Renaissance faires in Florida

Florida's renaissance faire tradition goes back decades: the Bay Area Renaissance Festival debuted in Largo, marks its 49th season in 2027, and is operated by Mid-America Festivals at its current grounds beside the Withlacoochee River in Dade City, where it fields 15 stages of entertainment and over 100 artisans. In South Florida, the Florida Renaissance Festival began in 1992 as a two-day event and has grown into eight consecutive weekends each February and March at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, drawing more than 120,000 patrons a year. Gainesville's Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, produced by the City of Gainesville's Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs department, has run since 1986 and spent 30 years at the Alachua County Fairgrounds — with room for 120 vendors and 10 entertainment stages — until the property's transfer to the U.S. Army Reserves pushed it into smaller city parks; it is now moving to the Gainesville Raceway for a multi-weekend return. Venue churn has reshaped other corners of the scene too: the Brevard Renaissance Fair canceled its 2026 edition after it could no longer be held at Melbourne's Wickham Park and could not secure a replacement in time, while a new Space Coast Renaissance Fair organized by Brevard Production Inc. and the Orlando Renaissance Fair set up in the same city. Pirate festivals run alongside the renaissance circuit here: Fort Pierce's Treasure Coast Pirate Fest directs a portion of its proceeds to the Treasure Coast Food Bank and collects non-perishable food donations at its gates. Florida is also the home port of The Ren Cruise, founded in 2019 and sailing out of Port Canaveral, described as the original renaissance cruise.

Sources: Bay Area Renaissance Festival – About Us · Eventeny – 2026 Florida Renaissance Festival · Florida Renaissance Festival (official site) · The Independent Florida Alligator – Hoggetowne Medieval Faire moving to Gainesville Raceway · Hoggetowne Medieval Faire (official site) · ClickOrlando – Brevard Renaissance Fair won't go on next year · Treasure Coast Pirate Fest (official site) · The Renlist – The Ren Cruise