Single-day General Admission: $27.95 Online/$31.95 Front Gate
Adult Season Passes: $125 Online / Front Gate
Single-day Children (ages 5-11) Admission: $12.95 Online / Front Gate
Season Passes: $45 Children 5-11 Online / Front Gate
Children ages 4 & under: Free!
Select weekend discounts also available • Learn More!
Join us for the 39th Season of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire on the grounds of Mount Hope Estate! A cast of hundreds of colorfully costumed characters fill the Shire with music, dancing, and more. With over 90 stage shows daily, over 20 Royal Kitchens, and scores of artisan merchants with handcrafted wares, the PA Renaissance Faire invities guests to immerse themselves in our 35-acre village and experience the fantasy!
The castle gates swing wide for 13 weekends of mirth and merriment—Saturdays, Sundays & Labor Day Monday, August 3 through October 27, 2019. The Gates will open at 11AM and close at 8PM each Faire day.
Tickets Available on the Virtual Box Office
Single-day Admission: $27.95 Online/$31.95 Front Gate
Single-day Children (ages 5-11): $12.95 Online/Front Gate
Adult Season Pass: $125 for Adults Online/Front Gate
Children (ages 5-11) Season Pass: $45 Online/Front Gate
Select weekend discounts also available • Learn More!
Each weekend throughout the Faire season will showcase an exciting and unique theme that offers a different experience every time. Enjoy themed entertainment, foods, participatory contest and activities in addition to the regularly scheduled events. Be sure to return again and again to experience each theme. Learn more on the Themed Weekends page.
Dogs are welcome to join their human companions for the revelry of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. There are a few steps to take before visiting with your furry friend. Learn more at PaRenFaire.com/DogDays
Single-Day Admission: $27.95 Online/$31.95 Front Gate
Adult Season Passes: $125 Online/Front Gate
Single-day Children (ages 5-11) Admission: $12.95 Online/Front Gate
Season Passes: $45 Children 5-11 Online/Front Gate
Children ages 4 & under: Free!
Select weekend discounts also available • Click here to learn more!
Get ready to live the excitement and adventure of jousting knights and royal delights with a cast of hundreds of colorfully costumed villagers and merrymakers ready to make your visit an unforgettable experience. Musical, stunt and theatrical performances, magic acts and comical mud beggars are just a few of the 90 shows daily! Immerse yourself in the days of Merrie Olde England, steeped in the allure of bygone days and knights!
1558. Queen Mary I of England has died, and while the people celebrate the end to her long reign of terror, the kingdom is left in a precarious state. A people torn apart by religious conflict. A royal treasury practically empty. And the ever-present threat of France and Spain across the channel, hoping to take advantage of an England left defenseless. The nation now looks to a young woman of barely 25 years for its salvation: Princess Elizabeth Tudor, who travels now to our own Shire of Mt. Hope for her Coronation.
Needless to say, the good people of the Shire are thrilled to welcome their aspiring monarch and are pulling out all the stops for her arrival. Mt. Hope's brewers prepare their finest ales, the vintners select their choicest grapes, and even the lowly apprentice glovemaker, William Shakespeare, has submitted a play to be performed in the new queen's honor. What's more, Lord Robert Dudley, close companion to Elizabeth, has contributed a large sum to Mt. Hope's Coronation Festival. Of course, our good Lady Mayor Pemburthy has wasted not a penny, scouring the land for the best food, best vendors, and best entertainment that England has to offer.
But not all are eager to see Elizabeth take the throne. There are many who worry that Elizabeth lacks the experience necessary to rule. Even members of her own family, such as her cousin Henry Carey, have expressed doubts about whether she possesses a monarch's temperament. And while Elizabeth does not shrink from the task set before her, even she wonders if she is up to the challenges that await.
But no worries will dampen the spirits of the Shire folk for long, not when there is such revelry to be had on their Festival day! There will be feasting and carousing with jolly companions, entrancing entertainment to delight all ages, and, as always, jousting galore. The merriment will culminate at day's end upon the Globe Stage, where all of Mt. Hope will bear witness as a valiant young princess sits herself upon the throne of England.
Indeed, a Princess will sit…and a Queen will rise.
The largest cast in Mount Hope History! The Shire is filled to the brim with colorfully costumed characters and merrymakers, ready to make your visit an unforgettable experience! Immerse yourself in the days of Merrie Olde England, steeped in the allure of bygone days and knights! Click the buttons below to learn more about the two acting troupes that make up the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire—The Bacchanalians and The Blackfryars. Hover (desktop) or click (mobile) the actor/actress name's for a character description.
The Shire is bustling with many shows featuring members from both PRF's Bacchanalian and Blackfryar casts to keep you busy all weekend! Please refer to each weekends Daily Writ for specific show schedules.
The town gathers to officially welcome Her Majesty as she makes her first visit to the Shire of Mt. Hope. Her glorious court will be introduced, and the Queen herself shall pass judgement on petitions submitted by the townsfolk. 'Twill be a merry gathering that sets the tone for the rest of the festival day!
A dispute between two Mt. Hope families shall be resolved in traditional fashion: with a game of Human Chess! Witness the clash of steel and the thrill of melee combat as the citizen of Mt. Hope fight for their respective sides before the watching eyes of Her Majesty and all her court.
Knights both good and evil gather to joust for honor, glory, and the entertainment of all the people of Mt. Hope. Elizabeth hopes for naught but a bit of rousing sport, but some of the villainous knights may have other ideas…An epic conclusion to a thrilling festival day that is not to be missed!
The time hath come for Her Majesty's royal coronation before her court and all the good people of Mt. Hope. But though 'tis a sacred ceremony, Elizabeth sees no reason why it cannot be accompanied by song, dance, and celebration! Become a part of the village of Mt. Hope, and end your festival day with merry music, and joyous laughter.
Mistress Quickly is hoping for a smooth grand opening to her new establishment: the Boarshead Inn. But as two feuding local families encounter each other, the tension threatens to boil over into a violent fray. Watch as Mistress Quickly defends her tavern against brawlers, swordmasters, and worst of all…playwrights.
One thing Sheriff Jacob Perry loves about festival days: they make a great excuse to execute mob justice. He's aquired a brand new dunke tank and has assembled some of the shire's most devious criminals so that he may deliver their punishment. So what if they insist that they are innocent? That's what they all say! Come and see cold wet justice served.
Young master William Shakespeare has a day away from the glove shop, and he's been dying to try his hand at playwriting. He has assembled the best performers the shire has to offer (and that he can afford with his meger budget of beer and the mysterious currency "exposure"). Presenting a different modern story with a 16th century twist every weekend of the Faire, only one thing is for certain: it is sure to be a Disasterpiece!
The Queen and her court are offered the best music and talents the Shire has to offer! Join her Majesty in the entertaining merriment!
Four pirate captains, members of The Order of The Relentless Contessa (Heave Ho!), have land-sailed far inland to hammer out the details for a new accord. Join these fearsome females for many sea shanties and a healthy dose of filthy pirate humor.
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet-Come see a retelling of Shakespeare's classic on the Globe Stage. Star-crossed love, revenge, secret marriage and tragedy all unfold before you as the shire of Mt. Hope take to the boards for a dramatic performance in honor of Her Majesty's love of theatre.
Captain Thatch and his first mate, Mawson have been tasked by Her Majesty with the reenacting of Thatch's greatest battle. With some piratical help and a couple unsuspecting yeoman, he just might be able to pull it off.
Sterling Armstrong leads this band of terrifying and dangerous highwaymen...or at least that is how they think they appear in their heads. Join this merry band of misfits in celebrating a successful sting with song, filthy humor and a touch of bumbling charm.
The O'Sullivan Quintuplets, a touring sibling band from the Emerald Isle, who have just lost their lead musician to a new position in her Majesty's court, are now down to four. Join this misfit family as they pull themselves up by their bootstraps with their impressive music chops and delightful chaotic energy.
These two groupings of highwaymen and pirates have joined their thieving forces to perform filthy pub songs for the good people of The Shire. Buy an ale and spend some time singing along with these delightful criminals.
The citizens of our shire have been tasked with providing family-friendly entertainment for our guests! Witness the Story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf like you've never seen it before, learn the tale of Doctor Faustus, and witness one of England's oldest tales: The Legend of Black Shuck! Join us at the Discover Stage for some entertainment that everyone, young and old, can enjoy!
Sheriff Perry has apprehended one of the shire's most devious ne'er do wells and as his community service, the good Sheriff is making him do the hardest task possible: entertain nipperkins with a morality fable!
Christopher Marlowe has entrusted some of our shire's citizenry with producing his most famous play: Dr. Faustus. Unfortunately it is REALLY long. It's up to young William Shakespeare and his friends to condense the tale on the spot. Is the young glover a good enough writer to pull off such a feat?
England's most haunting creature has never felt sillier. Learn of the demon dog that prowls England's countryside, and decide for yourself if he is really a bad dog, or just a misunderstood puppy.
Join Abe Froman, The Sausage King, and Argyle Douglas, Scottish Ambassador, as they wax poetic about the merry mix-ups in which mature couples find themselves. The Battle for Understanding, Is Compromise Truly Worthwhile in the Long-run?, When Honesty is not the Best Policy, are just the tip of the ice-burg of topics discussed. Ultimately, this show is a celebration of being human and the foibles that come with that condition. Come prepared to laugh and share in "A Whole Experience"!
Join Scottish Ambassador, Argyle Douglas, as he weaves comedy and storytelling into a cooking demonstration of Scotland's most famous dish, Haggis. This exhibition features an authentic Scottish "plushie" sheep happily providing authentic "plushie" organs thus enabling everyone to savour the experience without any worries about "nasty bits". This show is fun for the whole Family (bring your children, your grandmother, your dog).
Join Abe Froman and Argyle Douglas as they wring the comedy out of topics suggested by the audience. Because each audience is a one-time group, each show is original and unique. We will also show you how to tell any dirty joke in a clean way that will often have laughs before the punchline is even reached. Feel free to come observe and laugh along or, jump in and find yourself a part of the show! Either way you will walk away with more than when you arrived.
Abe Froman, The Sausage King and his wife, Eva, talk about life, love and the pursuit of sausage. Never fear…they'll eventually get to the meat of the matter.
Come see our Improv Track perform feats of mental, verbal, and physical agility for your entertainment! Presented in 2 acts, the first half is a competition of comedy as 2 teams face off against each other in "Whose Line…" style improv games hoping to earn the laughs and love of our audience judges. Then, after the intermission, both teams come together to perform a completely improvised musical based on the audience's suggestion!
Held inside the Barn & Barrel on the grounds of Mount Hope Estate, home to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire. Stop by the Taproom prior to the performance for food (available 5PM to 7PM) and bar service (available 5PM to 8:30PM).
General Admission is $12 Online / $15 At the Door • Purchase your tickets today!
The streets and stages of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire come to life with scores of unique entertainers, including musicians, magicians, comedy acts, and more! Merry we meet upon the Shire streets for festivities untold! Exact performance times and locations will be available on the daily writ upon your arrival to the festival grounds. All entertainment is subject to change.
Machetes, whips, swords & fire—the hottest show in all the 'shire! Seriously ridiculous.
Performing tribal music with roots set firmly in their native soil's haunting ballads.
Founded in York, PA • Entertaining Alpine shows with unique audience participation.
The history of archery and its world wide application. Demos, competitions and sales.
Scandalous. Liscentious. Madly impolitic. And riotously funny. Not for the skittish.
This trio of upperclass ladies brings a unique, soulful sound to sassy songs.
International Performing Mermaids
One ring family circus featuring husband & wife team and their performing puppies.
Lost love, lost ships, and spilt beer—prepare to be entertained with a unique harmonic sound!
Bagpipe and tribal drum band with a unique sound that calls back to ancient Celt brethren.
Demetrius can be found performing throughout the Shire, both solo and with friends.
This whip-cracking, sword fighting comic duo spreads laughter and hilarity to all!
Ambassador to England, one of Queen Mary's most trusted advisors, and an emissary for Scottish culture.
Alpine traditions, customs and folkdancing.
Her Majesty's Harper, Mary-Kate Lee plays a variety of music for all who pass her way.
Making people smile with the power of music, which is always greater when it's shared.
Helping each dancer achieve their goals and dreams for Irish dance.
Join this wild singing wench for drinking, belting, and a plucking good time.
The perfect juggling show blend proving you can be family friendly and hip at the same time.
All hail the sausage king of the Mt. Hope! How good is his meat? He’ll tell you it can’t be beat!
Enjoy the sounds of an all brass ensemble. Found throughout the grounds and prior to Chess daily.
Three shows, three completely different stories and three idiots in the mud! "Splash Zone" seats.
Specializing in jousting, stage combat instruction, fight choreography, and horse stunts.
Amazing audiences with his juggling skills and making them with his wise foolery.
Music Consort performing music & dance from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Her Majesty's Cellist can be found throughout the Shire playing a variety of music.
Knightwings: Birds of Prey, is an interactive, entertaining, and educational free flight show.
Enchanting and memorable performances that leave you laughing in the aisles.
Perfect for the entire family, his blend of comedy and magic makes sure everybody has a good time!
The roving bards Rowan Thorne and Randal Piper have journeyed far to bring you songs of fantasy, comedy and adventure!
A variety of Celtic Bagpipes from Traditional to Tribal and Pop tunes on the great highland Pipes.
Create memories and experience the wonder of these mythical creatures!
Live, Love, Laugh, Launder…Repeat. Good clean fun with two wet, dirty women.
Performing original and traditional music derived from a wide variety of times/cultures.
Performing historical tunes on historical instuments in distinctive historical outfits.
Step back in time at the Shire, which is filled to the brim with Living History! Learn about clothing styles, pastimes, handicrafts, and more to get a sense of everyday Renaissance life. Please refer to each weekends Daily Writ for specific times and locations!
The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is dedicated to celebrating its most imaginative and enthusiastic little visitors. The Renaissance period was an age of discovery and reason and it seems only fitting that these concepts should be tied into the opportunities of play the shire creates to engage and entertain both nipperkins and adults alike. Bring your imagination to life at the Children's Discovery Garden, interact with the wide range of characters during various age-appropriate shows, or visit each week throughtout the Faire season for exciting events tied to that weekend's unique theme (more information available on the themed weekends page)!
Good Beer, Bad Jokes, and Great Stories! Join the Washing Well Wenches and Abraham Froman on a guided tour of four of PRF's finest pubs: Anchor & Mermaid Wharf Bar, O'Malley's Pourhouse, the German Kitchen, and Ball & Chain. Admission includes four samples of Swashbuckler Brewing Co. beer and a souvenir sample glass to take home. The "ladies" will be sure to keep it "clean" while the tutor teaches the group a thing or two!
The Pub Crawl leaves from Informistress (Booth #201) promptly at 4:45PM. Online reservations are encouraged, as there are a limited amount of tickets and events may sell out quickly. $8 online (on the Virtual Box Office) and $10 day-of (at the Box Office located inside the Front Gate). Patrons must have separate PA Renaissance Faire admission ticket to enter the Faire Grounds. 21 and older only. Visibly Intoxicated Patrons will not be permitted to participate in the Pub Crawl. If an intoxicated patron is identified, they will directed from the Pub Crawl to the Front Gate for a Pub Crawl refund.
The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire is proud to offer a unique wine & spirits tasting experience at Oarhouse Provisions, every festival day in the Swashbuckler Grove! Purchase samples of select of Mount Hope Wines and Spirit Distilling Co. Spirits and place your order for bottles to go. Pick up your order in the Mount Hope Wine Shop as you exit the festival grounds.
So much shopping, so little time! Having over 100 unique merchants to visit during an already packed Faire day makes it difficult to see and do everything in one day. The independent merchants each operate their own business upon the Shire and look forward to bantering and bartering with Faire visitors. Demonstrations by many mnerchants show guests rarely seen art forms before their very eyes. Man-powered rides and guest services complete the festive Faire experience. Forgot something on a recent trip? Consider a one-hour shopping pass at the front gate to pick up that unforgettable item. All merchants are subject to change.
Interested in becoming a Faire merchant? Click here for more information!
Shire's Bookstore and Historical Library
Escape This Life-Sized Maze
Kilts and Clothing
Archery, Axe Throw, Knife Throw
Archery Demonstration and Hand-Made Longbows
Have your questions answered by our longtime resident falconer, Ash Cary
Assorted Flavored Jerky
Fantasy, Licensed Swords
Pottery Sculpted Before Your Eyes
Return Passes & Discount Event Tickets
Hand-Crafter Co-Op
Button Jewelry and Unique Gifts
Pirate-Inspired Corsets
Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, and More
Fresh Steak or Chicken Sandwiches
Crocheted Hoods, Horns and More
Witchy Creations and Trinkets
Upscale Precious Jewels and Pearls
Spinning Man-Powered Ride
Unique Embroidered Apparel
Renaissance Clothing for Lords and Ladies
Hand-Made Pipes and Pipe Accessories
Man-Powered Sno-Cone Machine *Seasonal
Armor and Child Friendly Swords
Rings, Necklaces, Bracelets, and More
Fresh Cotton Candy
Everything Fairies, Unicorns, and Masks
Feathers, Fans, and Accessories
16th Century Apparel for the Fanciful Traveler
Specialty Teas and Tea-Related Gifts
Tarot Card Reading and More
Potpourri, Lip Balm, Herbs, Lotions, Incense, and More
Add a Little Swing to Your Shire Travels
A set of Horns to Suit Every Personality
Information Booth & Official PRF Gifts
Hand-Crafted Art in Wood: Bowls, Plates, Cups and More
Commemorative Coin of the Realm—Works Like Cash on the Shire!
Paint Your Own Pottery
Unique Braids and Twists to Wear Around the Shire
Funnel Cake, Peasant Bread, and Lemonade
Everything the Pirate in you Might Need
Sway to and Fro on this Man Powered Ride
Hand-Crafted Pottery
Purses, Crystal, and Elaborate Jewelry
Premium Ice Cream, Milkshakes
Silver Adornments
Official PRF Souvenirs
Liquor Infused Barrels and Cigars
Hand-Molded Ocarinas
Beef, Chicken or Shrimp
Wands, Gemstones, and Copper Wares
A Wide Assortment of Steel Jewelry
Gem Panning, Nature Gifts, Stones, Gems, and More
Wax Your Own Hands or Rose; A Souvenir to Cherish
Children's Costumes and Hats
Chirping Clay Whistles
Take a Ride on the Wild Boar, If You Dare
Choose a Potion, Make a Keepsake
Hand-Crafted Beaded Jewelry
You Buy It, You Break It! Smash a Variety of Glassware
Fanciful and Fantastical Statuary
Jewelry, Crystal, and Silvery
Alongside the full-run merchants, the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire welcomes a number of guest merchants. Please continue to check back as we update our merchant lists! All merchants subject to change.
Interested in becoming a guest merchant? Click here for more information!
Hand-Crafted Leather Belts and Accessories
Unique Fairy & Garden Homes
Unique Jewelry
Henna Tattoo Art
Metal and Leather Works
Celebrate the 39th Anniversary Season with the very best in glassware, apparel, commemorative merchandise and more! Available in the Mount Hope Wine Shop or on the Faire Grounds at the Informistress (Booth #201) and the Royal Oui (Booth #253).
Stop by the King's Mint (located inside the Front Gate) to purchase your Commemorative Coin of the Realm with your Visa or Mastercard and use it at any shop on the Grounds of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire; or keep it a souvenir of your visit!
All food booths, pourhouses and some merchants on the Shire are cash-only, which makes this a perfect way to turn your credit to cash and avoid missing out on your favorite foods and wares!
If purchase is less than the value of the Coin of the Realm, New Worlde tender will be given. Receipt needed for all returns.
His Majesty's Kitchens cook up an endless array of savory 16th century foods and delicious traditional favorites sure to satisfy the heartiest of appetites. Enjoy a variety of dishes from giante turkey legges to shield shaped soft pretzels, and everything in between! Hover over the items below to view menus, or click here to download the 2019 Faire Program.
Please note that all menus are subject to change without notice. No outside food, beverages or coolers are permitted to be brought onto the faire grounds, with the exception of Guests with special dietary needs that have completed and presented the Visitor Allergen Card to the Customer Service Window at the front gate—Learn more on the FAQ page. All PRF Royal Kitchens are cash only—Learn about Coin of the Realm!
Wash down the delicious Royal Kitchen cuisine with refreshing hand-made Swashbuckler Brewing Co. Ales, Mount Hope Wines, Lancaster County Ciders and Spirits Distilling Co. Signature Cocktail! Enjoy them throughout the festival grounds, then stop by the Mount Hope Wine Shop or SBC Brewsmiths Brewery when you leave to take your new favorites home with you! A variety of sampling events are also available each festival day!
Please note that all menus are subject to change without notice. ACT 39 of the PLCB allows a PA Limited Winery (LK) to sell liquor produced by a PA limited distillery for on-premises consumption. [47 P.S. § 4469a)(2)]. More Information.
If you have any other questions that have not been answered below, please contact our business offices at 717-665-7021, Monday through Friday, 9AM-4PM or visit our formal comment, question and feedback page to submit an inquiry.
