The family-favorite Tennessee Renaissance Festival celebrates 32 years in 2017. Running every weekend in May (including Memorial Day Monday), young and old can enjoy jousting knights,the human chess match, fair maidens, fairies and giant turkey legs (YUM!).
Popular man-powered rides and games of skill include goodies like Bump-a-Monk, Sir Lance-A-Lot’s Ring Toss, Jacob’s Ladders, Catapulting Critters, The Flying Carousel and others.
Myriad medieval merchants are on site selling things like pottery, tea sets, wood art, swords, festival souvenirs, fantasy painting, jewelry, crystals, stained glass, clothing and more. There will also be face painting for kids, psychic readings, caricatures, henna body art and tattoos.
THEMED WEEKENDS
Each weekend of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival has a specific theme as follows:
COMMUNITY APPRECIATION WEEKEND (MAY 6 – 7)
Admission special this weekend only. For $44, two adults, two grandparents and all children 12 and younger in the household get in. This special cannot be combined with other discounts or offers.
ARTISAN & CRAFTS WEEKEND (MAY 13 – 14)
Explore the robust marketplace for unique hand-crafted items from around the world. See demonstrations of artisans crafting their goods. On Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14), you can participate in the Hair Adornment contest — show up donning your favorite headwear or hair adornments.
PIRATE INVASION WEEKEND (MAY 20 – 21)
A swashbuckling good time’s to be had when a crew of scurvy pirates invade the shire of Covington Glen. Sword-brandishing pirates galore will entertain kids and adults. Kids ages 12 and younger can participate in the Children’s Pirate Costume Contest on both days.
CELTIC WEEKEND (MAY 27 – 29)
Celtic flair comes to the festival in honor of early Britons. The Ren Fest encourages men to wear kilts. Wee bairns, lads and lasses, can “Count the Freckles” in the children’s area while Celtic tunes echo throughout the forest glen.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tickets are $22 adults, $8 ages 6 – 12, free ages 5 and younger. Season passes (good for all days) are $90. Other weekend passes/combos available.
Castle Gwynn is located at 2124 Newcastle Road, Arrington. Call 615-395-9950 or visit tnrenfest.org.
