Take a trip to another time period all without leaving the Tampa Bay area. In rain or shine, you can be instantaneously transported into the 16th century at the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival!
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every weekend from February 18 to April 2, featuring a different renaissance inspired event each weekend.
From a multitude of merchants to the endless extravaganzas of the Queen’s jubilee, witness the reawakening of a world lost long ago and the birth of worlds yet explored on the themed event days.
Tickets are available now at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival official website. You will know which armor to wear and what your squire should pack with our Ultimate Guide to Tampa’s Renaissance Festival 2017!!
Highland Fling | February 18 - 19
Immerse your knights and maidens in Gaelic culture for a whole day of hammer throwing, caber tossing and contests for the best man in a kilt. Then fall in love with the Margaret Morrison Highland Dancers who will perform on the Wyldewood Stage. You can also enjoy a Pub Crawl for $35 or the Royal High Tea for $20, enhancing your highland adventure.
Chocolate Fantasy | February 25 - 26
Enjoy chocolate throughout the day! Sink your teeth into FREE samples distributed from local chocolatiers and bakers!! Want to sweeten the deal for your lady-in-waiting? Compete in King Henry VIII’s fencing competition for her love or get her the Romance Package for $69.95, which includes your Festival Admission. Better yet both of you can enter the Couples Pie Eating Contest and finish off at Henry’s Happy Hour for $20. Still not enough to impress the lady? Compete for a chance to win the ultimate Whirlwind Wedding to receive a private ceremony, dinner at the Pirate Galley Restaurant, 7-day resort honeymoon getaway, and a $100 gift card to Safety Harbor Spa & Resort. Please check your event for an entry form.
Pirates & Pets | March 4 - 5
Be awed by dog agility presentations throughout the day in the Sit Means Sit Pet Demonstrations! You can also enter your pet in the Pet Costume Contest. Please note your event forms and make sure your pets are registered! After watching your furry friends, bring your pirate mates to walk the plank over to the Perfect Pirate Competition held on Wyldewood Stage.
Time Travelers | March 11 - 12
Get engaged with everything the steampunk invasion has to offer in this Victorian era fashion bonanza! There will be a Dr. Who Costume Contest at Wyldewood Stage and the Time Travelers Ball on March 11 for live bands, dancers and sideshow acts, all for $45 per person.
Shamrocks & Shenanigans | March 18 - 19
Jig on over to the largest St. Patty’s Day Party in Tampa!! The Bay Area Renaissance Festival pouring with green beer and listen to the beats of the Tampa Bay Pipe & Drum or watch the Highland Heavy Games.
Barbarian Brew Fest | March 25 - 26
Test your combat skills in the Medieval Combat Training at the Landsknecht Encampment or enter the Florida State Archery Competition with fellow archers. Please check your event for an entry form.
Royal Masquerade Ball | March 31
Join us from 6 to 10 p.m. for a whimsical Masquerade Ball complete with a delicious six-course gourmet meal, crisp champagne, live music, regal dancing, prizes and more! You can also enter the Mask Contest to win a romantic getaway for two! Tickets are $65 per person, ages 21 and up, please!
High Seas Adventure | April 1 - 2
Dress in your piratey best and participate in a tattoo competition, showing your best ink for prizes. To keep plundering, challenge fellow pirates in the Pirate Peg Leg Relay Race for a chance to shake your peg leg booty!
The Bay Area Renaissance Festival's attendance grew to nearly 80,000 annual guests in years past, so get your tickets in advance!! General admission tickets start at $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for children (ages 5-12). You can always lay siege to the ticket booth the day of your travel for the gate admission fee of $20.95 for adults, $12.95 for children, Tickets are $16.95 for seniors ages 65+ and $16.95 for students with a valid college ID. Gather your friends together and get the group discounts! Still need more of an incentive? Parking at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival is always free!
If you're looking for fun things to do in Tampa Bay, the Bay Area Renaissance Festival 2017 is the event for you!!
