Renaissance Festival crowds return in near-record numbers
9 of 16 dates sold out, organizations said
The following article appeared in the December 3, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
Crowds stormed the gates as Carolina RenFest nearly hit last year’s record attendance, organizers say
The Carolina Renaissance Festival wrapped up last month with near-record attendance, with pixies and peasants showing up to the 32nd festival in force (and some in armor).
The festival doesn’t publicly release attendance figures, but sold out nine of its 16 dates on October and November weekends and came close to last year’s record high, said marketing director Matt Siegel. The festival says on its website that it draws around 240,000 visitors over eight weekends.
The festival, which is believed to be one of the largest Renaissance fairs in the country, features a dependable roster of jousts, shopping, hypnotists, comedy acts, falconry, carnival games and turkey legs. Each year, there are a few variations. This year, Siegel said, the introduction of interactive roaming comic “Skidmark the Peasant” was a hit, as he “quickly became a crowd favorite.”