Have been going every year for the past 20 years. Family oriented. Great fun. Dress up and step back in time. The whole village makes you feel like youre really in the 1500s. All the retailers are very affordable and have wonderful quality work. I buy several things each year for either my house or add to my jewelry collection. The music is intoxicating and the games are good fun. Great time for the whole family. Must go!

This was the first time we had gone to a Renaissance Fair, and it was a blast. People dressed for the time period, and there were many shops to buy whatever you want to do so. The shows were fun to watch, especially the German guy that juggled while riding a unicycle! This place was amazing for the whole family. Pony rides, an elephant ride, and a camel ride were available. Games such as ax throwing, rock climbing, and archery were very reasonably priced. Good food and drinks for low prices. The people running their shops were very easy to talk to and pleasant to buy from. My husband and I had a marvelous time. I will add that the parking was a long way to walk. Ticket lines are long, but military and seniors get a discount. You can buy for the day, or for several days depending on your need. Loved our day there!

Everything that you would expect from a great ren fest. Great costumes and buildings. Concessions werent that over priced. Crowd and employees really get into it. Shows were really well performed. Only complaint I have is that the store to attraction ratio could be better.

Its been really crowed the last few years, especially during special weekends and towards the end of the season. Would suggest getting tickets online as your less bound by time you need to be there by. Variety of shows and stores. Great people watching. Food and most activies aside from the shows are extra, so bring cash. You can get single day tickets, multi day or seasons passes. One or two days is usually enough for me depending on the schedule.

Just so much to do at reasonable family friendly prices. Shows, unique food and drink selection and awesome craft shopping.

LINES! LINES GET YOUR LINES! HOT QUEUES HERE! Seriously somebody needs to start counting heads at the door because the crowds are getting out of control. Long waits to get into the parking lot, masses of people waiting 30 minutes to an hour standing in lines everywhere to get food or (ONLY ONE) drink.. Been going for years but it wasnt like this. Went only twice this year, it was way too crowded both times. Some of the vendors were serving pretty gross low-end food service junk. Not always fresh either somehow despite the massive turnover, and it should have been. Saw several dessicated leathery looking uneaten turkey legs abandoned on the ground. A little disappointing. Going to mark this one Needs Improvement.

If you have never been to a Ren Fair before you owe it to yourself to try this out. Great food selection and prices. So many great artists and craftsman wares. Yes, it gets pretty darn busy but this is just a visual testament to how popular this is! It is very hilly so be prepared for a good hike. The shows are great. They truly do go all out here and that is part of its greatness!

This was the 1st time to the festival. We had an amazing time. We went on a Saturday so it was quite busy. We arrived at 9 30am which I would highly recommend. Parking is free. They have a cute opening ceremony as the festival opens with the king and queen. There are a million different shows to watch, items to purchase, games to play and food to eat. I will say for those with any trouble walking there are a lot of hills so it can be a little tough to get around. The only restroom option is a porta potty. Something to take into consideration if you dress up. The location is in a gorgeous wooded area thats just stunning. But it does mean wildlife and by this I mean bees. If youre allergic come prepared. We stayed until closing and honestly couldve gone back for another day. Really there was something fun for all age groups. We will be going back!

Plenty of action and merriment! The crowd was thick but happy. Shows were fun and engaging. Restrooms are porta potties and there are no water fountains. The variety of food vendors was pleasing but lines were long and prices were festive. Bring your own drinking water, toilet paper, and a snack. jousting is out in the sun so bring sunscreen if youre interested in seeing that.

So much fun! The food is great. The mead is great. The games are great. AND you get to dress up! I love it!

This is a fantastic event I look forward too every year. Fun with friends, family, or both. Get there early to avoid the crowd, as it is super popular.

This year was a lot of fun, I really liked the archery and dagger and rapier shows that went over the history of them.

Hadnt been here since I was a kid, now taking my own 2. Had a wonderful day seeing as many of the shows as we could and the jousting show at the end of the day. Get your seats for the jousting show WAY BEFOREHAND We missed the one in the middle of the day because there were a huge wall of people. So we went an hour early before the next one (which was already starting to fill in!)but got good spots. Overall, we will for certain be making this an annual thing as I missed so much great food!!

I love this festival, been to Maryland and Texas one. Excellent shows, performance, shops. Way to spend a day. Wished everyone dress up as this would take you totally to different Ara! One day simply not enough.

There were tons of different acts, some of them great and some of them just okay. The grounds were fantastic. The food was very diverse and delicious. We had a great experience!

My family and I really enjoy going to the renaissance festival, its been our third year in a row! We love the costumes, the actors, the food, and the shows! I would definetly recommend this place, I always have a wonderful time.

Really fun event with a ton of shows and great food. The festival is made of mostly permanent structures - this is not a tent and cart affair. Be warned that parking is limited and they do sell out by the afternoon in the later months.

One of the best Renaissance festival in the country. Entertaining shows all day, reasonably priced food and drinks, all in a beautiful forest setting. Ive gone every year of my life and plan to keep it up!

Havent been attended in over a decade but made two impromptu trips this year (2017) and forgot how fun it is! Browsing vendors, enjoying food, and people watching. All great things and definitely plan to return next year!

This was an amazing festival. The shows were incredible and, contrary to my fellow reviewers, i did not find it too crowded at all. My husband and i will DEFINITELY be returning.

It was a great time. The sights, all the people dressed up, the hole thing was great. Lots of food and shops and music, we had an outstanding time.

So much fun. So much to see and do. Great food and drink. Everyone on the staff was super friendly and awesome!

For over 30 years Ive made my annual pilgrimage to the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville. Though I dont participate in dress-up and merriment, I really enjoy seeing others participate and revel.They have expanded the grounds over the years to include more craftsmen, food choices, and entertainment. With five or more stages operating, there is always something going on.Thousands of people attend each weekend and they have done a terrific job managing traffic and parking. And with the expanded festival, there is more room for the attendees to spread out and not walk on one another.Whether you go to dress up, enjoy the entertainment choices, try the food, or just to watch the people, you should go at least one time for the experience. If youre like me, youll keep going back.

Bought season passes here for a $130 to go on 19 days and it was totally worth it. This place is amazing everyone there is so friendly and everyone who goes has an amazing time period highly recommend going here each and every year that you can its definitely an experience and worth every penny

We had a wonderful time! Lots of great food, performances, and acts. Parking was pretty good too.

Great fun and great food selection. I would suggest the earlier dates to avoid crowds. Get here early and avoid as many lines as possible. Plan your day around the shows you want to see and you will have the best time! Id recommend Ichabods Wheel of Death and The Danger Committee.

Always love fair! Even more fun when you go dressed up! Great food and shows, unique goods for sale, fun for kids of all ages! Hit the ATM before you go, it sucks to have your fun held up by ATM lines. Also if you have a small child, bring an off-road stroller. Makes it much easier to get around and see all the merriment!

Always a good time! Festive, fun, music, food, crafts. Rain or shine, great family fun!

Its a fun and different kind of festival go go to. Its a shame they couldnt move to a larger venue because since it only runs for such a short time its packed alot in the cooler weekends. It first opens in summer so its pretty hot the first few weekends. Props to the people wearing costumes in the heat I dont know how they do it. The food is pretty good, but bring alot of cash because everything is really expensive and the ATMs gouge anyone who uses them lol.

Loved this experience. Beautiful drive out there, plenty of parking (free) and the jousting was definitely my favorite. The crab pretzels were so good I had two but they could do some work on their cider selection (Tampa does a pumpkin woodchuck that I look forward to, angry orchard isnt a very good cider) overall great experience, Id definitely go again!

Nice festival. Great place! The Renaissance is back!

Tons of parking, amazing actors (get there early for the opening ceremony) and a great atmosphere! I had an absolute blast here

One of my favorite events of the year

First time ever going to a Renaissance Festival and it was some of the most fun Ive ever had. The food was awesome (recommend try the Gyros), the theme was awesome and the few shows I was able to see were pretty good as well. Cant wait to go back and enjoy more of it next year. Also one thing to keep in mind is to bring alot of cash as many of the stands only take cash, there is ATMs there but the lines were long for them.

Lots of fun games, plays and items from the period. Dont forget the wonderful food, try the turkey leg.

Too many people and not enough free stuff for the kids- charging $1 to sit and do a puzzle, or to go down the slide... All of this should have been free. Souvenirs also way overpriced. The German juggler was funny and very entertaining... The raptor show was fun too. Also the Areal Fantasies Silk Rope show was good. Fun to people watch and dress up. Food was good and reasonably priced. Also, there should be more benches for people to sit at.

Weve been coming every year for at least the past 20,and it just gets better. Sure, some of the great old acts are gone (Squire on a Wire comes to mind), but theres always something new to see no matter how many times you come.

Love every second of it

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a magical place to spend a day out with your family, friends, or colleagues. Its the one place where you can enjoy almost anything on a stick and be drunk before noon. You can attend comedy shows, live music, or even acrobatics here, all while in the fictional village of Revel Grove. The King, Queen and their court will walk around, observing and participating in everything the festival has to offer. Enjoy a day of merriment!

A lot of fun like always! Wish I got to see the jousting, kept missing it. Food was delicious and the hairbraiding was really nice. A better experience than some of the salons Ive been too

Ive come to Maryland Renn Fest since 2010, and its been a blast every year! Always great fun to have, a lot of unique food stalls you probably wont find anywhere else. Its encouraged to dress up and partake in medieval merriment, but you wont feel discriminated if you dont dress up, about 50% of the customers dress up. Every shop owner is very kind and happy to work with customers. If you plan on buying an outfit here, just know that its all handmade in Virginia and will be very expensive, its not uncommon to pay $1,000+ for even basic outfits (the stuff is built to last though!). If you have a chance, definitely come and visit Maryland RennFest, its so much fun for the whole family.

Great time for the whole family. Lots of live entertainment, games and people watching.Huzzah!

Bring your young, bring your old to a fantastical trip back into the past. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is a nearly two month event that happens every year at the end of August until the middle of October. There are tons of events for your to attend while walking through a lush green scenery. If you like food, prepare to find fabulous eats, many on a stick. Theres shopping, theater, jousting, food. Loads of fun for the whole family.

Maryland Ren-Fest is something that everyone in the State (and even out of state) should go to at least once per year. There is SO MUCH to do that you can come for days in a row and still have a fun and unique experience. My friends and family go multiple times a year and it never gets old. If you really have fun, get yourself an outfit!

My opinion is unfairly biased. I really enjoy Ren Tests. I have been to several different ones in several different states. That being said, I really enjoy going to the Maryland RenFest. There are multiple shows going simultaneously, so theres always something to watch/do. There are elephant, camel, and horse rides, which myself and all of my children have gone together. My kids always have a great time. It is a yearly tradition in my household to attend the RenFest, and I see no reason why that tradition will not continue into the future.

Great festival. But $25.00 entrance free they should have better restroom area.those mobile toilets are disgusting and in some no even water to wash your hands but sani towels instead...nasty

I have always loved the Renn Fest. I dont remember when it was @ Hopkins, back in the day, but I do remember Columbias Symphony Woods. I love the new location in Kingsville, its darn near a perfect setting. Only down side is that the clientele is changing. Not so many people into the Renaissance theme anymore. A lot of Cosplay folks and younger kids there just to drink beer.

My family loves to go here. Its okay for me but its getting too expensive to see the same thing year after year. You basically pay $25 to walk in the sun and buy food and beverages.

The Maryland Rennisance Festival is a great place to visit. There are a number of shows to enjoy and due to the live nature of the shows every show is different. They may do a lot of the same stuff but the crowd interactions with the entertainers always changes things. The favorite group for my daughter and I is the Danger Committee.There are a lot of local artists and craftsmen who sell their works and they are amazing. I love the hand made knives at Dagger Dans Heineke Armory and amazed at the craftsmanship, time and effort that went into creating them. The pottery at shore fire is really cool stop in and have them show you a puzzle mug then take it to the bar and amaze your friends. The leather work that you find there is amazing as well or the cool masks at Tiger Torre art that look great if you need to be covert and look good doing it.I visited the PA fair and most of the stuff they had was cheap chinese, Taiwan, Pakistan ect.. stuff. It was obviously cheaper than the MD fair stuff but the quality could not compare to the great stuff you can get from the MD vendors. I cant wait the next season.

The best for great food, fun shows and a chance to experience Renaissance kitsch.

I love the unique atmosphere and flair of the festival, with so many historical events, foods, and crafts.

I love it, and I have been going for almost two decades. It is good fun if you like silly entertainment. Shows of skill in acrobatics and juggling. If you want to see jousting. There are lots of vendors selling high end crafts (leather, wood working, things of that nature) and there is a lot of fair food. It wrong speak to everyone, but is great fun got those who like it.

You havent lived until youve been to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. All kinds of food on a stick and lots of entertainment and fun shopping. Great for kids and adults. Highly recommend bringing plenty of cash because many places are cash only and the ATM lines get long. Buy tickets online ahead of time!

There are so many conflicting feelings driving my review of this festival. This festival has been a spectacular festival in past years, and in many ways it still is. The performers are fun, and exciting. The vendors are mostly amazing. The food is not terrible, but affordable. However, on big weekends it gets sooooo crowded, you can hardly move. And when super crowded the lines for everything become so long you end up standing in line for hours of your day. This year, 2017, the festival instituted a 1 drink per person rule. Soooo you cant grab a beer or two for friends or relatives. You cant say grab two beers so you can avoid super long lines. I assume the theory was to avoid drunken jerks, but it unfortunately seems to have made the lines and waiting far worse. If these types of lines and restrictive policies continue I would consider other festivals as opposed to this one.

I experienced Maryland Renaissance Festival for the very first time last year. And I enjoyed myself so much, wishing it was possible to live back in that time. I commend all the actors/staff for their great attributes they bring as part of their character in order for customers to experience the true feel of that era. Great job, and cant wait to come back this year :)

Great time for family or a date with someone special. Check out the food shops, especially the crepes.

Good food and entertainment.

Wonderful time for all ages, but be prepared to walk a lot!

A great place to feel like youre living in a completely different age. The staff have been nothing but lovely to me and my friends. Prices can be a little high, but just about everything is high quality and handmade, so its worth it.

Ye will have it a good time! This festival is growing so fast. I have visited the last 2 years and it blew up this year in volume. There are tons of events that change each weekend. Fun for the family or the bros!

Best advice about this place is to come early in the season, and NEVER get off at exit 5 off 97. Always use the south entrance off 301. But once you are in, it is a wonderful place. All the shops and stages have their own unique features. And there is just so much to see and do that you have to come back more than once to see it all.

One of the greatest places around here to spend an entire day.

Definitely a Do Not Miss for Maryland. Whether you come in garb or dressed in your normal clothes you will have an amazing time seeing the sights, the people, and the shops. There are live performances all day in a variety of places. This is appropriate for children and adults. The shops are all amazing and unique as is the food! Dietary restrictions might struggle, but there is a pretty large variety of food. Be prepared for walking - up hills, down hills, in areas with roots and rocks. If it has rained recently it will also be quite muddy. Dont miss the cookies in a cone! There is an elephant, a camel, reptiles, hawks, and horses! Make time to watch a joust and to throw some axes! Definitely something for everyone here.

Just an awesome experience, helpful friendly players, lots to see, lots to eat, lots to do, come early stay late

My wife and I went for the first time after discussing it for years. Lots of parking, a little pricey, but the atmosphere more than makes up for it. Cool shops, good food, fun people, free shows and very clean for the amount of people moving about. Dress up, bring friends and make a day of it. You wont regret it.

Great place for all ages, always a great time year after year! Highly recommend if its your first time or 100th time

Interesting is the word Id use. Definitely bring cash to get in because the credit card line can get LONG! Its cool that the festival actually has permanent buildings. You get all types there. The families looking for entertainment, and the...ahem...maids and lords dressed to the nines, or, undressed to the nines. There is only one first aid station and its near the jousting area, but it does have free water. Other than that, you only have the water you bring, or you buy beverages from the vendors.

Always a fun time! For those wondering, beer ranges from $4 to $5 a cup (from what I remember) & most food goes up to $12. Portions are great though. Also the event is NOT rain or shine like their site states. Last year, my group got there on a sunny day only to find out they closed due to a muddy parking lot....of all things...call before making a trip just to be safe.

This is always my favorite way to kick off Fall. Go once it cools off and youll see what I mean. I love feeling like Ive been transported through time to my favorite period in history (art and clothing at least) The food is a must so dont fill up at one spot. Scotch eggs, falafel, mead, grog. So fun!

I love the rennfest & go at least once a year!

Ive somehow convince my family to accompany me to this place on a yearly basis. It is a lot of fun to dress up and walk around. There are so many different types of shops to wander through and look at and sometimes the prices arent bad. It can be crowded at the beginning and end of the season. Make sure you are up for walking through the woods and have comfortable shoes. Finally make sure you go see Johnny Fox!

Always looking forward to Renn Fest season. Great atmosphere and fun. Food, games and shows, you can easily spend the entire day here. You definitely get the feeling of being back in time in this village setting. An annual must visit!

Fun every time. A family tradition. We love the shows, shops and all the costumes.

I had never been to a renaissance festival before and was a bit hesitant at first. It turned out to be a fantastic time with a carnival type atmosphere, lots of good food and drink, along with great shops with quality goods. Not to mention the amazing performances by a number of entertainers.. All that being capped off by several rounds of jousting that we got to see. Truly memorable and I will certainly be back next season!

I spend all year looking forward to Renn Fest and I go as often as I can once it does. My first stop is for a meat pie, hot and fresh, and then the fried pickles. My day isnt right unless I have both of my favorite goodies. I miss Hack and Slash, but I still always make a point to stop by a Renaissance Man show, most especially the Witch Trial. Its also a good time following the Kings storyline, since Im a total history and British Monarchy ( Tudor era is my passion, Henry VIII is one of my favorites, with Anne Boleyn being my favorite of his Queens) nerd. Its not hard to imagine what it must have been like back then at all.

Great food and drinks, great prices. Lots of shops with handmade stuff, and lots to see! Must go! But make sure to wear a costume to keep up with atmosphere (even though not required)

Huge place, great shops, awesome entertainment. An amazing experience, well worth it. Gets very crowded in the last couple weekends. Best to go in September.

Ive been coming to this faire for over ten years. The shows are fantastic and, while continuing to run some of their old shows, they make them contemporary and humourous. The food is good with a large variety and the vendors are both friendly and skilled.Will most likely be back next year.

Atmosphere along with food selection is still above average and mainstay games are awesome!However I would love to see a few more quality comedy shows operating.Also it would be nice if ticket prices for entrance to Rebel Grove dropped this would be a good thing for the general customer. I hear Rebel Grove wants to move to land 2/3rds the size bigger away from Crownsville road, thinking current location is too small.

Great people, environment, location, and costumes. Definitely will be returning. The food was amazing, and there was a ver large variety. Definitely a family outing, or just as well for a day drinking extravaganza. No one was rude, and the atmosphere was so welcoming.

The best Renn Fest Ive ever been to! Top notch everything: Staff, Location, FOOD! Dont get me started on the food! A bit pricey, but so is any great experience!

FUN FUN FUN. We loved the show and great food.

There were too many people, long lines, smoking people outside the designated areas. Not enough free activities. The building are so cool, the performances were fun (even though some of the spectators were rude.) And some of the costumes were a little too revealing. We went with our 2 young kids and overall it was enjoyable but a lot can be done to reign in the crowd. Food was excellent and fair priced.

I guess Im not a fan. My wife and I visited - her 4th time or so and my first - and I generally just kept thinking: too busy.We had to queue in the car for 30-60 minutes before we were able to park the car. Not THAT much they can do as its restricted by the number of public roads reaching the festival grounds, but it does ruin the experience.The park itself is pretty neat. Its all fake of course, but as far as theme parks go, not bad. I was not a fan of the foodstuffs. Too expensive, and every single option helps you explain why the US has an obesity problem.The shows are what might make it worth the trip. We saw a politically incorrect Austrian or German, which I thought was absolutely hilarious. We also saw an older man who had an act somewhere in the middle between a comedy show and a magician act. It seemed a bit slow, but we later found out he was dying and that he insisted on doing as many shows as he could. We really commend the organization for letting him do so. The jousting was so-so - I had expected something more given the buzz it gave off leading up to the show.Finally, the visitors are almost as much worth seeing as the park & shows itself. They come in dressed up like people from 500 years back, but also like elves, dragons, knights - you name it.

Great family fun!

We went today set 11, our first time and we were impressed. We rented costumes n we loved it . Drinks were not expensive . Food was ok . I wanna say that I was impressed by the crepes place they had there . Service was great n food tasted amazing.the guy with long hair n blond girl did a great job same as service up front . Delicious ! Great atmosphere n fun time ! Would definitely recommend!!!

It gets pretty crowded, and is a lot of walking. Good way to tire out the kids though. Or husband if you need that. Food is decent, mostly sold for quantity not quality though. Entertainers are very friendly and funny. Good family event to go to together but also gets hot in the open field.

Fun experience. Lots of shops and shows to see, as well as food to eat. They have so many fried foods on a stick even fried mac & cheese on a stick. I recommend going earlier in the season, or youll be spending alot of time in lines rather than enjoying the festival.

Loads of fun! Hilby is the best act there. Everyone stays in character so it all feels realistic. Its got beautiful scenery and everyone has a great time, actors included.

I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, they let so many people in it makes it impossible to have a good time. Trying to get anywhere is like trying to get back into a rock concert or sporting event going against the crowd. Spent the majority of our time in lines or trying to get thru the people standing in lines. They really need to limit the number of people they allow in per day.

Amazing festival and its really well organized

This year was our second year at the festival. In 2015, we came on a rainy day and had one of the best experiences ever. In 2016, we showed up on a day with great weather and it took hours to do anything, order food, get a beer, go to the bathroom. Hopeful that next year will be better, but be warned that might you have quite a day of waiting for things ahead of you.

Lots to see and shop for. Go on a dry cool day. We went the day after a thunderstorm and the mud was deep. They accept plastic, but have some cash for the smaller vendors.

Always have a great time here at the Renaissance Festival.

I go every year. When it isnt too crowded, its the absolute best for turkey legs and people watching. Try the bee sting for a goodmead and cider combo. And definitely throw axes, not knives or ninja stars.

Lots of fun. Its a good time all around, but ware shoes that can deal with mud. Dont be afraid to dress up, you will have even more fun that way!

This is my first Renaissance Festival so I have nothing to compare it too. That being said there are plenty of activities and shops to go to. Bring lots of cash as most everything will cost you once you get in. The jousting was entertaining and worth going to see.

Fun, exciting. Nice people. But it made me sad to see an elephant being made to give rides. Please let the elephant go to a sanctuary with other elephants, and do buggy rides or miniature train rides, or anything else that does not exploit a wild animan.

The MD ren faire is my favorite. I have been to PA and MD, and MD wins by a long mile. Great shops, food, and entertainment in a rustic and comfortably shady spot.

I had so much fun.