2026 Entertainment of the Shire
The entertainment at the New York Renaissance Faire spans 17 different performance areas and all the streets in between! You’ll find daredevil acrobats, soulful musicians, side-splitting comedians, three full-contact jousts, and hundreds of performers who bring the city to life!
Yes, there are turkey legs the size of medieval dumbbells. Yes, there are treasures to buy. But tucked between the merchants and mead are entire realms of chaos, comedy, and courtly drama that are gloriously free. The mostly complete list is here.
ENTERTAINMENT STAGE SCHEDULE
The Entertainment Stage Schedule will be posted on the Wednesday evening before each weekend.
Although unusual, scheduled acts may change due to weather, illness, or Her Majesty’s whim.
Click Here for the Sixth Weekend Stage Schedule – Sept 19 & 20, 2026
Aaron Bonk – Fire Whips and Swords (all season)
Aaron Bonk is a 3-time International Performance Champion, 5-time Guinness World Record-setting whip artist, and unique entertainer with a twisted sense of humor who risks his life to make you laugh. You may have seen his TV appearances on Steve Harvey’s Talk Show, Game of Talents, and America’s Got Talent! With stupefying acts of juggling, whip cracking, danger, and craziness, he amuses and amazes the whole family with his Seriously Ridiculous stunt show spectacular.
Arsene Dupin Magikhana Show (all season)
Arsene Dupin, internationally renowned Artiste of Mime, Magic, Comedy & Juggling, delights audiences worldwide. His amazing illusions and ingenious comedy win the hearts and inspire the laughter of the audience within moments!
Limited Dates! Boom Boom Shake: World Class Music and Bellydance (Aug 15 – 30, Sept 26 – Oct 4)
With Middle Eastern roots and a modern vibe, Boom Boom Shake brings together a unique show that is fun and entertaining. World percussion beats, guitar and violin melodies, and belly dancers weave together an experience that is great for the whole family! Bring your dancing shoes, because you won’t be able to resist the groove!
Charry (all season)
Immerse yourself in the enchanting mists of the Andes Mountains with the captivating music of Charry Garcia. Weaving a rich tapestry of musical styles, Charry evokes the primal, magical essence of the Andes using a variety of indigenous folk instruments, such as the charango, birimbao, cuatro, pan pipes, and percussion. His performances showcase traditional melodies from around the world, transporting listeners to a realm where ancient traditions and contemporary artistry seamlessly converge.
Cirque du Sewer (all season)
You may recognize the trained rats, cats, and acro-human of Cirque du Sewer from their national and international TV appearances, including a standing ovation and multiple rounds on America’s Got Talent. But watching them live at a Renaissance Faire is even more thrilling because we can’t edit out when cats are jerks! Melissa combines her skills with the talents of her rescue animals, creating complicated obstacle courses for the rats, dancing with cats, and balancing upside down on a half-inch slack rope.
Combat Chess (all season)
The greatest warriors in Sterling Shire cross blades and trade blows, all for Her Majesty’s entertainment – and yours – in these rollicking contests of strategy and skill!
Presented by the NYRF Fight Guild. Don’t miss these epic battles on the Chessboard, twice daily!
The Court of Queen Elizabeth (all season)
Our beloved Sovereign, Elizabeth, has arrived in the Shire seeking romance, music, and adventure! Delight in theater, song, and banter as Her Majesty presides over the celebrations of the day. Our young guests are invited to participate in the Children’s Knighting Ceremony, held every Faire day at the Storybook Stage at 3:15 p.m.
NEW! CRANNOG (SEPT 27th – Oct 4th)
Crannog cordially invites you to visit their ‘island’ of song and revelry, with fun Irish songs, dance-worthy jigs, and epic ballads of love and death, featuring English concertina and vocals (Gabriele Decker) fiddle (Franco Gara), guitar (Tyler McCallip) and hearty drums (Mike Huebner).
Crannog (named after man-made islands made by medieval Celts in lakes throughout Ireland and Scotland) distinguish themselves with unique arrangements of Irish songs and Celtic ballads. Their first time ever at the New York Renaissance Faire, the band has been performing at major Renaissance festivals for over 25 years.
Limited Dates! Ded Bob (Aug 15 – Sept 27)
“Dedly” Humor! Bob and his faithful dummy Sluj use unsuspecting audience members to assist in mischievous & outrageous comedy! The hardest-working cadaver in show business is back with all matters bawdy and profane. Corpse comedy and audience interaction at their finest!
Limited Dates! Dungeons and Shakespeare (Sept 12 & 13)
Welcome to a world where you can see the greatest characters from Shakespeare battle monsters from Dungeons & Dragons. Inspired by the Bard, determined by dice, brought to life on stage. Join in an epic adventure that is different every time as the audiences’ choices and the roll of giant dice decide if the heroes live or die. All the world’s a game… Come be a player!
The Fairies (all season)
The marvelous Fairies bring magic and wonder to Sterling Shire! The Faerie Queen and her Seelie Court reign in the deep woods of the Enchanted Forest, where their magic delights the hearts of children and adults alike.
The Flaming Ginger (all season)
Jon Norton, The Flaming Ginger, performs a fast and fun family-friendly fire danger comedy show. From juggling fire to seven-foot unicycles and nonstop jokes along the way, you’ll laugh, cheer, and come back for more!
NEW! Fortress Dwellers (Sept 19 & 20)
Fortress Dwellers are a unique family band of high-energy performances that will have you on the edge of your seat or dancing in the street!
NEW! The Heralds (All Season)
The Heralds are a crew of visiting pirates, filling the Shire with music, frivolity, and nautical nonsense! Come find Captain Henry Strangeways and the crew of the Lucky Duck II patrolling the streets — or join them at their stage show, “Hark, the Heralds!” for a sea shanty or a ren-faire fave. You can dance with them at their Nautical Maypole, or find them hosting the themed balls throughout the season. No matter the occasion, these pirates are sure to please!
Iron Hill Vagabonds (all season)
Iron Hill Vagabonds is an acoustic music duo performing a mix of traditional and original instrumental pieces and songs including Renaissance, Celtic, Folk, and Bluegrass standards, as well as original songs and instrumental compositions. Iron Hill Vagabonds is the realization of the shared vision of Brothers Ehrich and Mark Gauvin.
Limited Dates! Jamila Lotus (Aug 15 – Sept 27)
The Jamila Lotus Dance Carnivale performs fast-paced, original choreography and feats of balance and daring, featuring the live music of their dynamic Band of Eternal Souls!
Jeffrey Jene (all season)
Jeffrey Jene has entertained crowds with his super-skilled sleight of hand, illusion, and comedy for three decades. His performance has been lauded by his viewers and peers as one of the best in the business. Visit Jeffrey in his realm of magic and experience the impossible!
Jim Mackenzie (all season)
Jim has been keeping vaudeville alive since 1985 and continues to add new original routines to the act. He learned to juggle at a young age from his dad. He picked up sword swallowing and other skills along the way, taught himself violin, and put it all into a comedy show that has become a favorite with audiences around the country. Experience in-the-moment comedy and amazing original feats!
The Jousters (all season)
The Jousters have an entertainingly fresh take on a very old sport. These knights are excited to bring their fully-armored, hard-hitting, and wholly unique style of jousting to the Faire. Combined with bold attitudes and fierce competition, this is a true sport. Every lance break and shield shatter achieved is done in an authentic quest for victory!
Enjoy the Royal Treatment with covered seating, a pickle, a pennant, and a non-alcoholic beverage with VIP seating at the Joust! Reserve here.
Kathleen Finnegan (all season)
Kathleen brings the music of the past alive with the magic of the Irish harp. In ancient tradition, music had the power to bring joy, sorrow, and peace, all of which Kathleen delights to share. Experience the beloved music of the Celtic, ancient, and classical traditions, some familiar and some that are new again.
The Legend of Robin Hood (all season)
Heroes, like swords, are forged in fire. The villainous Sheriff of Nottingham and his Guards rule the highways and byways of the Shire with an iron fist. Are you prepared to help Robin Hood, his beloved Maid Marian, and the Merry Band of Outlaws put an end to the Sheriff’s tyranny once and for all? Follow the adventures of Robin Hood throughout the Faire day!
Limited Dates! Lynx the Sword Swallower (Sept 12 – Oct 4)
The Lynx the Sword Swallower show is a unique blend of magic, sword swallowing, and comedy. From death-defying feats of amazement to bewildering moments that just can’t be explained, this performance is sure to thrill you. Don’t miss out and be part of the fun!
Limited Dates! Ménage À Moi Comedy (Rated R)(Sept 12 – Oct 4)
Bawdy Positive™ entertainment favoring frivolity versus vulgarity, this show is filled with spicy songs and stand-up! Come for the liberated, inclusive camaraderie. Stay for the belly laughs, new friends, and an organic interactive unpredictability ensuring every show is a unique experience. Parental Advisory. Explicit Content.
Musica Diegetica (all season)
From opening to closing Musica Diegetica is the heartbeat of the shire and provides musical accompaniment to Maypole and Court Dances, martial brass and drumming for the Chess matches and the Joust, and magical musical moments throughout the Faire day.
Mythic Madness (all season)
Minerva, the powerful sorceress, is here to demonstrate her mastery of the arts martial and magical. She is accompanied by an unwilling assistant: Mythos, her human-bound fae familiar. Together, they present a hilarious swords and sorcery show- which definitely doesn’t fund a plot to take over the world- that is fun for humans of all ages and magical creatures of every persuasion. Watch this disastrous duo unleash their weapons of wood, steel, and magic upon each other in a fight for power and vengeance.
Nyr Jorvik Vikings (all season)
As a living history Scandinavian encampment, the Nyr Jorvik Vikings teach through the ancient art of storytelling and demonstration. Within the encampment, villagers can be observed cooking over an open flame, and woodworking with iron age tools – including a coal-fired kiln and a foot-powered lathe – spinning, weaving yarn, and more.
The Revelers of the Shire (all season)
The Revelers fill our streets with the colorful sights and bustling sounds of 16th-century life! Whether they are dancing around the Maypole, singing a fine old tune, or just striking up a friendly conversation, they are sure to delight you on your adventure in our Shire!
The Royal Pipers (all season)
This group, composed of the popular pipers Larry Cole, Christa Patton, and Peter Walker, perform pavannes and other precious pieces for your particular pleasure!
Shakespeare in the Shire (all season)
A delightful romp through the works of William Shakespeare, brought to life each day! Witness some of the Bard’s best-known scenes, monologues, and sonnets creatively performed by characters of the Shire. Each weekend is a unique show, so come back and see it again and again!
Limited Dates! Ship Shape (Oct 3 & 4)
Shiver me timbers, it’s Ship Shape! Join us for a music and comedy show complete with side-splitting piratical jests and harmonies so tight that they’ll make any landlubber a she shanties fanatic! Let this cook, swabber, and surgeon entertain you while they try to find their land legs – which might have gone down with the ship – and let the mayhem commence! Join Frankie, Swiss, and Mack for a shipload of fun!
Sky Kings Falconry (all season)
Sky Kings Falconry presents an awe-inspiring, free-flying falconry and birds of prey demonstration that takes place ABOVE the audience! Feel the gust of wind rustle your hair as hawks, owls, falcons, and vultures take flight from stage to perch in this 5000-year-old “Sport of Kings.” Sky Kings is brought to you by Wildlife Revealed, a 501-c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the education and preservation of our planet’s wildlife.
Tenacious D&D (all season)
Randal Piper plays the streets and stages with some of his intergalactically renowned critical hits. Come out for the tunes, stay for a ‘Riggle Do’ or two, and leave with some Bardic Inspiration!
Tiny Girl, Big Show! (all season)
Step right up and see the one-woman circus extravaganza that’s wowing audiences across the shire! With charm and sparkle to spare, this award-winning, pint-sized powerhouse packs a punch. Stahr twists her body into ridiculous positions, then adds a whip, a unicycle, fire, juggling, and a bow and arrow held between her (pedicured) toes. Don’t miss Stahr Power’s crazy combination of skills that will leave you laughing on the edge of your seat!
Limited Dates! Vince Conaway (Aug 15 – 23)
Weaving storytelling and melodies, Vince and his hammered dulcimer bring history to life!
The Washing Well Wenches (all season)
The Washing Well Wenches are the funniest pair of “ladies” you’ll ever meet! Part vaudeville, part sketch comedy, full-on entertaining, the Washing Well Wenches make interactive theater fun for everyone!
Limited Dates! Wiggins Faerie Lore Magician (Sept 12, 13, 26, & 27)
Magician, storyteller, and human ambassador to the faerie realm. While Wiggins seems to be a human fantasy jukebox, his true agenda is educating folk in the needs of the little people and getting himself elected again. He is recognizable by his very large mushroom, the smallest stage in the shire. If you don’t believe in faeries before you have met Wiggins, you most likely will after!
Wolgemut – Pipes & Drums (all season)
Ancient Music for your Modern Mind!
Bombastic drums, bagpipes divine; sackbuts, rauschpfeife played so fine,
Songs that sing of days of yore, fiddles, flutes, and so much more,
Every tone, fine und gut, makes you very WOLGEMUT!
