Bristol Renaissance Faire

The Bristol Ren Faire is the highlight of my summer. Used to visit fairly frequently 20 years ago when it was King Richard’s Faire, but for some reason got out of the habit. Rediscovered it again 2 years ago, and have been delighted ever since. Rented a costume the first year, but since then, have invested in purchasing my own. If you want the WHOLE experience… wear a costume. It changes the entire experience when you become part of the fun! And people watching… no better place. (Though I will warn… some of the costumes are very… Uhmmm.revealing. And… unique. If that’s going to bother you as a parent, you’ve been warned)
Yes…the shows can be corny… and yes… the food is pricey. But that’s the name of the game when dealing with theme parks. If you go with that in mind, you won’t be disappointed. A real chance to live in a different world… at least for a day! Eat a turkey leg! See a joust! Buy a floral headpiece and behave like a Renaissance maiden! It’s all part of the fun!

I guess my review would land somewhere in between a 3 and 4.
I should say up front that I have several good friends who work at this Faire in varying capacities and have always enjoyed seeing them and the other actors and workers in costume. They always stay completely in character, are good with kids and have some superhuman ability to withstand BLAZING HOT temperatures on top of humidity so thick it’s hard to breathe WHILE being dressed in thick, layered costumes, some of which even include metal.
Here’s something I’ve told my friends who ask about it after all three times I’ve gone with my family: BRING ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MUCH MONEY AS YOU PLANNED. I knew that food would be expensive, as it always is at theme-​type attractions but there is literally almost NOTHING included in the price of admission. The first time we went, I ended up withdrawing money twice from a (hidden) ATM because I kept thinking, «Surely, we won’t need MORE money!» As a mom, the thing that was most frustrating to me was that all the children’s «rides» (they were all man-​powered, in staying with the period) were around $ 3 a piece and didn’t last more than a minute or two. Well, take a couple of kids who are, say, 8 and 10 and you can do the math. The only other option is to tell them they can’t do more than one or two of the activities geared for them and prepare yourself for a long day of boredom and crankiness.
One thing they do a nice job of is «rating» the shows/​activities for Faire-​goers. It was very clear to me as a parent what would be appropriate to take the kids to and what we should skip due to crude humor/​language, etc. Naturally, that doesn’t stop some parents from dragging their kids to EVERY show but they can’t say they weren’t warned.
Speaking of the shows, the mistake we made the first year was not having a plan. If you’re going to go, get a schedule of the shows/​activities and plan your day out so you can fit in everything you want to do. This will also help you familiarize yourself with the grounds. Otherwise, you will end up aimlessly walking around and finding that you missed every show you wanted to see by 10 minutes. Seats for shows do go quickly so it’s best to show up a little early.

What can i say about the Renaissance faire? Its a fun tradition and always a fun time each year I go. Ive done it for two years now and its enjoyable each time! I always make sure to get some honey meade which simply cant be beat. The prices are a bit high as expected of a theme park, both food and items in general. But the shows are always fun to watch and the tomato throwing is hilarious. I really enjoy seeing how into it the characters are and how dressy people get.
Parking is okay, $ 5 to park in the grass and its a fairly significant walk. There is free parking but the walk is a bit farther and usually its worth $ 5.
All in all its a good time and its what you make of it. Very family friendly but us college students always have a great time! Id recommend getting the honey meade, turkey leg, and cheesecake on a stick. Oh and almost everyone is willing to take a photo with you if you ask them too and the queen herself is a nice lady :)

My first initial thought of BRF was «is this for real?». Walking from the parking lot to the entrance I noticed how many people really get into the spirit of things with their costumes and language. So much spirit that you wonder who really works here and who are the guests?
The actors really try to engage the guests and I loved how they especially treated my son… whether it was some pirates asking him to join their crew (he was dressed as a pirate) to the knight on horseback waving to him to being knighted by the Queen. My son had an absolute blast and of course that makes me a happy Mom.
From an adult point of view, I really did have a good time. There is a map and schedule of events provided and that helped us plan our day. The grounds is a whole lot bigger than I had imagined and there is a lot to experience. Reading the reviews I knew I wanted to go to the Mud Show (predictable but entertaining) and the Fire Whip show (wow, that was pretty cool). We also attended one of the Joust tournaments, One of my favorites though was the Tomato throw – where you’ve got a guy heckling you while you attempt to peg him in the face with smooshy tomatoes. I loved the barbs this guy was throwing at people and his jokes were pretty spot on. If you don’t have a sense of humor, stay away from this venue.
It’s best to get a seat early for the more popular shows – especially the jousting tournament because only one side of the ring has bleacher seating. I hope they fix the other side – they really need more raised seating.
There are a lot of vendors – jewelry, soap, candles, period costumes, just to name a few. And also the food stalls. The food stalls are scattered throughout the faire so just when you thought you ran out of food options, there seemed to be more just around the corner.
We saved a little on tickets by purchasing them at Walgreens, so I highly recommend checking BRF’s website, groupon, etc for other discount ticket options. As with most fairs, food and drink is a little on the pricey side. And the shows, although you think is just a show, tipping is highly encouraged, and actually it’s incorporated into the act at the Mud Show.

Let me say this: my 7 and 9 year old kids loved it. If you are 7 or 9 years old, either chronologically or emotionally, you will, too.
For everyone else, you will be appalled at paying a fairly steep admission price to enter a shabby county fair with a thin veneer of historical fantasy and sadness
Parents should know that rides and many attractions aren’t included in the admissions price, the food is expensive and not very good, and most of the bathrooms are port-​a-​johns.
There are some skilled professional actors and entertainers playing their roles and offering shows — many of which were quite good. These hard-​working folks are outnumbered by adults who mistakenly believe that dressing up in anachronistic historical costumes gives them a personality. Ill-​fitting tights are everywhere and know no gender. Jiggling bellies spill from the bottom of vests and boobs fall over the top of optimistically sized bustiers.
Again, my kids loved it. I would like never to go back.

The Faire is obviously no longer family friendly!!!
I was here labor day 2015 and saw a young ‘man’ walking about in nothing more then transparent undies. His package was not visable but EVERYTHING ELSE was. After speaking with 2 different security personal I was told that he was ok’ed on a technicality.
only a few years ago I was being confronted over having my darby cuffs on my belt (bought on site) and others for having the word «sub» on a tee shirt.
all I can say is I will be thinking twice before coming back with my children.

This was my first Ren Faire experience! The show goes on rain or shine, so I was hesitant to drive all the way and pay to enter only to get soaked. Luckily, it was a great day to be out. The pros: it’s fun and you don’t have to be in costume to enjoy the atmosphere, it’s judgement-​free and most people are looking to have fun and respect everyone else’s fun, and there’s plenty of food and drink options. I found it to be a bit pricey at $ 24/​person only because every show already includes a portion where audience members give money (optional, but annoying). Parking is $ 5 and is relatively quick and easy. All in all, I’m glad I came. The best part was seeing the small kids having a great time!

The same acts doing the same shows as the other 3 or 4 times I’ve been here in the last 15 years. They are still entertaining to watch, but since nothing is new I know the outcomes. It takes some of the magic away, if you will.
Two things that stood out to me today: brand name sodas are available and iced lattes/​iced chai is sold everywhere.
I want to rate this higher, but it’s so expensive and there really isn’t a whole lot to do for someone who isn’t into cosplay or playing renaissance dress-​up. On a positive note, the food rarely disappoints and there are tons of large trees offering shade. Also, free parking is available, so save yourself five bucks and hoof it to the admission gates.

I don’t understand some of the recent negative reviews. I’ve been coming here just about every year since my childhood, and it’s just as great as it’s ever been! Sure, some of the acts are still the same as they’ve always been, but that’s ok! There’s new stuff, too! Some improv, some learning new skills. And there are MANY very talented musical acts still, on stages and randomly throughout the park. The food is delicious, albeit pricey. (Those cheese fritters! And the fish and chips! So much awesome food.)
I took part in the pub crawl for the first time this year, and it was the absolute best! Definitely earned it’s R rating, and it does sell out so buy your ticket for that online. No one got excessively drunk, and they gave us each a bottle of water at the end.
Sure, your kids might overhear some foul language or see the occasional drunk, but that stuff happens at all theme parks. There are many great kids activities though and the shows are clearly marked with a rating so can tell ahead of time if it’s appropriate for your child.
I still love this place just as much as I did as a kid and plan on returning for years to come.

I’ve been coming here since I was little, and I love it as much as I did back then.
I don’t really understand some of the negative reviews: the tagline for the faire is Where Fantasy Rules. So yes, there are fantasy elements. That’s part of what makes this faire so cool. I also appreciate that they have themed weekends like Steampunk, because it allows people to be appreciated for their skills in costuming and design. Plus, it’s awesome to people watch. Some of the things these people come up with are fantastic.
This is a family place. So yes, there are children. And strollers. It only really becomes noticeable on insanely crowded days. Otherwise, the fair is big enough and the crowds spread out enough that there’s room for them to navigate.
There’s plenty to do here. There’s tons of stores each selling a specialty, from soaps to swords to tapestries to everything in between. There’s also a wide variety of shows including singing, comedy, jousting and whip skills. Plus there is a pub crawl for the adults, and something called RenQuest– a fantasy quest that people can play that takes place all over the fairgrounds.
The bathrooms are hit and miss. There are plenty of locations, but they do get gross, really fast. If you go to the ones near the entrance/​exit, they’re actual toilets with plumbing and water and toilet paper. If you make the mistake of going to the ones in the back, those are portapotties. Ye olde ew.
Food and drinks are kind of on the expensive side, but I haven’t really had anything bad here, food-​wise. This most recent trip, I had cheese fritters, which were about 7 or 8 dollars for I believe 6 of them. They were SO good. They were made hot to order, and were gooey and delicious inside, and brown and crunchy outside. You also CANNOT miss the garlic mushrooms. They come in a bowl of garlic butter goodness with a bit of bread for dipping. Honestly, it’s part of why I come to the fair. I think it’s around $ 4.50 for a bowl of them, if I’m not mistaken. I also have to get a gingerbread man from the bakery whenever I’m there. They’re just so good, and only like $ 2.
Don’t mix that up with the coffee shop, which also sells baked goods. Those are okay treats, but the macarons and bundt cakes are premade from a retail store. They were in the display window still on the plastic cake trays (plus, we used to sell those cakes at my old job!).
From henna to playgrounds and archery and fencing, there’s something to do for everyone. You can get your money’s worth easily if you stay for the shows and events. I love it here, and I think the faire is what you make of it.

The Renaissance Faire is always a grand time! The shows are super fun and the food is tasty. Yes everything is a bit expensive but you win some you loose some, the portions are also pretty generous so that’s always a plus!

(whining) I REALLY wanted to give this four stars but I just couldn’t. It’s just not the same as when I was a kid. (/​whinging). And yeah, I’ll go again because it’s the only Ren Faire in the area and all my friends go but it’s super SUPER expensive and now they have ridiculous themes like Steampunk days and Cosplay days. Don’t those things have their own conventions? Why do they have to be present at a Ren Faire? There are a few crafts worth checking out: *some* of the clothing, jewelry and leather book binding booths are really neat.
The real reason I go? The giant frosting roses from the bakery. There — I admit it.

This was my second time going here, the previous time being 4 years ago.
The overall environment is very eclectic and it is great for people watching.
My favorite shows by far are the Fire Whip Show (Guinness world record breaker) — good for all ages but a few of the jokes were a little bit adult oriented, even though he incorporated children from the audience into the show.
The Mud Show– PG-​13 for a good reason, maybe teeters on R — the show was hilarious and the 2 main actors really got the crowd going. Especially that larger guy… He made the most messed up jokes. It was just this overly loud couple next to us that kept chatting during the show that kind of ruined it for me this time. Overall a huge recommendation.
The Jousting — great for all ages. Pretty impact resistant, except when they ou rude the shields for points. It is kind off in to cheer for «your» knight. Also, I went on one of those 86 degree days and the Knights were wearing full armor etc and they didn’t pass out or complain. Kudos to them.
The petting zoo was really nice… A ton of goats and sheep the there was a variety other animals. $ 1 for a feed cup is not too bad.
Overall, it’s a great place and I will definitely be going back in the future.

Went here this weekend. This was my first time going to this renaissance faire and I have to say I enjoyed it. The food was delicious, the acts were pretty good, and there were so many people in intricate costumes it was a great people watching experience as well.
Only downside is that I felt like the shops were all very expensive. I didn’t think anything I saw in the shops were really worth the price (except for some of the exceptional leatherwork). Maybe it’s just because I’ve never been here before but everything seemed exceedingly overpriced.
Side note: I would try to sneak in your own water. Not only is is difficult to find (only shops with beer can sell them), but they are $ 3/​bottle. :/

The Renaissance Faire in Bristol Wisconsin is always an excellent time. Tomato Justice, Moonie, Barely Balanced, Tartuga Twins, the ambiance, shops, and the food are always very entertaining and satisfying.
Words of caution: sometimes performances are of an adult nature. If you have little ones, bring them with you but supervise them.
Nevertheless, I try to attend every year!

Went today with a couple of close friends. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but I can say what I learned about the Faire:
–It’s definitely a better place for kids than it is for adults. There’s alcohol, thank goodness, but the shows are, for the most part, written for a younger audience.
–Speaking of shows: there were a lot of them. You can sit for a show in one spot of Bristol and expect to hear one or two other shows nearby.
–The shows themselves vary. There are some great ones on weaponry/​fighting, and we saw a great glassblowing demonstration.
–Who is a park employee and who is a tourist like you? You may never know for sure…
Amid the cheese was a great sense of camaraderie: everyone is there to nerd out on the Renaissance.

Walk into this fair and you definitely feel like you’ve stepped back in time — and are running into some funky people. But I mean that in a good way. People take their Renaissance festivals seriously. So many guests actually dress up – not just the staff.
There are tons of shows throughout the day but you do need to plan if you want to make sure you see the right ones.
I know families of little girls who adore coming here and seeing the fairies. But I have boys. We thought we’d try it out. Can you say javelin horse competitions and whip demonstrations? I can’t imagine any kid not loving the spectacle of this place.
That said, this place is costly. From the entrance fee to the abundant shops that line the entire place, you can easily walk away after dropping a lot of coin. Just to make sure you get your money’s worth of the ticket, plan to spend a good portion of the day here.
And so while this family is good family fun, I only see us coming once a season because the cost can add up quickly.
COSTLY BUT FUN

Having grown up in Southern California in the 1970s, I thought I knew what a Renaissance Faire was: a collection of tents and small booths set up temporarily on sprawling farmland.
Bristol Renaissance Faire is something completely different, and closer to an entire theme park than a temporary attraction.
Scattered beneath giant shade trees, and wandering its was over gentle hills, through glens and at one point even across a pond, the fair is comprised of more than 100 permanent structures, each uniquely themed as a period building.
Many attendees wear costumes, and fantasy attire is almost as popular as period dress, however most people just wear regular clothes, so you don’t need to feel self-​conscious if you don’t look like a fairy.
Handicrafts and food, in many cases themed to the era (not sure about the medieval french fries) make for a delightful day.
Note that lines to get into the parking area can be VERY long, so plan to arrive early in the day, especially if it’s hot.
This is definitely a must-​visit annual attraction.

For an overall review, read some of the others because they really hit it in terms of what you can expect. My review addresses why yesterday will be my LAST visit. I’m even going to write myself a letter, because I’ve made this vow before, to remind myself why this should no longer fit into my summer plans…
When I was a kid /​teen the fair was smaller but better.
SHOPPING ~ It’s basically an open air mall with entertainment. There used to be a lot of actual ARTISANS rather than wooden sword vendors and junk dealers. Anyone remember that guy who made the jewelry and sculptures out of little brass people? There was seriously cool stuff to be had. Now you can buy soap…“dragon tears”…$ 600 sharp as all hell weapons… jewelry and ornaments you’ll never wear anywhere in your real life if you’re not regularly into cosplay.
ACTS ~ How tired. I think I’ve seen the same acts… heard the same lines… for more than 30 years. With some it’s like seeing old friends but even old friends you hope to hear updates. The variety is WAY down.
MUSIC ~ This was always the draw for me. …but where is it? Aside from a guy inexpertly demonstrating a whistle he was selling we heard NOTHING. It’s all gone. Had been dwindling for years but now… How sad. What has happened that traditional music artists don’t bother with this anymore? Makes me wonder about the business model…
Why is it all so stale? It used to be so entertaining but now there’s a distinct feeling of actually BEING in a mall with other patrons somehow agreeing to be the entertainment with their enthusiasm for matching the theme.
That said… the people watching is exceptional. If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo and are on the fence GO! This will push you to one side or the other. lol Some people have a lot of fun and a lot of success in dressing up. Others… omg… A sight to behold!
But I’m done. If it was just me and a good friend, okay… just for something to do and the people watching… but we brought foreign guests and I felt embarrassed to bring them to something that’s become so bare and tacky.

My three best friends in the entire universe and I decided to do a fun Girl’s Trip this past weekend to the Renaissance Faire.
One of my coworkers actually works there part time so it got me interested when she was discussing this puzzling place. A place where everyone dresses like they are from the 1500s. Allow me to share some tips.
Tips:
1) Bring sunscreen (and reapply often). I have a burn. My friends have a burn.
Everyone at work who went has a burn– even with SPF50. I think the sun in Wisconsin is stronger or something.
2) Wear comfortable shoes. The roads are gravel and dirt (with fake hay). I actually had to go back to my car to change shoes during the middle of the day.
3) Bring CASH! One ATM with a LONGGGG line. It’s cash only everywhere we went.
4) Turkey Legs– This was highly anticipated and my friends and I spent the week before discussing the turkey-​leg-​on-​a-​stick and how amazing it would be. The actual leg is the size of my thigh. It was HUGE. The plastic silverware was useless. I threw away half the leg because it was impossible to eat.
5) Bathrooms: There are TWO (non-​portapotty) bathrooms. I do not use portapotties. The lines to the «flushable» bathrooms were long but went really fast. The bathrooms were surprisingly very clean and well maintained. Plan your trip accordingly.
6) Costumes: you can rent your own! (not my thing) but plenty of people dress in Medieval-​like clothes. And Star Wars costumes. Or in «costumes» that should not have been out in public. But heyyy whatever floats your boat!
7) Parking. We paid the 5 dollar «premium» parking rate and it still was a hike to the front. I have no clue how far people who didn’t pay the rate would have to park.
8) Pack your car with a cooler– you can come in and out to have snacks (or change shoes)
I’ll leave it at 8 tips. Have fun and oh yeah– tip the performers when they pass the hat!