Charlotte On The Cheap

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Carolina Renaissance Festival Opens This Weekend — Win 8 Tickets!

POSTED BY
Jody Mace

Winners: We will list the winners of the contests here.

Contest 1 (ended Friday, September 15): The first winner is Charlyn! We’ve emailed you.
Contest 2 (ended Friday, September 22): The second winner is Jerry A! We’ve emailed you.

New contest is starting September 25 and ending September 30! The winner will win 8 tickets! Read on to enter!

Carolina Renaissance Festival is making the Charlotte area more festive and fun, for the 30th season! When is the Carolina Renaissance Festival? It is taking place Saturdays and Sundays from September 30 to November 19, 2023, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The event is rain or shine, except for VERY severe weather.

It is once again on a 250-acre farm north of Charlotte, between Concord and Huntersville, at the junction of NC-73 and Poplar Tent Road. Find directions here.

Tickets are on sale now. Purchase tickets at Carolina.RenFestInfo.com.

Read on to enter to learn about winning tickets, as well as about discount days!

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Refunds

The Festival is open rain or shine. Ticket holders will only receive a refund if the Festival is not open on a scheduled date. However, the Festival’s online ticket provider works with FanShield ticket protection to present purchasers an option to buy, at a modest additional price, an insurance policy that guarantees a refund if the purchased tickets were to be unused, under the policy’s terms and conditions,

Ticket Prices

  • $32 for adults
  • $20 for children ages 5-12
  • Free for children ages 4 and under

Keep reading for some special events and discounts, and to enter to win 4 tickets.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Discount and Special Event Days at Carolina Renaissance Festival

Learn about the special weekends at Carolina Renaissance Festival. More details here.

Opening Weekend

September 30 and October 1, 2023. Get 2 adult tickets for $40 (a $62 value.) You’ll need a coupon to get this deal. The coupons will arrive at the following locations on September 11:

  • Jersey Mike’s Subs
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Autobell Car Wash
  • Valpak

You’ll also find the coupon in the Charlotte Observer on September 21, September 22, September 24, September 28, September 29, and October 1, 2023.

Free child admission with paid adult admission

On the 2nd through 8th weekend (Saturdays and Sundays from October 7 to November 19), kids ages 5-12 get in for free with paid adult admission. You need a coupon for this deal. The coupons will arrive at these locations on September 11:

  • Jersey Mike’s Subs
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Autobell Car Wash
  • Valpak

You’ll also find the coupon in the Charlotte Observer on October 5, 6 and 8, 2023.

Keep reading to learn about winning free tickets.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Save $2 per ticket all season long

There will be coupons at Harris Teeter that will have a promo code to save $2 on adult or child tickets.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights — free child admission

On Saturday, October 28, and Sunday, October 29, 2023, enjoy free child ages 5-12 admission. No coupon needed. Come in costume and trick or treat at over 100 locations throughout the Festival Village. And don’t miss the children’s Halloween Treasure Hunt with a Treasure Chest filled with prizes.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Deaf Awareness Day — discount

On Saturday, October 28, 2023, there will be interpreted performances and discounted admission for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Certified sign language interpreters will interpret stage performances at select stages located inside the village.

Members of the deaf and hard of hearing community can save on tickets, with two offers. Ages 13 and up receive adult admission for $20 via a one-time use promotional code, and children ages 12 and under are admitted for free. Learn how to get the promotional code.

Pirates’ Christmas Weekend

On Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5, 2023, there will be special pirate entertainment and a costume contest. If you spend $250 or more on at the festival the day you attend, you’ll receive a free adult ticket. If you spend $350 or more you’ll receive two free adult tickets. You can use the free ticket on any one remaining day of the 2023 season. You can also win free tickets by winning the pirate costume contest. More info.

Time Travelers’ Weekend — free child admission

On Saturday, November 11, and Sunday, November 12, 2023, children ages 5-12 are admitted for free with a donation of school supplies. There will also be a Time Travelers’ Costume Contest where you can win free tickets for a future visit. Come as you are or dress as your favorite time traveling characters. More info.

Final Huzzah — free child admission

On Saturday, November 18, and Sunday, November 19, 2023, kids ages 5-12 are admitted for free with can food donations at the gate. More info.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

New This Year

There are some special guest performers this year, each at the festival for a limited number of performances. Learn more about each guest performer.

Witch Trials

Flip the script on the classic Witch Trial, making the atrocious amusing. Presented by actor Chris Davis. 4 weekends only: September 30 to October 22, 2023.

Tiny Girl Big Show

Stahr Power Presents: Tiny Girl Big Show! Experience the unhinged circus world of the bubbly, hilarious pocket-sized Stahr Power. October 8 to November 5, 2023.

The Lynx Show

The Lynx Show is a unique blend of magic, sword swallowing and comedy. November 11 to 19, 2023.

Courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Carolina Renaissance Festival Features

Carolina Renaissance Festival is one of the Charlotte area’s biggest and most popular fall events. Enjoy an open air Artisan Market, games, rides, jousting knights, falconry, feasting and more.

Jousting Knights

Three times a day knights will battle for the Queen’s honor int he shire’s tournament arena.

Artisan Market

Shop for gifts for others or for yourself! You’ll find glass blowing, blacksmithing, cobblers, potters, candle makers, sculptors, leather workers, jewelers and more.

Falconry

Falconry was known as the “sport of kings.” Find out why as you watch these majestic birds in flight.

Sea Fairy Mermaids

Catch a glimpse of living mermaids as they perform underwater!

More entertainment

There are fourteen stages of entertainment, including comedy, music, dance vaudeville and circus entertainment. Over 500 costumed villagers roam the streets as well!

All Day Play

Ride the world’s largest rocking house, try out Da Vinci’s Flying Machine. Sail on the Voyage to the New World. Ride a camel. Meet the animals in the Village Petting Farm. Try out archery, ride the Pirate’s Assault Catapult, or throw a tomato at a surly peasant.

Photo courtesy of Carolina Renaissance Festival

Win tickets to Carolina Renaissance Festival

Here on Charlotte on the Cheap we will be giving readers FREE tickets to the Carolina Renaissance Festival. The contests will be running continuously, starting in early September. To win any of the contests you’ll need to be a subscriber to Charlotte on the Cheap’s newsletter. We send out one email with the best free and cheap events and deals, every morning. If you’re not a subscriber, you can sign up now.

The third contest is running now! One Charlotte on the Cheap reader will win eight tickets!

To enter, just leave a comment below! It doesn’t matter what the content is. But in order to win, we need to be able to see your email address on our list of newsletter subscribers. So make sure to use the same email address that you subscribe with. (Don’t worry — your email address won’t be publicly viewable.)

We will notify the winner by email on Friday, September 30, 2023. We’ll send you eight voucher codes, which you can then redeem online for tickets on specific dates. Make sure you’re looking through your inbox and spam folder for something from CharlotteOnTheCheap.com!

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Carolina Renaissance Festival opening weekend: 2 adult tickets for $40 (coupon required)
When
Daily @ 9:30 am-5:30 pm (September 30, 2023 - October 1, 2023)
What
Carolina Renaissance Festival opening weekend: 2 adult tickets for $40 (coupon required)
Where
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Cost
$40.00
When
Daily @ 9:30 am-5:30 pm (October 28, 2023 - October 29, 2023)
What
Carolina Renaissance Festival Halloween Daze and Spooky Knights (free children’s admission, plus trick or treating)
Where
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Cost
FREE
When
Daily @ 9:30 am-5:30 pm (November 11, 2023 - November 12, 2023)
What
Carolina Renaissance Festival Time Travelers Weekend: Kids admitted free with school supply donation
Where
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Cost
FREE
When
Daily @ 9:30 am-5:30 pm (November 18, 2023 - November 19, 2023)
What
Carolina Renaissance Festival Final Huzzah — kids enter for free with canned food donation
Where
Carolina Renaissance Festival
Cost
FREE

Carolina Renaissance Festival

16445 Poplar Tent Road
Huntersville, NC

Visit Website Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  7. Ani says

    Love this site! I have been living in Charlotte for 15 years and have never ever been able to make it for the Renaissance Festival. Sure to hope I am lucky enough to win! Good luck to everyone 😉

  48. Victoria Foster says

    Thanks Charlotte on the Cheap for always finding fun & affordable activities in my area that help keep my family & friends connected. I appreciate all of your hard work!

  63. Pearl Stitt says

    I attended a Renaissance Festival about 20 years ago when I first moved to NC.
    It would be fun to go again!

  67. Rachelle W says

    My brother and his family traveled from Savannah, GA to come with us to the festival last year. We had so much fun! Would love to win these tickets so that we can all go again together!

  69. Shania Ross says

    Thank you for all you do Charlotte on the Cheap! You make it so much easier to have fun around the city!

  70. Julie M says

    Would like to take the whole family for my sons birthday in October. He would love a day there!! Huzzah!

  91. Cheryl Morrissey says

    Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway. We are from the Boston area and have been trying to immerse ourselves into the community and this event will provide us a special experience. Again. Thank you!!

  94. Kate Hlava says

    I have never been to a Renaissance Fair and would LOVE to go! Thanks for running the contest and for all the ways to save!

  98. Sandra Jones says

    I always enjoy learning about fun opportunities on Charlotte On the Cheap. Thank you for the information

  100. Susan Evans says

    I’ve been to a Renaissance Festival in Pennsylvania, but never here. I would love to win these for my birthday on October 7th!

  101. Latisha Bullock says

    Good day my lady, good day my lord how now! If it prithee you to chose me, huzzah shall be heard across the land!! If it nay I shall slayeth melancholy and see you anoun. Grammercy!!

  119. Vinny Petrillo says

    At the Renaissance Festival, where ‘ye olde’ jokes are both your knight and shining armor!

  120. D Ballauer says

    I am looking forward to the new season of the Renn Faire and would love be chosen for your tickets.

  121. Margaret says

    Have never attended this festival. I would love to take adult members of my family and grandchildren.
    Thank you for offering this contest.

  127. Simon says

    Only way for me an the family to go this year will be winning these, here’s to hoping 🤞🙏 huzzah!

  137. Tonya M. says

    I am born and raised in Charlotte and have never been to the Renaissance Festival! Would love to take my family to experience the Renaissance festival and all it has to offer! Good Luck Everyone!

  142. Valenciahermon@gmail.com says

    Never been to the festival so this win would be pretty cool for my family. Much luck to all!

  143. Sharon DiSandro says

    My family is fairly new to Charlotte and we would love to experience this event. Thank you!!

  146. Nikia Cockerham says

    Hello, would love the tix. Lived here for almost 20 years and never have been. Thanks for the chance to win.

  149. Kathy Archie says

    Thank you for offering this,
    I would really like to take my 89 yr old mom while she’s still able to walk and enjoy this. She has always wanted to go every year but doesn’t drive and now that we’re nearby we’re able to take her to her first renaissance festival.

  153. Barbara Raymond says

    We love this festival. So much going on, we can never see all of it in one day. Great entertainment. Hoping we win.

  157. Susan R Teeter says

    Wow what a chance to win a wonderful tickets to a great festival I’ve been told haven’t ever been!

  176. Samantha says

    Love Charlotte on the cheap. It always give me great ideas on things to check out and do that I would have ever thought of or knew was in the area. Definitely want to try RenFair. Thanks guys!!

  184. Rain Newman says

    Festival is always a great time and would love to bring my family who can’t really afford tickets!

  187. Rosalind Taylor says

    I would love to take my friends here at Prosperity Creek Senior apartments to the festival. Older doesn’t mean we don’t know how to fun!!

  193. Leah Thompson says

    It’s been over 20 years since I have been to a Renaissance Festival! This would be so fun to win!! 😊

  200. Michelle Turner says

    Thank you so much for this contest. I’ve never been to the Renaissance festival & would love to go!

  201. Maria D says

    Fingers crossed! Need to save $ for my wedding so two tickets would be lovely beforehand! Love RenFest so very much!

  205. R Winert says

    This would be so cool to win! We have never been to the festival and we keep saying we should check it out. Hopefully we get lucky this year!

  211. Zach Finley says

    Huzzah!! Also thanks for all the incredible info about my city, you’ve helped me to find several things I never knew about that were amazing!

  212. April Menendez says

    Huzzah!
    We’ve been counting down the days until the Ren fest! Cannot wait!
    We’d love to bring another family of 5 with us, that has had a rough year. Fingers crossed!
    Thanks!

  220. Tracy V says

    Every year since we moved here, my husband has wanted to attend . We have never made it yet.
    Winning tickets would definitely get us there. The pictures always look so amazing.

  233. Melissa M says

    Just moved to Charlotte a few months ago. To live with the fall weathers & gorgeous tree colors. Would love to experience this festival!
    Thank you

  243. MJ Castle says

    I would love to attend!! I’ve only been here a couple of years and would really enjoy the Renaissance Festival!! My little granddaughters would so thrilled too!!

  245. Christy Eaton says

    Bring on the Turkey legs, beef stew in a bread bowl,Jousting and awesome entertainment!! Hoping to take family and a few lucky friends!!

  249. Abbey says

    First Timers!! We haven’t been to the Renaissance Festival in NC EVER!!! This would be a dream come true to win these tickets! Thank you!!

  252. Deb says

    I would love to win tickets. I’ll be joining my friends for my first ever trip to the Carolina Renaissance Fest.

  272. Gaby Toledo says

    Would love to win to take my kids! We’ve never been and money is tight! Hopefully this year we can win! Thank you for the opportunity

  282. Lisa D says

    I’m hoping to bring the family this year- we’ve never been! My boys are 5 and 4 now, so i think they’d have a blast!

  292. Julie watson says

    I haven’t been since I was in 6th grade (31 yo now!). Would love to use these tickets to go with our friends and kiddos!

  297. Bridgette Cooper says

    Would love to finally be able to go and enjoy this with my family! Love Charlotte on the Cheap!

  313. Simone says

    My family moved here a year ago and we have been so interested in going to the renaissance festival. 😍 I hope I can win the tickets!

  326. Brandi C says

    Would love to win tickets for my boys to enjoy the festival!! I’ve been going since I was a child!

  331. Monteka says

    I would love to win these tickets! My mom and nieces have been wanting to go to the renaissance festival for years!

  332. Tonya Mitchell says

    I’ve always wanted to attend the Renaissance Festival but never had anybody to go with. Being single is hard. And I hate being the 3rd wheel. But I’ve made a few friends in a group on Facebook. I would love to be able to attend this with them and make memories! Happy Fall Y’all! ❤️ 🍂🍁

  334. Sue Z says

    I am looking forward to again attending RenFest with my adult children – ALL of them 🙂
    It’s always been a great time for us, and better when we enjoy it together.
    I hope I win these tix to take family AND friends with us.

  336. Mitzi Furr says

    We have attended the festival since it opened in 1994 when my child was not even 1yr old. We are excited to now attend with our grandchild. 3 generations together enjoying, great family fun while building the foundation for the 4th generation.
    This is a wonderful opportunity.Thank you. We have quite a few family members so winning tickets would be wonderful.

  343. Gennifer Wilson says

    I look forward to RenFest every year and it’s always a great time! Would be amazing to win! HUZZAH!!

  344. Cindy Fung says

    Sounds fun. I don’t understand the expensive tickets. Maybe one of those things I need to experience to know.

  350. Kyra S. says

    You mentioned the content of the comment doesn’t matter, so here goes. A favorite quote of mine.
    “Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.”

  353. Paige Harshbarger says

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to win tickets to the Charlotte Renaissance Festival! We love going as a family!

  368. Marcia says

    Huzzah!! Lived her 20 years and last year was my first time attending. Really hope to win tickets so I can take my cousin’s kids.

  371. Angela Henderson says

    I’m autistic and have been taking care of my sick mother for 10 yrs. She passed away Aug 2nd and now I am able to take some time to go to the Faire again with a wonderful cousin of mine. I sure hope I win!

  396. Melissa E says

    My son is turning 8 and this is all he keeps talking about wanting to do for his birthday! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

  397. Melissa Congdon says

    Would love po bring my Girl Scouts troop again this year! They have a fun patch program at the Renaissance festival!

  406. Sherry Brown says

    Greetings!
    How terrific does the Resistance Festival sound! This event seems to provide highly anticipated incredible entertainment, mainly for myself and ten family members.

    With thanks,
    Dr. Sherry Brown

  411. Jorden Henderson says

    What would be a better way to celebrate fall than going to the Ren fest with a group of friends and family. Hope I win.

  414. Sherry Brown says

    A first visit to this event awaits us! The family is thrilled and looks forward to the enjoyment. The Charlotte area has terrific events and activities, thanks to the cheap platform for its ability to inform the community.

    Sincerely,
    Dr. Sherry Brown

  417. Claire says

    I can’t wait to take my grandchildren to the Renaissance Festival this year! I know they will love it!!

  424. Julie Mark says

    We would love to check this out. I’ve been in Charlotte for 11 years and I have not gone to the renaissance festival yet! Hope I win!!

  427. DANIELLE ANSON says

    WOULD LOVE TO WIN; THIS TEACHER AND FAM HAVE STILL NEVER BEEN AND HAVE BEEN ENTERING FOR A FEW YEARS! FINGERS CROSSED!!

  432. Shannon Torsiello says

    I’d love to take my kids and their friends! We went last year and had the BEST experience.

  437. Laura Thompson says

    it would be so amazing to win this! Band season is killing my budget this year and the kids would have so much fun!

  438. Amanda Adams says

    Family of four here, we would love the opportunity to go!! Thank you for having this contest!!!!

  440. Amanda D says

    Thank you for running these contests! The kids really want to go, but even on free kid days it’s still really expensive. Especially if you want to eat! Not sure it’s in the cards this year.

  448. Andrea DeMatteis says

    You have the best website! I look forward to all the great things this city has to offer, Thank You!!

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