9 Family Friendly Activities at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Celebrating its 51st season, the Minnesota Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, MN is a unique and wonderful event to experience. With 16 stages of live entertainment, themed weekends, over 250 artisan booths for a delightfully unique shopping experience, and great food and drinks, the festival has something to offer to people of all ages. All the family-friendly activities located throughout the festival will make your family visit one to remember. Our latest blog focuses on some of the great family-friendly activities we enjoyed while at the festival.
1) Jousting
One of the staples at the Renaissance Festival is live jousting. Taking place every day at 11:00am, 1:00pm and 4:00pm on the joust track, onlookers will be able to experience the full pageantry and spectacle this event offers. Make sure to head over early to make sure you and your family have a great vantage point to view this unique event.
2) Herpetological House
Go to the Herpetological House at the Renaissance Festival and immerse yourself in the wonders of reptiles and you will see that these slithering creatures aren’t so scary after all. Visit and see a close-up and in-person look at these super cool creatures/
3) Head to the Cock A Doodle Zoo
Head to the Cock A Doodle Zoo and hug a Kangaroo, pet an African Porcupine, or hand feed a grape to a Ringtail Lemur in the Renaissance Festival’s one of a kind Exotic Petting Zoo!
4) Games and Rides
The Renaissance Festival offers great rides and games for children to enjoy. Get active at the festival by enjoying such games and rides as the Climbing Wall, Jacob’s Ladder, Catapulting Frogs, Castle Catapult, and the Pirate’s Assault. Click HERE for more information.
5) Fairy Wing Forest
A must for families while at the festival. Head into Fairy Wing Forest and be whisked away into the mystical garden home of the fairies, pixies, and other magical creatures. While there, make sure your kids follow the trail of pixy dust to make a wand with their fairy friends. Bring your camera along to get that “frameable” picture with one of the mystical fairies!
6) Mermaid Cove
Located near Fairy Wing Forest, Mermaid Cove is a must-see experience. Watch as the mermaids dive, twirl, and swim magnificently through the water, and who knows, maybe the mermaids will share a piece of their magic with your son or daughter!
7) Experience Palace Garden
Sing along with Prince & Princesses in the Palace Garden 3-times daily for their Song & Story Adventures! Listen to stories of Fairies, Knights & Dragons at this fun for all ages event!
8) Stage and Street Acts
There are many entertaining, family-friendly stage and street acts at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Watch the antics of Robin Hood and the Merry Men at the Gypsy Stage, see the amazing juggling acts of both Cale the Juggler and Tuey the Juggler, or see the Shakespearean actors of the renowned Words Players Theatre at SkyVault Theatre. Other family-friendly acts include Danger Committee, Dr. Thora Pandora, Fandazzi, and The Wacky Chickens.
9) Unique Faire Food
Come hungry to the Renaissance Festival. There is a wide array of food vendors located throughout the festival grounds serving unique items like Alligator on a Stick, Bacon & Egg Pie, Bangers & Mash, Fried Chicken Dumplings, Shepard’s Pie Boule, Spicy Plum Boule and, a festival staple, Turkey Legs.
Other Family-Friendly Entertainment
All of this is only the beginning off all the great activities families can enjoy at the Renaissance Festival. There are other great activities like a Children’s Costume Contest, the Grand March Parade, the Children’s Knighting Ceremony, Juggling School, Princess Court, Vikings Encampment, Sherwood Forest, and more! Make sure to plan for a full day of family fun at the Renaissance Festival!
The Renaissance Festival is open weekends August 20 through October 2, including Labor Day and Festival Friday on September 30. For more information go to RenaissanceFest.com.
