Sterling Renaissance Festival — Attraction in Town of Sterling

My first time coming as an adult. My parents took my when I was a kid but I do not remember that. Be prepared to spend A LOT of money on top of the ticket prices. Especially if you have kids! I brought $200 cash which I thought was a lot but not here! They have some rides for kids. Everything is $5 per kids. So $10 per ride for my 2 kids! We have a Seabreeze membership so that broke my heart a little to pay that much. The maze was awesome, I recommend that. Kids can't go alone so be prepared to spend another $5. There are vendors all throughout. So pricey! I saw a super cute bag with a cat on it, but it was $88. They had wooden swords that were $50. Butterfly wings for $225! Turkey leg was $19 and had NO seasoning on it. Not even salt. Performers need better microphone setups. Could hardly hear anyone. We couldn't hear the queen at the jousting tournament which was a shame. Lots of workers at the Faire didn't talk old time to us which was disappointing. The best part of our visit was the clan tynker family circus. My kids actually watched the whole time (3 and 5) and loved it! They were kind enough to take a photo with my girls which just made their day! And mine! All the performers sell stuff after. We got 2 stickers for $10 but I didn't mind because my kids enjoyed the circus so much. They had a guy walking around with pretzels on a stick, that was cool. My girls got face painting done it was $12 and $15. Not bad for how elaborate they were. The artist was so talented. A cup of soda was $4 and mostly ice. It comes in a plastic cup with no lid or straw, so it is very hard to carry. It was $11 for some steak fries. $15 for my Caesar salad which I kid you not had maybe 20 pieces of lettuce? No chicken just lettuce croutons a slice of tomato a onion ring and shakey parmesaen cheese on it. They were out of chicken kabobs and we only went on the second day. Disappointing as I was trying to eat healthy. I didn't see anything for Kids to eat. My kids are picky. They only had the fries and some of my mom's pretzel. The insulting tomato guy was fun. I thought it was strange the tomato you get to throw at him was sliced by it probably would've been too easy otherwise. He was funny and made my whole family laugh. The bathroom is called a privy in old timy language if you go and need to use it lol. The music people played was fantastic. They had ice cream float for $16! It's just soda, a scoop of ice cream in the tiny cup. I was shocked at the prices and for that reason I don't plan on coming back. Maybe in 5 years or something. But I wasn't overly impressed. Good family memory but I will spend my money somewhere else next summer. The rules said you couldn't bring outside food or drink but if we could've packed a lunch for my kids and healthy good for me it would've been more enjoyable. I wanted to add, this terrain isn't easy for wheelchairs. My dad had a walker and had to go up a huge hill we were all scared he was going to fall backwards. Rocky pathes and tree roots everywhere just...

Edit 2025: I feel the crowds have thinned out somewhat at least the last couple years we've been, and they are staffing food stalls better (2 attendants in most stalls) which is helping to reduce lines. If you need to eat a regular times do bring at least some snacks and plan the drive so if you'll be hungry when you get there, you have some snacks or a picnic to eat. Bring a water bottle and refill at your car (no refill stations within except the medic tent for those in medical need). The magic is always there, but it's easier to find when you are hydrated and fed! I still feel management does not care about customers. Infrastructure is overall old and dated. Ticket price does not relate to the infrastructure. The performers and the community around Sterling make it special. I go for that reason.

Also to add: Opening weekend is usually pretty quiet and it does help to arrive after 1-2pm or before 10am.

Original 2023:

I never have considered posting such a low review of this place, but the overcrowding, especially of food lines, has gotten so bad since the pandemic. I have been coming since 2004. It is a beautiful venue and totally unique experience for those who love the arts as well as fantasy. I attend because I enjoy the performers , artists and the overall environment. The park’s owner had always been in it for profit but it has gotten worse since 2020 as the park has gotten more popular and the staffing less. On nice days the park gets completely oversold and is understaffed, so that your entire day gets spent in line or navigating around lines. People routinely are waiting backed up for miles to enter the parking lot, typically a 60-minute wait. Then wait another 45 mins to buy tickets at the gate, with few cashiers open. Then when you get inside, the food stalls are severely understaffed. They have one person at each food stall when historically they always had two. The drinks aren’t sold at every stand so you can have to skip out or spend an extra 60 mins waiting for soda. I have heard people routinely commenting they spent their whole day in line. I don’t mind waiting in line - I expect to wait 20-30 mins at ren faires. But 1-2 hrs is next level. It’s one thing to wait for parking but to wait hours for lunch when no outside food is permitted is a whole other ordeal. The heart of the festival is still wonderful, just the lack of accommodation of guests is totally egregious. If you go, buy your ticket online to avoid the line at the gate and bring a cooler with lunch and snacks so you can tailgate for lunch at your car. Arriving at off hours (before 9:30 or after 3) can help with the lines into the festival. But not necessarily the food lines. Trying to go on a day with weather that looks iffy can help. Go, but...

We have gone to the Sterling Festival several times and had a good time. This time we decided to pay $300 for the Royal Feast. It is toted as a 5 course meal with entertainment and a visit from the Queen herself. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY

We were put into a warm dining area with high-back wooden booths. No cushions, tables can't move so if you are tall, you will not be comfortable. On the table was a plastic platter of rolls that were dry and too hard with a tub of butter with the thinnest of paper plates on which there was a few slices of cheese and a few grapes. You get 3 utensils but they were made of bamboo and are basically popsicle sticks. I'm not joking...then you get a bowl of hot soup (remember this is the height of summer) which you only get 3 good spoonfuls of. We had Italian wedding soup, I didn't have a single sausage in mine. Next is the salad which was good but soo small. The best part of the meal was the beef with grilled vegetables. It was delicious and there was a decent amount of it. Finally, there is desert which were fine as well, although every single one had nuts, coconut or strawberries in them and I am allergic to strawberries and nuts so I was kindof out of luck. I even called ahead and they never tell you what will be on the menu so you basically buy this $300 meal never knowing if you will like everything on the menu.

Well what about the entertainment? Surely it was good right? Not even close. While we were waiting for each course, about 15 actors roamed around telling jokes and trying stupid card tricks that didn't work and some came off as very annoying. The Queen came later, but I'll get to that. There was a juggler who couldn't do most of his act because his partner wasn't there, the comedians barely got any laughs and there was a magician that was okay I guess. Remember, you are in high back booths so I couldn't see half the show over the back of my chair since we were facing away of it. There was plenty of room so that each couple or family could have their own booth but instead we we put with a couple we didn't know with one of them who was drunk and obnoxious the whole darn time. Now for the Queen, she showed up, tried to play the ball in the hole game with the jester for a bit, them walked around chatting with people. She never came to our table. Not a single time. She spent about 20 minutes there then left.

Please do not waste your money on this sad affair. Especially not $300 for a couple. Enjoy the fair for everything else. I have been to royal feasts for the same price at other venues and I've had better food and fun at...