Have you had the time to step back in time yet at this year’s Arizona Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon?
The good times are in full swing at the Arizona Renaissance Festival, which is happening each weekend from now until Sunday, March 31. This is the 36th annual festival at 12601 E. US Highway 60 in Gold Canyon, Arizona — about a two-hour trek from Tucson but worth the drive.
Toss on some shoes you won’t mind getting dust on because 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 a variety of beverages like fine wine, beer, mead, and hard ciders.
Also, this year brings a new experience — The Hops Pub Crawl. There are two tours a day (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and you’ll get four beer pours 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.
Below is all of the food available at this year’s event. Huzzah!
What to Eat at the Renaissance Festival
King’s Kitchen and Pub
- Feast of Fowl (Turkey Legs), Steak-on-a-Stake, Sausage-on-a-Stick, Skewered Chicken, Michelangelo’s Pizza (Cheese & Sliced Italian Sausage), Earl of Corn (Fresh Roasted Corn), Portabella Mushroom Sandwich, Bratwurst with Sauerkraut, Baked Potatoes with Fixin’s, Filled Fresh Bread Bowls (Broccoli & Cheese Soup, Chili, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Italian Meatballs & Marinara w/Mozzarella Cheese), Frozen Lemonade & Siberian Chill, Sundaes (Brownie Sundae), Assorted Sodas, Iced Tea, Lemonade & Aquafina bottled water, Non Alcoholic Beer, Imported and Domestic Beers, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, a variety of Fine Wines and an extensive selection of cocktails.
The Cappuccino Inn
- A variety of specialty coffees (Cappuccino, Espresso, etc.), Italian Sodas & a vast Selection of Teas.
The Cottage Bakery
- Sweet and savory bakery delights.
The Chocolate Maker
- A variety of fruits dipped in chocolate, peanut butter cups, English toffee, and so much more.
The Gelato Guys
- Italian gelato and sorbetto served with scoopfuls of delightful Old World charm.
Tudor Rose Pub
- Assorted sodas, iced tea, lemonade, imported and domestic beers, a variety of fine wines, Chaucer’s and Redstone mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
The Mediterranean Fare
- Freshly made falafel, gyros, Greek salad, tabouli salad, couscous salad, hummus, dolmades, and marinated chicken gyros.
Lancer’s Pub
- Assorted sodas, iced tea, lemonade, imported and domestic beers, a variety of fine wines, Chaucer’s and Redstone mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
Queen’s Kitchen and Pub
- Fish or Chicken & Chips, Friar’s Fries, Onion Rings, Feast of Fowl (Roasted Turkey Legs), Steak-on-a-Stake, Taco Salad, Churros, BBQ Pork Shanks with a choice of Seasoned Mashed Potatoes or Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese, Italian Meatball Sandwich, Chicken Teriyaki with Fried Rice, Assorted Sodas, Iced Tea, Lemonade & Aquafina bottled water, Non Alcoholic Beer, Imported & Domestic Beers, Chaucer’s & Redstone Meads, a variety of Fine Wines and The Cocktail Inn’s drink menu!
Ye Olde World Sausage Maker
- Bangers & Mash, BBQ Beef Brisket, Beef Meat Pie, Corn Beef & Cabbage, Sausage Rolls, Shepherd’s Pie and more.
Crown Pub
- Assorted sodas, iced tea, lemonade, imported and domestic beers, a variety of fine wines, Chaucer’s and Redstone mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
The Cottage Crepe Shoppe
- Funnel cakes, waffles, and potato wedges with chili.
Dancing Pig Pub
- Assorted sodas, iced tea, lemonade, imported and domestic beers, a variety of fine wines, Chaucer’s and Redstone mead, and Angry Orchard Hard Cider.
Joust Kitchen and Pub
- Michelangelo’s Pizza (Cheese & Sliced Italian sausage), Filled Fresh Bread Bowls (Broccoli & Cheese Soup, Chili, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Italian Meatballs & Marinara w/Mozzarella Cheese), Taco Salad, Feast of Fowl (Roasted Turkey Legs), Steak-on-a-Stake, Sausage-on-a-Stick, Skewered Chicken, Gluten Free Pizza 10” Individual 1) pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, Kalamata olives, Heirloom tomato, red onion & fresh basil leaf, or, 2) pizza sauce, fresh mozzarella, sliced Italian sausage, Heirloom tomato, red onion & fresh basil leaf (no substitutions), Root Beer Floats, Assorted Sodas, Iced Tea, Lemonade & Aquafina bottled water, Non Alcoholic Beer, Imported & Domestic Beers, a variety of Fine Wines, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, Angry Orchard Hard Cider and The Cocktail Inn’s drink menu!
Pirate’s Kitchen and Pub
- Fish or Chicken & Chips, Friar’s Fries, Onion Rings, BBQ Pork Shanks available with a choice of Seasoned Mashed Potatoes or Smoked Gouda Mac-n-Cheese, Assorted Sodas, Iced Tea, Lemonade & Aquafina bottled water, Non Alcoholic Beer, Imported & Domestic Beers, Chaucer’s & Redstone Mead, Angry Orchard Hard Cider and The Cocktail Inn’s drink menu!
Rovin’ Throughout the Realm
- Look for pathway carts offering champagne, cinnamon almonds and pecans, jerky, pickles, caramel apples, and nut rolls.
The Piazza Pub
- A cozy courtyard pub with a menu of delicious mixed Charcuterie offerings and a selection of featured wines and beers to be found nowhere else in the festival village.
Transylvanian Treats
- European Chimney Cakes found across from the Wyld Men Stage.
Arizona Renaissance Festival Map
The Arizona Renaissance Festival is happening on weekends now until Sunday, March 31 at 12601 E. US Highway 60 in Gold Canyon, Arizona. For more information and to purchase your tickets, visit arizona.renfestinfo.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
