The good times are in full swing at the Arizona Renaissance Festival, happening each weekend from Saturday, February 1 until Sunday, March 30.
This is the 37th annual festival at 12601 E. US Highway 60 in Gold Canyon, Arizona — about a two-hour trek from Tucson but worth the drive.
So, toss on some shoes you won’t mind getting dust on and explore the festival. The jesters are juggling, knights are competing in battles, and people are getting medieval on jumbo turkey legs.
Also, all of that walking around will surely make you hungrier faster than you can say “Methinks thou dost jest.” That’s what Renaissance folks say to express disbelief or amusement at something said or done. In other words, tuck that bib in your shirt collar and feast your way through the Arizona Renaissance Festival with hearty foods, sweet desserts, and beverages like fine wine, beer, mead, and hard ciders.
The Pleasure Feast
This year, the Renaissance Festival is hosting a Pleasure Feast — a raucous dinner party in the Feast Hall. For $110 per person, you get a one-and-a-half-hour show, a five-course Pleasure Feast dinner, and a limited edition souvenir toasting goblet to take home. Your ticket to the feast also includes admission to the festival (a $36 value).
Tickets are available to purchase online before your visit.
Below are all of the other food options available at this year’s event. Huzzah!
Where to Eat at the Renaissance Festival
- The Cappuccino Inn – specialty coffees (cappuccino, espresso, etc.), Italian sodas, and teas
- The Cottage Bakery – sweet and savory baked goods
- The Chocolate Maker -fruits dipped in chocolate, peanut butter cups, English toffee, and more
- The Gelato Guys – Italian gelato and sorbetto served with scoopfuls of Old World charm
- Tudor Rose Pub – sodas, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider
- The Mediterranean Fare – falafel, gyros, Greek salad, tabouli salad, couscous salad, hummus, dolmades, and more
- Lancer’s Pub – sodas, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine, and Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead
- Queen’s Kitchen and Pub – fish and chips, onion rings, roasted turkey legs, barbecue pork shanks, Italian meatball sandwich, beer, wine, and more
- Ye Olde World Sausage Maker – bangers and mash, barbecue beef brisket, beef meat pie, corned beef, and more
- Crown Pub – sodas, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider
- The Cottage Crepe Shoppe – funnel cake, waffles, potato wedges with chili, and more
- Dancing Pig Pub – sodas, iced tea, lemonade, beer, wine, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider
- Joust Kitchen and Pub – pizza, bread bowl, taco salad, root beer floats, and more
- Pirate’s Kitchen and Pub – fish and chips, onion rings, roasted turkey legs, barbecue pork shanks, and more
- Rovin’ Throughout the Realm – champagne, cinnamon almond and pecans, jerky, pickles, caramel apples, and nut rolls
- The Piazza Pub – courtyard pub with charcuterie offerings and a selection of wines and beers
- Transylvanian Treats – European chimney cakes
The Hops Pub Crawl
Also, this year features the return of The Hops Pub Crawl.
There are two tours a day (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.). You get four beer pours (each seven ounces) from four different spots around the festival, and a limited edition pewter pin to take home.
Your Pub Crawl ticket also gets you into the Renaissance Festival. Reservations must be made in advance and spots are limited.
The Arizona Renaissance Festival is at 12601 E. US Highway 60 in Gold Canyon, Arizona. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit arizona.renfestinfo.com.
