Scarborough Renaissance Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets, Parking, and Planning Tips
Scarborough Renaissance Festival is one of the easiest spring trips to plan in North Texas if you want jousts, handmade shopping, food, and all-day entertainment near Waxahachie. For the 2026 season, it runs Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday from April 4 through May 25, with daily hours from 10 am to 7 pm.
If you are deciding whether it belongs on your calendar, the short answer is yes. It is a long-running Texas tradition with 20+ stages, 200 village shoppes, and a setting that feels built for a full day out, especially if you are also building a broader spring itinerary with our best Dallas date ideas guide.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, TX 75167 |
| Season | April 4 to May 25, 2026 |
| Hours | 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Open days | Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday |
| Best arrival time | About 9:45 a.m. for the pre-opening show |
| Parking | Included in adult ticket price |
| Kids 4 and under | Always free |
What Scarborough Renaissance Festival Is
The official festival describes Scarborough as a recreated 16th-century English village built around King Henry VIII, his royal court, and a packed calendar of performances. That means the appeal is bigger than a themed market, because you are getting live entertainment, a historical setting, and a lot of people-watching in one place.
The 2026 season includes full-combat armored jousts, Birds of Prey exhibitions, the Mermaid Lagoon, rides, games of skill, and a 100+ member performing company. If you like destinations that mix spectacle with browsing, it also fits naturally with our Texas traditions, food, history, music, and dance story and our annual festivals in Texas roundup.
That combination is why Scarborough Renaissance Festival works so well for couples, families, and friend groups. You can spend the morning watching performances, the afternoon wandering shoppes, and the late afternoon eating, listening to music, and deciding whether to stay for one more show.
Scarborough Renaissance Festival 2026 Dates, Tickets, and Discounts
The official About Us page confirms that Scarborough Renaissance Festival 2026 runs from April 4 through May 25 on Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday. The ticket-information page also confirms that the box office opens at 9:30 am on festival days, so online ticketing is the easiest way to avoid a line.
| Ticket Type | What the official site says |
|---|---|
| Adult admission | Ages 13 and up |
| Child admission | Ages 5 to 12 |
| Free admission | Kids 4 and under are always free |
| Group discount | Buy 15 or more admission tickets and save 10% |
| Discount tickets | Sold at select Tom Thumb and Albertsons stores April 1 through May 26 |
| Special discount days | Waxahachie Resident Day, College Student Day, and Community Hero Day each offer $3 off adult gate tickets |
| Parking | Included with adult ticket price |
Ticket tiers can change by sale window, so it is worth checking the exact date you plan to visit before you buy. The official page currently highlights adult and child general admission, flash-sale and early-bird timing, Friends of Faire memberships, and seasonal discount options.
If you are bringing a family, opening weekend and Mother’s Day are especially useful planning dates because children 12 and under are free on those days, up to three children per paid adult. That makes those weekends a strong value play for parents who want the full festival experience without paying full child admission for every seat in the car.
Directions, Parking, and How to Get There
If you are searching for Scarborough Renaissance Festival directions, start with the official location: 2511 FM 66 in Waxahachie. That puts the festival in easy reach for most North Texas travelers and makes it a practical day trip from the Dallas and Fort Worth side of the metroplex.
The official parking note is simple: parking is included in the adult ticket price. In other words, the earlier you arrive, the better your odds of getting a closer spot and skipping some of the first-wave traffic that builds around opening time.
For people comparing Scarborough Renaissance Festival parking to other spring events, that is a helpful advantage. You are not hunting for a separate parking lot purchase, and you are not adding another fee after you have already bought admission.
- Best starting point: Use the official Waxahachie address before you leave.
- Best arrival window: Aim for the 9:45 am pre-opening period if you want easier entry.
- Best parking strategy: Arrive early so you are not parking at the end of the rush.
- Best planning mindset: Treat it like a full-day event, not a quick stop.
If you are driving in from Dallas, the festival is easy enough to fit into one day but far enough away to feel like a real outing. That is one reason it works so well for anyone searching for Scarborough Renaissance Festival parking, directions, or a simple North Texas spring plan.
Themed Weekends Worth Watching
The official themed weekends page is where the festival gets more specific about which weekends are best for different kinds of visitors. If you only have one shot to go, this is the place to match your trip to kids-free weekends, discount days, and the special programming that changes the feel of the grounds.
Opening weekend is the easiest choice for families because children 12 and under are free and the season opens with an Easter celebration. If you are traveling with grandparents or a mixed-age group, the senior discount on opening weekend and the memorial-day timing later in the season make the calendar a little more flexible.
| Weekend | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| April 4 to 5 | Opening weekend, kids 12 and under free, Easter celebration, senior discount |
| April 11 to 12 | Artisan showcase weekend, plus Waxahachie Resident Day on Sunday |
| May 10 | Mother’s Day, with kids 12 and under free |
| April 19 | College Student Day, with student ID savings at the gate |
| April 26 | Community Hero Day for police, fire, EMT, and educators |
| May 25 | Final day of the 2026 season, which is best for people who want a last-chance visit |
If your goal is the most festive experience, opening weekend and Mother’s Day are the safest bets because they combine value with strong family appeal. If your goal is a calmer visit, a non-holiday Saturday or Sunday is usually the better fit because you still get the core entertainment without chasing the biggest discounts.
The nice thing about Scarborough is that the themed weekends do not feel like marketing fluff. They actually change the practical value of the trip, which is why it pays to look at the official calendar before you lock in a hotel, a babysitter, or a full weekend around Waxahachie.
Best Time to Go
The official ticket page says the best time to arrive is as close to 10 am as possible, and it even notes a pre-opening show at 9:45 am. If you want closer parking and a calmer first walk through the grounds, early arrival gives you the best odds.
For the smoothest visit, think in terms of pace rather than just time. The crowd is usually easier to manage right after opening, while later hours reward you with a busier, more energetic atmosphere and a better chance of catching the day’s vibe at full volume.
- Arrive early: Better parking and a more relaxed entry experience.
- Use themed weekends: The official schedule adds special programming across the season.
- Stay flexible: If weather or energy changes, the festival allows same-day re-entry with a hand stamp.
- Check the date: Discount days and kids-free days are tied to specific weekends.
For the biggest savings, the themed weekends page highlights opening weekend kids-free admission, senior discounts, Waxahachie Resident Day, College Student Day, Community Hero Day, and Mother’s Day free admission for kids 12 and under. That makes it worth matching your visit date to the kind of trip you want, not just the first open weekend on the calendar.
A Full Festival Day Plan
The easiest way to enjoy Scarborough Renaissance Festival is to think in loops instead of trying to see everything at once. Start with the opening show, move into the first shopping pass, take a food break before the midday crush, and then come back around for the bigger performances later in the day.
- 9:15 am: Arrive early, park, and give yourself time to walk in without feeling rushed.
- 9:45 am: Catch the pre-opening show if you want the day to feel like it started with a little spectacle.
- 10:30 am: Make your first pass through the shoppes and note the vendors you want to revisit.
- Noon: Stop for lunch or a snack, then rest before the busiest stretch of the afternoon.
- 2:30 pm: Go to one of the bigger shows, such as a joust, Birds of Prey program, or featured performance.
- 4:30 pm: Do a final shopping loop, then decide whether to stay through closing or exit after your last planned stop.
If you only have a few hours, keep the plan simple and focus on one marquee show plus one full walk through the village. If you have the entire day, the slower rhythm is the real win because it lets you enjoy the music, the atmosphere, and the details that people usually miss when they are trying to rush through the grounds.
The same-day re-entry rule makes that rhythm easier because you can step out for a break and come back later. That is especially helpful for families, older visitors, and anyone who would rather avoid the feeling of being trapped inside a crowd from open to close.
Food, Shopping, and Costume Tips
Scarborough is built for browsing. The official site calls out 200 village shoppes, and that is the real reason many visitors stay longer than they planned, because the combination of crafts, costume pieces, gifts, and show stops makes it easy to keep wandering.
The festival also has a practical side, and that is where planning matters. No outside food or drink is allowed except food and water for infants, no pets are allowed except service animals, and any weapon adornment has to be peace-tied and acceptable to festival staff.
If you want to eat your own food, the official FAQ says there are picnic tables outside the gates. That is a helpful workaround for families with picky eaters, and it means you can still pack a backup lunch without trying to bring it inside.
Because the grounds are large and the day is active, comfort wins over costume perfection every time. Wear shoes you can walk in, keep water and sunscreen in mind, and leave enough room in the day for the kind of slow meandering that makes Renaissance fairs fun in the first place.
Rules, Safety, and Re-entry
The official FAQ makes one thing very clear: Scarborough Renaissance Festival is a screened entry event. Bags can be checked for prohibited items, so the smoothest way to get in quickly is to keep your carry-in simple and avoid bringing anything that will cause a delay at the gate.
The festival also bans outside food and drink, with the infant exception, and it does not allow pets except for service animals. Drones are also prohibited, and weapon adornments have to be peace-tied and approved by staff, so it is best to leave novelty props at home unless you have verified that they meet the policy.
- Bring: Photo ID for discount weekends and any proof needed for special pricing.
- Bring: Comfortable shoes for a long day on your feet.
- Bring: Sunscreen, a hat, and weather-appropriate layers.
- Bring: A payment method that works for food, shopping, and souvenirs.
- Leave home: Outside food, non-service pets, drones, and anything that violates the weapons policy.
There is a main first-aid station just inside the front gate, with other help points spread across the grounds. The official ticket page also says you can get a hand stamp and re-enter the same day, which makes it easier to pace the visit in a way that works for your group.
What to Wear and What to Bring
If you are searching for what to wear to Scarborough Renaissance Festival, the answer is simple: comfortable shoes first, costume second. The grounds are large, the day is long, and the difference between a fun visit and a tiring one often comes down to what you put on your feet.
Because the festival is outdoors, you should think in layers and plan for weather instead of style alone. A hat, sunscreen, water, and a light layer for shade or wind will do more for your day than almost anything else you can pack.
- Wear: Shoes you can walk in for several hours.
- Wear: Light, breathable clothing if the forecast is warm.
- Bring: Sunscreen, water, and a hat.
- Bring: A phone charger or battery pack if you plan to take photos all day.
- Bring: Cash or a card for shopping, food, and extras.
If you want to dress up, do it in a way that still lets you walk, sit, and enjoy the whole day. The best Scarborough Renaissance Festival experience is the one where you can stay comfortable long enough to actually enjoy the performances, not just take a few photos and call it done.
How It Fits Into a North Texas Weekend
Scarborough Renaissance Festival is in Waxahachie, but it is close enough to Dallas and Fort Worth to work as an easy road trip or day trip. That makes it a useful anchor for a spring weekend, especially if you want to pair it with one of our Dallas city guides or broader Texas trip-planning pages.
If you want to keep the weekend in Dallas, our best things to do in Dallas guide gives you easy add-ons for before or after the festival. If you want a bigger statewide itinerary, our best places to visit in Texas roundup is a better fit for stretching the trip beyond one county line.
For visitors who like to build their trip around seasonal events, the festival also fits neatly into our annual festivals in Texas guide. That is the easiest way to treat Scarborough as part of a larger spring calendar instead of a one-off outing.
If you are planning a date, a family day, or a friend-group outing, the best strategy is simple: do the festival first, then choose one nearby Dallas stop instead of trying to cram in too much. That keeps the day relaxed and gives you enough energy to actually enjoy the performances instead of racing the clock.
Why It Works as a Tradition
Scarborough Renaissance Festival works so well because it gives repeat visitors a reason to come back without repeating the exact same trip. The weekend schedule changes the mood, the themed programming changes the value, and the layout rewards people who want to slow down and notice details instead of checking boxes.
Families can use the free-kid weekends and discount days to make the outing more affordable, while couples can turn the same grounds into an easy date day. Shoppers, meanwhile, get a built-in excuse to browse longer because the shoppes and live performances keep pulling attention in different directions.
That is also why the festival fits so naturally beside our Dallas and statewide travel guides, including our annual festivals in Texas guide. It is not just something to see once, because there is enough variation in the season to make a second visit feel meaningfully different from the first.
Who Will Enjoy It Most
Families get the most obvious value because the festival gives kids something to see every few steps, not just one headline attraction. Between the shows, the costumes, the shoppes, and the food, it is easy to keep the day moving without hearing the usual complaint that everyone is bored at the same time.
Couples also do well here because the setting does a lot of the work for you. You do not have to plan a complicated itinerary to make the day feel special, since the village atmosphere, live performances, and festival snacks already create enough built-in variety for a low-pressure date.
Friend groups and first-time visitors usually enjoy it for the same reason. There is enough to talk about, sample, watch, and photograph that nobody needs to carry the whole day on their shoulders, which makes it a good pick when the group has mixed energy or mixed interests.
- Best for families: Kids have constant visual variety, and the free-kid weekends make the math easier.
- Best for couples: The setting feels different from a standard dinner-and-a-movie date.
- Best for friend groups: People can split up and reconvene without missing the whole experience.
- Best for first-timers: The festival teaches itself quickly because the layout and shows are easy to follow.
If you are the sort of traveler who likes a repeatable spring ritual, Scarborough is even better on the second visit. You already know how the day works, which means you can focus on better seats, different shops, a new weekend theme, or simply slowing down more than you did the first time.
If You Are Bringing Kids
The best kid-friendly strategy is to build the visit around the early part of the day and one or two clear highlights. That keeps energy manageable and makes it easier to leave before the afternoon stretch turns into a long, hot walk through the grounds.
Opening weekend and Mother’s Day are the smartest dates if you want the best family value, because children 12 and under are free on those days. If you miss those weekends, the rest of the season still works, but you will want to lean harder on the kids’ ticket policy, shade breaks, and a realistic exit plan.
- Start with the pre-opening show or the first main performance.
- Take breaks before the crowds build up too much.
- Use the picnic tables outside the gates if you want your own food.
- Keep costumes comfortable rather than elaborate for the whole day.
- Leave room for a simple exit if younger kids run out of steam.
If your child loves costumes, animals, or live performances, this is an easy win. If they are more sensitive to crowds, the same-day re-entry option helps because you can step away, reset, and come back only if the timing still feels good.
Official Planning Links
- Official About Us page for the 2026 dates, hours, and festival overview
- Official ticket-information page for admission types, discounts, and policy details
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scarborough Renaissance Festival worth it?
Yes, especially if you like immersive events with a lot going on at once. The combination of jousts, live performers, shopping, and food makes it one of the stronger spring day trips in North Texas.
How much are Scarborough Renaissance Festival tickets?
The official site uses date-specific ticket tiers, discounts, and seasonal offers, so the exact price depends on when you go. Check the ticket-information page for the current adult and child pricing on your chosen date.
Can you bring food into Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
No outside food or drink is allowed, except food and water for infants. If you want to eat your own food, the official FAQ says there are picnic tables outside the gates.
Are pets allowed at Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
Pets are not allowed at Scarborough Renaissance Festival, with service animals as the exception. Emotional support animals are not permitted, and service animals must be properly harnessed or leashed.
Can you leave and come back the same day?
Yes. The ticket page says you can get your hand stamped at the exit gate and re-enter the same day without charge, which is useful if you want to take a meal break or reset with a break from the crowd.
What should you wear to Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
Comfortable walking shoes matter most. Costumes are welcome, but the festival is a long outdoor day, so it is smarter to dress for heat, walking, and sun first, then add the fun layers after that.
How far is Scarborough Renaissance Festival from Dallas?
It is close enough for an easy North Texas day trip. The official location is in Waxahachie, so Dallas travelers can usually treat it as a simple spring outing instead of a major road trip.
Is parking free at Scarborough Renaissance Festival?
Parking is included in the adult ticket price, according to the official ticket information. That makes the admission math easier because you do not have to budget for a separate parking fee.
Do you need to buy Scarborough Renaissance Festival tickets in advance?
You do not have to, but online tickets are the easiest way to skip the line. The official box office opens at 9:30 am on festival days, so advance purchase is the more relaxed option if you already know your date.
Is Scarborough Renaissance Festival family friendly?
Yes. The festival has kids-free weekends and family-focused entertainment.
There is enough space and variety to keep children engaged for much of the day. Opening weekend and Mother’s Day are especially useful if you are trying to maximize family value.
Final Thoughts
Scarborough Renaissance Festival is the kind of North Texas event that rewards a little planning. If you pick the right weekend, arrive early, and check the official ticket page before you go, you get a much smoother day and a better shot at seeing the festival at its best.
For the official 2026 schedule, ticket details, and themed weekend updates, keep the festival’s own pages open while you plan. That is the simplest way to avoid surprises and make the most of a spring trip to Waxahachie and the surrounding area.
If you are coming from Dallas, the drive is easy enough for a day trip, but the festival is also strong enough to justify a slower weekend.
