Knights, jousting, turkey legs, high-wire acts, 200-plus artisan vendors, and a 25-acre English village just 30 minutes south of Dallas — this Texas institution runs every weekend through May 25.
There are events you attend. Then there are events you fall into and emerge from hours later, blinking, wondering how the whole day disappeared. Scarborough Renaissance Festival is definitively the second kind.
For 45 seasons, Scarborough Renaissance Festival has stood as a Texas institution, welcoming generations of families, travelers, and tradition-seekers to step back in time to the 16th century each spring. The festival transforms a 25-acre English village in Waxahachie into a destination that draws visitors throughout Texas and nationwide. This is its milestone 45th season — and it is still every bit as extraordinary as the first time you go.
The Story Behind It
Scarborough’s first run was in 1981. The festival opens the first weekend in April and runs every Saturday, Sunday, and Memorial Day Monday through late May, set in the 16th century under the reign of King Henry VIII. What began as a regional faire has grown into one of the most beloved Renaissance festivals in the country — a place where families return year after year, where cosplay meets genuine craftsmanship, and where the boundary between audience and performer essentially disappears.
“For 45 years, guests have returned with their families, introduced new generations to the Festival, and made Scarborough a tradition that spans decades,” said Veronica Castelo, general manager of Southwest Festivals, LLC.
What’s Happening on the Grounds
Scarborough Renaissance Festival features more than 20 stages and performance areas of continuous live programming every single day. The 2026 lineup includes returning fan favorites — social media sensations The Fortress Dwellers, Opal the Fairy, Tartanic, Kamikaze Fireflies, Adam Crack, Jacques Ze Whipper, Cirque du Sewer, Arthur Greenleaf Holmes, The Spice Boys, and dozens of musicians, comedians, acrobats, and specialty performers spread across the village.
Beyond the stages, the grounds are packed with things to do. Interactive attractions include the Mermaid Lagoon, Mythical Monster Museum, Royal Menagerie, and Unicorn Experience, as well as games of skill and human-powered rides. Guests can ride barrel rides, swings, the pirate ship swing, and the quintain jousting ride. Camel and pony rides offer younger guests an old-world experience that has become a festival tradition.
And through it all, the food. Turkey legs the size of your forearm, meat pies, giant pickles, roasted corn, funnel cakes, and enough ale to fill the Thames. This is the real festival food experience.
200-Plus Artisan Vendors
The festival celebrates more than 200 handcrafted shoppes — blacksmiths, leatherworkers, glassblowers, jewelers, candle makers, woodcarvers, and more. This is not a flea market. Every vendor at Scarborough is making or selling something genuinely crafted, and the browsing alone can fill half a day.
Themed Weekends Still to Come
One of the things that keeps people coming back weekend after weekend is the themed calendar. Each weekend has its own identity and special programming, which means every visit feels different from the last.
May 2–3: Spring Celebration and Chivalry Weekend — floral adornments throughout the village, maypole dancing, chivalry lessons, and vow renewals. Guests are invited to embrace traditions rooted in community and connection.
May 9–10: Pirates Weekend — the village goes rogue with swashbuckling entertainment, themed costuming, and high-seas revelry all weekend long.
May 15–17: Heroes and Legends Weekend — celebrating the warriors, knights, and legendary figures who define the Renaissance era.
May 22–24: Finale and Farewell Weekend — three days to soak in everything Scarborough before the gates close for the season.
Memorial Day Monday, May 25: The final day of the 45th season. A perfect reason to make it a long weekend.
Discounts Worth Knowing
Active duty and veteran service members with a military ID receive $3 off adult single-day tickets at the gate, plus up to four family members. Seniors 65 and older receive $3 off. Discount tickets are also available at North Texas Tom Thumb and Albertsons locations through May 25. Groups of 15 or more receive 10 percent off online. Tickets are date-specific but can be rescheduled anytime prior to your chosen date or up to seven days after.
Getting There
Scarborough Renaissance Festival is located just 30 minutes south of downtown Dallas and Fort Worth, one mile west of I-35E south at the exit for FM 66 near historic downtown Waxahachie. Parking is included in the adult ticket price. Arrive by 9:45 a.m. to get ahead of the crowds and secure a good spot.
Event Details
Event: Scarborough Renaissance Festival — 45th Season Remaining Dates:
May 2–3, May 9–10, May 15–17, May 22–24, and Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2026 Hours: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily Location: 2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, TX 75167 Phone: (972) 938-3247
Website: srfestival.com
Facebook: Scarborough Renaissance Festival Instagram: @scarboroughfaire
