Step back in time when Scarborough Renaissance Festival opens its 45th season on Sat-Sun, Apr 4-5, 2026, with festive holiday traditions and immersive experiences. Set within a 25-acre recreation of an English village celebrating the 1545 visit of King Henry VIII and Queen Katheryn Parr, the festival blends history, pageantry, and playful fantasy with strolling performers, artisan shoppes, human-powered rides, and dozens of live performances.
With the opening weekend coinciding with Easter weekend this year, the festival offers families a unique way to celebrate the holiday. Children can participate in the Easter Egg Stroll at the Maypole at 2:30pm Sat-Sun, Apr 4-5. Tickets are available at SRFestival.com. Admission is $34 for Adults (ages 13+) and $15 for Kids (ages 5–12), plus taxes and fees. Children 4 and under are always admitted free. For more about the Easter festivities, pick up The Weekly next Wed, Apr 1, and look for the special section.
In the meantime, let’s talk about adult-oriented fun. Visitors can test their skills at Renaissance-style games such as archery and crossbow shooting, and throughout the Village, more than 200 artisan shops offer handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, pottery, fine art, clothing, and unique Renaissance treasures. Dozens of stages and street performers fill the lanes with music, comedy, swordplay, and acrobatics, ensuring there is always something new to discover around every corner. Plus, there’s the eats and drinks. Can you say, “Turkey leg!”
On the beer and wine front, there are beer tastings at noon and 3pm, and wine tastings at 1pm and 3pm, daily.
Wine tastings are an intimate one-hour educational tour led by Scarborough’s Certified Sommelier. Each session features six curated wines, light bites served at your table, and a commemorative wine glass to take home.
Beer tastings are led by Scarborough’s Certified Cicerone®, and the one-hour guided event explores distinctive beer styles paired with light bites. Guests receive a commemorative souvenir glass with these tastings, too. Each weekend’s beer and wine tastings have a different theme.
For more promotional information about the Scarborough Renaissance Festival and the add-on pricing for the experiences above, visit SRFestival.com.
