Hattiesburg Zoo Renaissance Festival

The Hattiesburg Zoo Renaissance Festival is an annual two-day event held on the grounds of the Hattiesburg Zoo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The festival pairs Renaissance-themed merriment with the zoo's regular attractions, offering live performances, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Period-themed food is served, and guests are encouraged to attend in Renaissance costume, though real weapons are not permitted. Activities have included Shakespearean scenes, a quest for knighthood ending in a knighting ceremony, a costume contest, archery, and up-close animal encounters. Zoo annual passes apply, and some attractions, such as the carousel and ropes course, are ticketed separately.