Minnesota Renaissance Festival 2027

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a large outdoor Renaissance-themed festival held in Shakopee, Minnesota, recreating the atmosphere of a 16th-century village through performers, jousting, crafts, food, games, and costumed characters. Founded in 1971, it reports annual attendance around 300,000 and describes itself as the largest Renaissance festival in the United States.

2027 season

The 56th season runs Saturdays and Sundays from August 21 through October 3, 2027, plus Labor Day (September 6) and Festival Friday (October 1). Gates are scheduled to be open 9 a.m.–7 p.m., rain or shine; organizers say the festival’s physical footprint will remain the same as in 2026.

What happens there

The festival combines live entertainment and armored jousting with a sprawling artisan marketplace and participatory attractions. Current festival information advertises 16+ stages, 250+ artisans, 500+ food-and-beverage selections, and 50+ games, rides, and attractions, while the 2027 additions announced so far include celebration ribbons, cardboard-combat activities, and children’s craft programming.

The experience

Visitors encounter musicians, comedians, magicians, acrobats, craftspeople and other performers amid a village-style setting, with costumes encouraged but not required. Full-combat jousting is one of the signature spectacles, while artisan demonstrations and handmade goods—including leatherwork, ceramics, jewelry, glass and other crafts—make shopping a substantial part of the event.

The grounds are in Shakopee, Minnesota, and date-specific parking passes are required for on-site parking; the festival also promotes Park & Ride options. Dogs are permitted subject to the festival’s registration and dog-policy requirements, and guests may bring either one factory-sealed water bottle or one empty reusable bottle, with free refill stations available around the grounds.