SunCoast Renaissance Festival

10/12/2023

The sun has set on the final performance of our season, but fear not, we shall return next year for our biggest season yet!

Our fifth anniversary will be one for the ages, so keep an eye on this page for the latest news.

10/12/2023

One more Wickerman of the season! There's still time to join us for our final Huzzah of 2023!

10/12/2023

It's the final day of our 4th season, so come out and "horse around" with us!

10/12/2023

🗺️ Her Majesty’s finest navigators, mathematicians, and astrologists have worked tirelessly to bring you right to our Front Gate with minimal loss of life and limb. You can either set a course for the Sarasota County Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena and drive straight back toward the baseball fields or simply punch the following address into your GPS and sail smoothly to the Front Gate.👇

📍601 S Pompano Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237.

10/12/2023

🌦 We don't let the threat of rain get in the way of a large time. Join us for the last festival day of 2023. The weather wizard demanded we sacrifice a virgin to keep the rain clouds at bay, but we couldn't find one so we're going to RISK it.

09/12/2023

We’re back at it for one more weekend of shenanigans! If you can’t mask it today, worry not, for if today we shenan tomorrow we will shenanagain.

08/12/2023

🇮🇪🐑🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿‘Tis our final weekend, and we are celebrating with a Celtic holiday extravaganza! 🇮🇪🐑🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

📜 Her Majesty's Schedule of Events is available for all goode and loyal subjects to peruse.

🧙‍♂️ We recommend you pay particular interest to this week's special engagements.

🦵 Ready to don a kilt and show off those gorgeous gams? We invite you to join our 12:15 Bonny Knees Contest each day at the Brawling Claw Pub, hosted by Brothers Blackquill: Improvised Plays.

🐴 Look out for the Mari Lwyd! She is an ancient Welsh tradition that roams the shire with the body of a woman and the skull of a horse to bring holiday cheer and mischief. It’s said she loves a good rhyming couplet, but the Welsh say a great deal and we understand precious little.

07/12/2023

It makes me smile when I see the people working at the two fairs recognized for their creativity and hard work!!! Great job to all who have worked on the parades this year. There is one more to go in Melbourne this Saturday, and this is the final weekend of the SunCoast Renaissance Festival with Brevard Renaissance Fair just around the corner.

UTC 2023 Santas Grand Arrival Parade - Third place for Best Business Float!

2023 Sarasota Holiday Parade - Judges Choice as most Unique Entry

05/12/2023

***CONTEST IS CLOSED***

Final Free Ticket Tuesday - 12/05/23

Her majesty has decreed that every Tuesday from now through the run of our festival shall be known as “Free Ticket Tuesday”!

If you want to win two free tickets to the Suncoast Renaissance Festival, please like, comment, and share this post. A winner will be drawn randomly and notified via DM by noon the next day.

If you’re unsuccessful this week, mourn not, for you have many more chances to test your fortune next season!

04/12/2023

🎉 Announcing the winners of the WINTER RING TOURNAMENT 2023 hosted by Steel Ring Academy and The SunCoast Renaissance Festival!

🗡️ Steel Longsword Open Tournament (Saturday)

1st Place: Michael Norris
2nd Place: Derek Quintana
3rd Place: Tyler Rutherford

⚔️ Mixed Weapons Tournament (Sunday)

1st Place: Michael Norris
2nd Place: Ray Zindell
3rd Place: Andre Corriveau

03/12/2023

We’re here and ready to enchant you. The festival (and the beer taps) run till 6!

03/12/2023

Who made the most noise? We made the most noise!

02/12/2023

To the best of our knowledge, nobody has ever played a moving carillon before. Come see us achieve the impossible dream of the moBELL carillonneur tonight at the Sarasota Holiday Parade!

02/12/2023

Have you met the Mari Lwyd?

An olde Welsh winter tradition, our Mari Lwyd clip-clops through the shire with the skull of a horse and the body of a woman to… spread glad tidings and holiday cheer?

We’re not sure. We don’t speak Welsh.

“Mari Lwyd, Horse of Frost, Star-horse, and White Horse of the Sea, is carried to us.
The Dead return.
Those Exiles carry her, they who seem holy and have put on corruption, they who seem corrupt and have put on holiness.
They strain against the door.
They strain towards the fire which fosters and warms the Living”

- Vernon Watkins

01/12/2023

This weekend only the SunCoast Renaissance Festival and check it out Saturday night at the Sarqsota Christmas parade when it will be fully lite up.

The instrumentalist who plays the Carillon is known as the Carillonneur. The first carillon was in Flanders (northern Europe) where the carillonneur performed music on the bells of Oudenaarde Town Hall in 1510 by using a baton keyboard to raise the spirits of the people. The Carillon is the largest of all instruments in the percussion family. Charlie is a musical adventurer as well as a world-class musician. Charlie has had a successful 30-year career as a professional drummer, music director, recording artist, and performer. He has performed worldwide in over 30 countries and has performed in every state & province in North America. With over 25,000 performances worldwide, Charlie has learned to appreciate and perform many styles of music with artists around the world. Charlie brings his experience as a musician and entertainer to provide epic performances through the majesty and power of the carillon.

Hear Cast in Bronze by Bells 2 Go at the Brawling Claw Pub the weekend of December 2nd and 3rd.

01/12/2023

The instrumentalist who plays the Carillon is known as the Carillonneur. The first carillon was in Flanders (northern Europe) where the carillonneur performed music on the bells of Oudenaarde Town Hall in 1510 by using a baton keyboard to raise the spirits of the people. The Carillon is the largest of all instruments in the percussion family. Charlie is a musical adventurer as well as a world-class musician. Charlie has had a successful 30-year career as a professional drummer, music director, recording artist, and performer. He has performed worldwide in over 30 countries and has performed in every state & province in North America. With over 25,000 performances worldwide, Charlie has learned to appreciate and perform many styles of music with artists around the world. Charlie brings his experience as a musician and entertainer to provide epic performances through the majesty and power of the carillon.

Hear Cast in Bronze by Bells 2 Go at the Brawling Claw Pub the weekend of December 2nd and 3rd.

30/11/2023

⚔️⚔️⚔️ Join us every day this week as we feature each of the hometown warriors of Steel Ring Academy who will compete for your honor. ⚔️⚔️⚔️

🛡 Her Majesty has decreed that this weekend there shall be a grand tournament, where dozens of the finest sword masters in the land shall convene in our fair shire and do battle for your pleasure.

🤺 Today we feature Braam! This ballroom dancer-turned-warrior prefers to parry and thrust with his trusty rapier, letting his light feet carry him safely out of danger. As a self-described "Forever DM", Braam is always one step ahead of his opponent with a clever trap.

🏰 Follow the clash of swords and the roar of the crowd back to the Sherwood Green, where true athletes swing live steel. risking life and limb in an all-day-long unscripted melee.

💪 For the brave swordmaster skilled in HEMA, registration is open until midnight TONIGHT, and there are still a few spots left.

30/11/2023

🍗⚔️🍺 The drums beat from the north, and longships cut through the frigid waters. Don your fur and braid your beard, the Vikings are here! 🍗⚔️🍺

📜 Her Majesty's Schedule of Events is available for all goode and loyal subjects to peruse.

🧙‍♂️ We recommend you pay particular interest to this week's special engagements.

🗡️ Join Ring Academy for the Winter Ring Tournament at the Sherwood Green. Dozens of fighters from all over have arrived to test their mettle and swing live steel until only one victor remains. This event runs through the day.

🧔 Got facial hair? We invite you to join our 12:15 Beard Contest each day at the Brawling Claw Pub, hosted by Brothers Blackquill: Improvised Plays.

🎶 This weekend only, we welcome Cast in Bronze by Bells 2 Go! The Carillon will ring through the shire with the acclaimed holiday show "The Bells of Christmas". Cast in Bronze has taken time off from spreading the holiday spirit at Disney Springs and The Mall of America to be here with us for a limited holiday engagement, so make certain you do not miss it!

30/11/2023

⚔️⚔️⚔️ Join us every day this week as we feature each of the hometown warriors of Steel Ring Academy who will compete for your honor. ⚔️⚔️⚔️

🛡 Her Majesty has decreed that this weekend there shall be a grand tournament, where dozens of the finest sword masters in the land shall convene in our fair shire and do battle for your pleasure.

🤺 Today we feature Seth the Dragon Tamer! Seth is a newly charged knight-errant, roaming the kingdom with his trusty longsword in search of fame and fortune. He fights for his princess, who we are told is from another kingdom so we wouldn't know her.

🏰 Follow the clash of swords and the roar of the crowd back to the Sherwood Green, where true athletes swing live steel, risking life and limb in an all-day-long unscripted melee.

💪 For the brave swordmaster skilled in HEMA, registration is open until midnight TONIGHT, and there are still a few spots left.

29/11/2023

⚔️⚔️⚔️ Join us every day this week as we feature each of the hometown warriors of Steel Ring Academy who will compete for your honor. ⚔️⚔️⚔️

🛡 Her Majesty has decreed that this weekend there shall be a grand tournament, where dozens of the finest sword masters in the land shall convene in our fair shire and do battle for your pleasure.

🤺 Today we feature Captain William! This dread combatant lives only to fight. While other sword masters take time to sleep and eat, Captain William studies the German Longsword.

🏰 Follow the clash of swords and the roar of the crowd back to the Sherwood Green, where true athletes swing live steel, risking life and limb in an all-day-long unscripted melee.

💪 For the brave swordmaster skilled in HEMA, registration is open until midnight on Thursday, and there are still a few spots left.

28/11/2023

⚔️⚔️⚔️ Join us every day this week as we feature each of the hometown warriors of Steel Ring Academy who will compete for your honor. ⚔️⚔️⚔️

🛡 Her Majesty has decreed that this weekend there shall be a grand tournament, where dozens of the finest sword masters in the land shall convene in our fair shire and do battle for your pleasure.

🤺 Today we feature Avery! Towering over the field at 6'3" and weighing in at over 17 stone, this fire dancer and personal trainer cuts through the competition with his nimble Polish saber. Woe to all those who dare face him.

🏰 Follow the clash of swords and the roar of the crowd back to the Sherwood Green, where true athletes swing live steel, risking life and limb in an all-day-long unscripted melee.

💪 For the brave swordmaster skilled in HEMA, registration is open until midnight on Thursday, and there are still a few spots left.

28/11/2023

Free Ticket Tuesday - 11/28/23

Her Majesty has decreed that every Tuesday from now through the run of our festival shall be known as “Free Ticket Tuesday”!

If you want to win two free tickets to the Suncoast Renaissance Festival, please like, comment, and share this post. A winner will be drawn randomly and notified via DM by noon the next day.

If you’re unsuccessful this week, mourn not, for you have ONE more chance to test your fortune!

28/11/2023

⚔️⚔️⚔️ Join us every day this week as we feature each of the hometown warriors of Steel Ring Academy who will compete for your honor. ⚔️⚔️⚔️

🛡 Her Majesty has decreed that this weekend there shall be a grand tournament, where dozens of the finest sword masters in the land shall convene in our fair shire and do battle for your pleasure.

🤺 Today we feature Chris! This skilled fighter engages in all forms of swordplay, shifting stance and blade to suit his needs at any given moment. When not engaging in blood sports, Chris works as a paramedic in the Sarasota area. As such, he never shies away from hitting hard, as he possesses the ability to heal just as well as he hurts.

🏰 Follow the clash of swords and the roar of the crowd back to the Sherwood Green, where true athletes swing live steel, risking life and limb in an all-day-long unscripted melee.

💪 For the brave swordmaster skilled in HEMA, registration is open until midnight on Thursday, and there are still a few spots left.

26/11/2023

The merriment continues regardless of the weather!

26/11/2023

Our royal court is here ready to greet you!

26/11/2023

🗺️ Her Majesty’s finest navigators, mathematicians, and astrologists have worked tirelessly to bring you right to our Front Gate with minimal loss of life and limb. You can either set a course for the Sarasota County Fairgrounds & Robarts Arena and drive straight back toward the baseball fields or simply punch the following address into your GPS and sail smoothly to the Front Gate.👇

📍601 S Pompano Ave, Sarasota, FL 34237.

🚫 You may know there is another kingdom in the next county over holding a Renaissance/Medieval-themed event. The Suncoast Renaissance Festival is held at the Sarasota County Fairgrounds and Robarts Arena. When planning a trip to our event, please make certain you are purchasing tickets from our website and going to the correct address. If you see flyers, posters, or yard signs informing you of a new location, or have been told by someone that our festival has moved, they are referring to the other event! Tickets for our festival will not be honored at the other event, and vice versa. If you have any questions or confusion, please don’t hesitate to DM us on social media.

25/11/2023

Today we’ve met some of the most talented and creative adventurers!

25/11/2023

It’s , and who better to support than your hometown Renaissance Festival?

Did you know that for every dollar you spend at The Suncoast Renaissance Festival or any other small business in Sarasota or Sarasota County, over 50% of that dollar is put back into your own community? We love giving our neighbors time to unwind from the modern world and make merry in our shaded grove behind the Sarasota County Fairgrounds, and your patronage helps us continue to grow and be part of your lives for generations to come.

Today is a great opportunity to support a local small business and return to the golden age of the Renaissance with one of our two Black Friday sales!

For those of you going alone, or without children, The Queen is pleased to offer 10% off regular-priced admission tickets, be they Single, 2-Day Flex, or a Season Pass!

For those attending as a family, when you buy at minimum one Adult Admission, one Child Admission, and one Adventurer’s Wristband, you automatically get 20% off your total online order, regardless of whatever else you’d like to add, such as more Admission tickets, The Black Velvet Band Pub Crawl, or the Hawk Walk!

This is the last and final sale of the year, so if you have been waiting to purchase, now is your last chance to reap the benefits of Her Majesty's generosity.

Discounts shall be added automatically at checkout, and do not stack with other discounts such as Military/Student/Senior tickets.

This sale ends at 11:59pm on Monday, November 27th.

25/11/2023

🏰 The gates have swung wide and the weather is perfect!

🌦 We are open rain or shine, so don't let the doom and gloom on the news keep you from enjoying a magical day at the Suncoast Renaissance Festival.

⭐️ Her Majesty's meteorologists and soothsayers have informed us that should rain grace our festival, it will be brief and near the day's end.

25/11/2023

Lynx has returned!!!

The Lynx Show is a one-of-a-kind comedy, sword-swallowing, magic show. Rated one of the number one sword-swallowing shows in the country, Lynx is sure to make you gasp and laugh all at the same time. He will swallow his own pride just to make sure you are having a great time.

The Lynx Show performs at the Royal Cupola Stage on weekends from November 25th - December 10th.