FAQS

Directions/Parking/ Accessibility

How do I get to the festival?

The Maryland Renaissance Festival is located at: 1821 Crownsville Rd. Annapolis, MD 21401. You can find more information about how to get to the festival by visiting our webpage dates-times-directions to receive driving directions from Washington D.C., Baltimore, Eastern Shore/Annapolis, Southern Maryland (St Mary’s and Waldorf areas), Dahlgren, VA, Frederick/Western MD, and from New York/New Jersey/Harford County (MD).

Is parking free? And what parking options are available?

The Festival offers free parking to all of its customers. We use both local law enforcement on the road ways to keep high volume traffic moving and experienced in-house parking staff once you’ve entered our parking lot. Please follow the parking staff directions when entering the festival parking lot. Our staff is trained to have you off the main road, parked, and walking towards the front gate within minutes of arriving. Vehicles parked not on festival grounds (i.e. parking on the main road, or in the surrounding community) or parking in places not directed by the parking staff within our lot is not allowed and will be towed at owner’s expense.

How can I avoid traffic and waiting to park?

Are the grounds ADA accessible?

Walking paths are natural terrain, consisting of mulch, stone, straw and soil. Please be aware that pathways do contain various hills and inclines. Please plan accordingly. There is one challenging hill onsite and that is located near the Royal Fox Theatre/Slide area down to the Children's play area and Mary's Dale Way. Patrons with mobility concerns can avoid this hill by instead using Kenwood Lane and looping around Mary's Dale Way.

Handicapped accessible restrooms are available.

Wheelchairs and scooters are not available for rental. Hospital style wheelchairs are not advised.

There is handicap parking available at the festival, just ask the parking crew to direct you to that area when you arrive.

Gate Restrictions

Can I bring weapons or toy weapons to the festival, or as part of my costume?

No weapons (blades, firearms, explosives, etc.…) are allowed on festival grounds. While we do have artisans who sell real weaponry, we do not allow those weapons to be brandished around the grounds. Weaponry bought within the festival grounds must remain within the original packaging when purchased.

Prop weapons imitating their real weaponry counterparts are not permitted within the festival. Obvious toy weapons are limited based on the discretion of our festival security staff. Toy weapons permitted include wooden swords sold at the festival, shields, empty quivers and unstrung bows.

Headwear Restrictions

Can I bring drinks or food into the Festival?

The Festival only allows one (1) factory sealed water bottle per person through the main gate. Any and all other beverages (alcohol, energy drinks, and coffee) are not allowed. The festival offers a wide selection of both beverages (Nonalcoholic and Alcoholic) and foods. We do allow food through the gates, but the festival does not permit coolers or other receptacles for carrying food/drinks. If you have questions about our food services while at the festival, please ask one of our food booth managers about food options at that particular food booth.

Can I bring a reusable drinking container/water bottle through the gates?

Is smoking permitted within the Festival? Is electronic cigarettes/vapors allowed?

What about birthdays, anniversaries, and engagements?

The Festival is always pleased when guests want to spend their special day in Revel Grove. Unfortunately, due to our limited season (only 19 performance days) and a fixed performance schedule, we’re unable to accommodate special requests such as setting up engagements, announcing birthdays, anniversaries, etc... we cannot stop regularly scheduled shows for announcements. Proposals cannot be scheduled before, during, or after shows at any staging space. The stages are strictly for the use of performers. No patron may be onstage before, during, or after a show without the invitation of a performer to join them onstage.

If you'd like to celebrate your child's birthday at the festival, here are a few recommendations:
Have your party guests arrive near opening and have the group assemble for Happy Birthday wishes. Choose a spot and inform your guests in advance (visit our site map). You may bring in a cake (sorry, no drinks, no coolers). While we cannot reserve or guarantee tables, usually there isn't an issue finding an open table at 10am - 11am-ish in one of the taverns or food areas. Have the birthday child open gifts and enjoy some cake right away, then everyone can enjoy the festival day! It is much easier to do first thing instead of trying to reassemble the group later for cake and gifts.

Parents or guardians can take gifts back to the car. Just ask security at the exit gate to stamp your hand for re-entry.

If your little knight or princess wants to see the King – please look for the time and location of The Children's Knighting Ceremony held once daily. This is a short, general ceremony. After the ceremony, the King, Queen and courtiers are available to pose for a picture. Let them know about the birthday child, and they will offer their birthday greetings. The children's play area is free/included with the price of admission. Always nice to burn off that birthday cake energy!

Want a picture with the King and Queen? While the royals are always happy to pose for a picture when you meet them in the village pathways, if you'd like a definite time - you can go to the new Royal Pavilion located at Grounds for Defense near the Chapel at 12:15pm, 2pm & 3:30pm. However, the King keeps a busy schedule and his time is limited! He can only meet and greet for approximately 25 minutes each session.

Clothing and Costume Guidelines

Inappropriate Attire

The Maryland Renaissance Festival reserves the right to deny admission or remove any person wearing clothing that is considered inappropriate for a family-friendly event. This includes – but is not limited to:

Clothing with obscene language or graphics
Clothing which exposes excessive portions of the skin that may be viewed as inappropriate for a family environment
Clothing or costume items with any sharp objects.

Dressing in Costume / Acceptable Costume Accessories/ Patron Interactions

We enjoy having patrons dressing in Renaissance costumes to enhance the theme of our event. While we appreciate creativity and originality, we also value safety and good judgement. While patrons may wear costumes, we’re not a LARP or Cosplay event. Performances are by our paid performers only. A reminder on costumes and venue etiquette:

Costumes must be family-friendly and may not be offensive, objectionable or violent.
Costumes may not contain any props that could be mistaken for an actual weapon.
Costumes may not contain sharp objects, pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike or injure another patron.
Patrons cannot bring in musical instruments, hula hoops or other items that could be used in a performance.
Patrons should not engage/entertain other patrons, and cannot give out tokens, trinkets, candy, favors, or other items.
If you have a wonderful costume, fellow patrons may want your picture. That is understandable and acceptable, but patrons may not set up their own Photo Ops or stand and pose in an area for a long period of time for the purpose of gaining attention and engaging fellow patrons.

Can I bring weapons or toy weapons to the festival, or as part of my costume?

No weapons (blades, firearms, explosives, etc…) are allowed on festival grounds. While we do have artisans who sell real weaponry, we do not allow those weapons to be brandished around the grounds. Weaponry bought within the festival grounds must remain within the original packaging when purchased.

Headwear Restrictions

Additional Information and Traveling Tips

Where can I find more information about different shows and crafts offered at the Festival?

Visit our websites Entertainment section Entertainment to see our list of shows for the season and this year’s story line. A map of the festival grounds, artisan’s locations within the festival is at artisans. When you enter the festival gates, you’ll be given a brochure with a map of the festival, show times for each stage, and a list of craft shops organized by each “street/path” within Revel Grove.

How can I stay up to date on festival news?

Does the festival take credit/debit card? Are ATM's located on the festival grounds?

Within the festival grounds, all Beverages and Games require CASH CURRENCY ONLY. All Food booths accept cash or credit/debit cards. Some Crafts stands have the ability to accept credit/debit cards, but not all. Cash again is highly recommended. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND stopping at a bank or ATM before visiting the festival. While we do offer eight (8) ATM’s in five (5) different locations within the festival, lines at these ATM locations can become long waits during busy festival days.

What are the bathroom facilities at the festival?

The festival bathroom facilities are located in six (6) locations, utilizing individual port-a-johns in each location. Five (5) locations are equipped with a baby changing/nursing station, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and currently one (1) tap water hand washing station located in the center privies location (more to come in other locations). Locations can be found on the map within the brochure when you visit the festival.

Does the festival require costumes, and does the festival rent or sell costumes?

No we do not require costumes, but we do admit costumes add to the overall atmosphere. Many who visit Revel Grove dress for the occasion. We have a wide variety of artisan shops that sell different festival apparel. However, if you wish to save some coin, we do rent costumes conveniently located inside the front gate area for those wanting to further partake in the festival atmosphere. Please dress for a family friendly environment and with consideration of the weather, since being an outdoor event.