Scarborough Faire is one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the US. It's in Waxahachie (45 min south of Dallas) and it's an experience.
Details:
- Dates: Weekends April 4 - May 25, 2026 (Saturdays and Sundays)
- Location: 2511 FM 66, Waxahachie, TX
- Admission: $35 adult, $15 kids. Season passes available. Source: srfestival.com
- Hours: 10am - 7pm
What to expect:
- 200+ artisan shops (jewelry, leather, weapons, clothing)
- Full-contact jousting tournaments
- Live performances: comedy, music, acrobatics, fire shows
- Turkey legs the size of your head
- Thousands of people in full Renaissance costume (optional but encouraged)
- Mead, ale, and wine served in the "village"
First-timer tips:
- Wear comfortable shoes — it's 35+ acres of walking on dirt/grass.
- Bring cash — many artisan shops and food vendors prefer it.
- Costumes are encouraged but NOT required. Nobody will judge you either way.
- The jousting show is the main event — arrive 15-20 minutes early for good seats.
- Hydrate. It's Texas. It's spring. It can be 90 degrees.
- Try the mead at least once. It's historically accurate AND delicious.
Budget:
- Admission: $35
- Food: $30-50/person (turkey legs, meat pies, pastries, drinks)
- Shopping: $0-infinity (the artisan goods are legitimately high quality and priced accordingly)
- Estimated total for a couple: $130-200
Sources:
- SRFestival.com — official website
- Personal attendance every year since 2020
Are you going opening weekend?
First year in costume was weird for 10 minutes then amazing for the rest of the day. Lean in. It's more fun that way.