Colorado renaissance festival

Read all about the Colorado Renaissance Festival - How to prepare, recommendations, Experiences, and more!

The Renaissance was a rebirth of politics, culture, religion, art, and economics after the Middle Ages throughout all of Europe. The Renaissance was a time for the arts and artists to rise to the forefront of society. Beginning in the 14th Century, our world took a dramatic and permanent shift from the “Dark Ages”, where society was primitive and harsh, to a reality where imagination and humanity became an integral part of our lives.

The Colorado Renaissance Festival captures all of the best parts of what the 14th – 17th Centuries were all about – art, literature, philosophy, and music.

Keep reading to get a better understanding of when and where this iconic Faire will take place. Get advice on what to expect and how to prepare. Plus, see a list of the best shops, food stands, activities, and entertainment.

TIME AND PLACE
of the
Colorado renaissance festival

DATES: 2022 dates June 18th-August 7th*

Saturdays and Sundays only

LOCATION: 650 Perry Park Ave, Larkspur, CO 80118

TIMES: Times: 10am-6:30pm

TICKETS: CLICK HERE

PRO TIP: Go later in the day! Based on personal experience and advice from workers at the Festival, it is HIGHLY recommended that you attend later in the day. You will want to spend at least 4 hours here, so go during the last 4 hours of the day.

Here’s why:

1- AVOID THE HEAT! 2pm-6pm is not nearly as hot and suffocating as, let’s say, 11am-2pm.

2 – LESS PEOPLE! Most people are going to assume that attending the festival EARLY is the best way to experience everything. WRONG! Even workers at the Festival say that later in the day is better because there are not as many people. Less people = less lines. I was personally able to spend more time in the Torture Museum and on the boat swings because there was no line in front or behind me.

When there are a lot of people, the workers want to give you a great experience, but they are on a strict time limit. With fewer people, the attendants of the rides, shows, and museums are a lot more flexible and willing to just let you enjoy yourself without rushing.

3 – SHOWS! Do you want a front-row seat at the shows? Well, the only way you’re going to get that is if you sit in front 30 minutes before it starts… or if you just wait for the last showing. I was able to sit at the front for two music shows and a Juggling act.

4 – SHOPPING! I personally hate shopping when there are too many people around me. Getting jostled around and not being able to see all of the beautiful hand-made pieces really ruins the experience. No one is trying to go shopping at artisan shops after walking around a festival for 5+ hours during summer. Hold off on shopping until the last 1-2 hours of the Festival! The sellers will be able to give you a more personalized shopping experience that you won’t ever forget!

HOW TO PREPARE

WHAT TO WEAR
WHAT TO BRING
WHAT TO EXPECT

WHAT TO WEAR

Have you ever heard the phrase “Beauty is Pain”?

Well, unlike the actual Renaissance time period, you CAN look good while still being comfortable.

Dressing up is encouraged, but not required. I think that the PERFECT outfit involves something loose and flowy with close-toed shoes that won’t give you blisters.

One of the best things about the Renaissance is the emphasis on imagination – so don’t be afraid to really get into the fantasy and historical spirit!

I personally would wear a tight corset, but a fairy dress? YES! A white and flowy pirate shirt and leggings? YES! A vampire cape? ABSOLUTELY!

There really is no limit to what to can wear, just make sure you will be comfortable in the hot sun, walking around for 4+ hours.

WHAT TO BRING

1- MONEY. Almost everything worth doing at the Colorado Renaissance Festival requires CASH. Food, ride entrance fees, and tips for the musicians and artists are CASH ONLY.

I recommend bringing AT LEAST $70 in cash (for 1 person). That much money will buy you 1 ticket to enter ($26) and leave you with $44 for food and attractions.

Personally, I bought my ticket online and brought $50 in cash with me. I was able to get to almost all of the attractions (knife throwing, rides, the museum, crossbow), plus a couple of alcoholic drinks and some snacks. I didn’t even end up spending the entire $50, but I do wish I had brought a little more to buy souvenirs.

All of the food and attractions are VERY reasonably priced. The most money you will spend at one time will be on any of the items in an artisan shop. As much as I would have LOVED to buy something from everyone, the products are pretty pricy (as they should be for perfectly hand-crafted art)!

2- SUNSCREEN! There are plenty of trees and shady spots around the Festival grounds, so sunburn can be avoided. However, a little bit of sunscreen will protect your beautiful face from the sun’s harsh rays.

Don’t forget some sunglasses! Squinting against the sun to see a Jousting Tournament will not be fun for you!

3- HAND SANITIZER. Let’s ignore Covid for a second. Even if the virus didn’t exist, I would still tell you that you should bring hand sanitizer. There are A LOT of people that come to the Colorado Renaissance Festival. Between the kids picking their noses, teenagers not washing their hands after using the port-a-potty, and adults sweating on everything, you’ll want to protect yourself and your loved ones just a little bit by killing off some of the germs.

DO NOT BRING food and drinks! They won’t let you through the front gates if you bring in your own food and drinks. Don’t worry, though, there are TONS of delicious treats, meals, and drinks to purchase once you get inside.

WHAT TO EXPECT

SHOPPING! ACTIVITIES! DELICIOUS FOOD AND DRINKS! SHOWS! RIDES!

There is SO MUCH TO DO at the Colorado Renaissance Festival!

Some of the basic things that you should expect and be prepared for are:

The heat. It’s the middle of the summer. You WILL get HOT!
Cash Money. Bring plenty of it and don’t be afraid to SPEND IT!
Water! You can’t bring any into the fairgrounds, but you should definitely buy a bottle as soon as you get in to keep away dehydration.
Walking. You will be walking a lot. Wear comfy shoes!
Parking. There is PLENTY of parking, but some of it is very far from the main entrance. However, people come in and out all day, so don’t be afraid to drive straight up to the front. You might get lucky with a good parking spot.
Bathrooms. Port-a-potties are all over the place, so finding a bathroom is easy. They are closed off and spaced apart from main attractions, and they do have sinks, but it’s still a port-a-potty, so be ready for that.

SHOWS

RIDES and MUSEUMS

DUNGEON MUSEUM
ROCKING HORSE
DAVINCI FLYING MACHINE
KINGS SWING
PIRATE SHIP SWING
WOODEN HORSE JOUSTING
BUNGEE JUMP TRAMPOLINES

GAMES

Any Renaissance-inspired GAMES you can imagine, you’ll find at the Colorado renaissance festival!

You will find:

KNIFE THROWING
ARCHERY
AXE THROWING
NINJA STAR THROWING
CLIMBING WALL
Dragon Maze
JACOBS LATTER
STRENGTH TEST
KING OF THE LOG
Darts
SHATTER-A-PLATTER

MARKETPLACE

Artisans are, without a doubt, the coolest people EVER!

To be able to make crystals, crowns, corsets, shoes, diamond rings, and swords WITH YOUR HANDS is a whole magic power!

Anything you could ever dream of having is available for purchase at the Colorado Renaissance Festival.

Here is the full list of Marketplace Vendors. Click their names to see more about what they sell and where you can find them.

MUSIC

CONCLUSION
to the
Colorado renaissance festival

For more details, head on over to the Colorado Renaissance Festival’s official website.

http://coloradorenaissance.com