LEWISBURG W.Va. (WVDN) The West Virginia Renaissance Festival will be honoring veterans, active duty and first responders, by providing free admission to those on their opening weekend, June 7 and 8. Please bring proper identification regarding your affiliation to ensure your free admission. Organizers say thank you for your service and look forward to seeing you.
They are also honoring medical staff personnel with 50% off a ticket each weekend of the festival.
West Virginia Renaissance Festival is opening for its seventh season every weekend in June, as of June 7. Each weekend will be a special theme with June 7 being Celtic Crossing, June 14 will be Pirates Landing, June 21 will be Vikings Valhalla, and June 28 will be Bacchanalia, so you can show off your togas at the masked costume contest!
Located less than a mile and a half off Exit 161 on I-64 near scenic Lewisburg, this outdoor family-friendly festival has plenty of space to enjoy live music, great food, along with 6 stages featuring continuous live entertainment. Special family discounts available 🙂
With acres to roam, it’s the perfect place to spend a fun day outdoors, as you step back in time to experience live jousting where armored knights on horseback compete to be champion or watch the duelist engage in swordplay. For those seeking less excitement, you can listen to bagpipes and drums resonate through the valley, and harpists play in quiet wooded corners.
Renaissance Festivals have a rich and varied history, with many dedicated followers, and have been held nationwide for more than 50 years, but this is the first to be located permanently in West Virginia. The festival founders have spent their extensive careers being featured and working at similar events around the US, and have brought home the best for the enjoyment of West Virginians, knowing our rich mountain heritage is the perfect place to showcase a historical way of life.
Animals play a big role in the festival, with a petting farm for up-close interactions for children of all ages, and a live jousting show where armored knights on horseback thunder towards each other as the crowd roars its approval. There will be lots of medieval games of skill for all to enjoy.
There will be several demonstrations provided throughout the festival, including glass blowing and the Knight Wings demonstration with Master Falconer Ash Cary. With such a wide variety of acts, from death-defying aerial shows to comedy acts to sword swallowing and juggling– all the entertainment is fit for a king’s court and sure to please. Costumed characters interact with the audience, and mermaids, dragons and unicorns step out of medieval tapestries to come to life before your eyes, with unicorn and warhorse rides!
The festival proudly features local West Virginia brews, ciders and meads, and has food to suit any palate. Don’t miss the vendor artisans selling and demonstrating handmade crafts, so come prepared to buy a souvenir for your sweetheart or a beautiful handmade piece for your home. The West Virginia Renaissance is here to stay and is looking forward to working with West Virginia vendors, such as actors, artists, crafters, specialty farm producers, musicians and others, to help showcase the amazing skills and high-quality products produced by its residents. If you are interested in being a vendor, please apply online.
The Festival will be open every weekend in June, Saturday and Sunday only, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and is located less than a mile and a half off Exit 161 on I-64 near scenic Lewisburg. Information, schedules, and tickets can be found on Facebook and at wvrenfest.com. It’s handicap accessible for the most part, with some inclines requiring assistance. Whether you come as costumed or just comfortable, be prepared to have fun!
