Maryland Renaissance Festival — Local services in Edgewater

Went on the first Saturday in September at 2pm, which was sold out of tickets the day before, even though it was overcast. This is a review of my experience as a first timer, and as someone who usually doesn't attend these events.

I don't see much variety to come back multiple times a season, or even once yearly. However, nothing stood out to me and it was mostly what I had expected - an outdoor event with lots of people, overpriced food and shops, and the excuse of going there for the "atmosphere" and to drink all day.

Parking: Arrived at 2PM, no traffic, and parking attendants were directing us, making the process smooth. Parked on grass and trekked across grassy lots to reach the entrance (no pathed paths). Left around 6pm and there was traffic - waited about 15 minutes to get to the main road.

Entrance: The gate wasn't very large so we follow everyone else on where to go. No line, but we had our tickets ready (make sure to download or print them, since signal here wasn't very good/non existent). No bag checks, and could each bring a bottle of water. They'll give you a map and schedule of shows.

Air quality: For people with issues breathing, I recommend wearing a mask. There is a LOT of dust/dirt just floating around, and you'll be breathing it in, especially if you watch the jousting show. The smell in the air is a mixture of sweat, dirt, horses/horse poop, food, and porta potties which is pretty unpleasant.

Food/drinks: Bring CASH! This is mostly an event to drink all day with your friends, with drink stalls everywhere. Lots of food options like scotch eggs, cheesecake on a stick, funnel cakes. They ranged in price from $7-$12, and the portions were really small. I tried the teriyaki chicken on a stick, which was half of a slightly marinaded chicken thigh on a stick (not small chicken bits on a stick, and not grilled/charred in any way). Food was mid, and you can probably find better at a county fair.

Shops: Lots of shops selling costumes and weapons. Expected a larger range of artisan works and cool knickknacks to buy, but nothing stands out unless you like crystals, flower crowns, or knives. Nothing looked special enough to justify their prices, even though I support handmade items. The glass workers shops were cool to see their demonstrations.

Shows: This was a large part of coming here, to watch the jousting and horse show. It was a disappointment, since the show was so performative and scripted: they barely hit each other, the horses mostly walked, and the actors' did not have microphones so you can't hear. The other shows are part performative, and part educational or comedy. There's a lot of talking and adult humor so younger kids might not enjoy them. Especially for jousting, if you want a see/to be able to see/hear, make sure to arrive at least 30 mins early. I recommend sitting more in the middle and not at the front, since the jousting show kicks up a LOT of dirt, especially during the chariot portion.

Location: It was slightly raining and the trees do offer some protection against very light rain. It's a gravel/dirt path throughout the area with lots of bumps and slopes, so it may be more difficult if you have issues maneuvering. I wouldn't recommend strollers or wagons. It's also in the middle of nowhere so it's a lot harder to get signal, especially with the amount of people.

Atmosphere: Tickets were sold out the day we went, it was pretty busy and crowded, especially around the food places and shows. It was probably a 50/50 of people that dressed up and those that didn't. It is very much heavy on the drinking atmosphere and more adult geared, even though it's technically child friendly.

Bathrooms were porta potties, smelly, and ran out of soap and water. I recommend bringing your own hand sanitizer if you...

We had an amazing time at the Maryland Renaissance Festival, especially since we dressed up and brought our 4-year-old along. It was a great family experience that we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Things to know prior: plan your outfit at least a couple weeks out, tickets sell out - buy prior, Free parking onsite, and BRING CASH. (Some allow CC, but many vendors are cash only)

Before attending, I had read some reviews criticizing the food for being mostly fried and overpriced, but that wasn’t our experience at all. We found a lot of variety in both the types of food and the prices. For a festival like this, I thought the prices were quite reasonable—some even surprisingly affordable. For example, we grabbed a coffee for $2 and an ice cream sandwich for just $1.

If you’re thinking about dressing up, there are plenty of options. You can make your own costume, rent one on-site, buy one beforehand or at the festival.

The festival vendors offer a wide selection, ranging from commoners' outfits to warrior and aristocrat attire. A majority of the vendors cater to women, while men’s clothing options other than armor were far fewer. While the costumes there aren't cheap, the craftsmanship is impressive, so expect to pay a couple hundred dollars for entry-level fabric outfits. For leather armor, chest armor starts at just under $400. Fancier outfits or accessories can be in the thousands.

For those who want to go the authentic route, the festival offers high-quality gear. But if you’re trying to save money, Amazon has some excellent budget-friendly options that could be more cost-effective than making your own.

Building your own costume can be a fun project, but it can also take a lot of time. I made two sets of EVA foam armor last minute, and it took me two days. In hindsight, I wish I had planned ahead and ordered some pieces from Amazon to save time.

No matter what type of costume you decide on, it’s all part of the fun! We saw everything from little girls in big-box store princess dresses (my daughter included) to people dressed as fairies, ogres, Vikings, elves, Scots in kilts, Crusaders, wizards, steampunk, monks, furries, and more. The variety is incredible, and the creativity on display is one of the highlights of the festival.

If you’re worried about feeling out of place in a costume, don’t be. The majority of people are dressed up, and you might feel more out of place if you're not in costume! But whatever you wear, the most important thing is to have fun.

Whether you spend nothing, shop for affordable pieces, or go all out with an expensive outfit, the best part is enjoying the festival and seeing the creative choices of others. One of the coolest aspects of the festival is simply admiring everyone else’s...

We are so very fortunate to be living within driving distance of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. If you've been to other RenFests (we've done GA and NC), know that this one will surpass any previous experiences - the MD RenFest is the creme de la creme. There's nothing quite like it. This is an annual tradition in our home - fall is not fall until we've been there and experienced the absolute joy and shared revelry of this amazing experience. While the entire experience is exhilarating, I am focusing this review on some of our within the Fest faves. Right when you get in the gate, a few shops down on the right is Halcyon Silks (a candle maker and hand-wax-dipper). For $15 bucks your kiddo can have a very fun experience and a low-cost memorable souvenir. The staff is super friendly - our son does it every year. Don't miss Oooo and LaLa's show - it's so very pleasant, cute, funny, and really gets you in a great mindset for the day. Then, don't miss KJ Craftworks - if you buy their hair sticks, you can bring them back, year upon year, and they will do your hair with them for free! You also get a cool hairstyle with purchase. And the updos are done quickly so you don't miss out on other RenFestivities. Similarly, at Flying Rainbow Bubblewands - buy your youngest one a bubble wand and if you can bring it back the following years, you get to blow bubbles to your hearts content for free. Bring your water bottle and know that you can refill it at the First Aid station (over by the maze). Do the maze - it's, wait for it, amazing! It looks so small and simple and requires an extra charge, but it's worth it - you will get turned about! Stay until closing time and go to that last joust - when its done, at the stage right behind the jousting arena, a wonderful line dance usually forms. Go all in, join the line, dance till closing and make some...