use, and any equipment details in your request.

For any additional questions or clarifications, please contact: pr@renaissancefest.com