THEME WEEKENDS 2023

Theme Weekends add an extra layer of fun for our guests. Every weekend celebrates the joy and spirit of the Renaissance and, on the following weekends, we infuse an exciting twist.

Pirate & Marketplace Weekend

April 15 & 16, 2023

Bluebeard, Blackbeard, No Beard? Dress and talk like a pirate on April 15 and 16!

Pirate Costume Contest
ARR! Sign up at the Guest Services booth at the top of the Food Court before 2:45 p.m. All contestants will gather and toast in the Food Court Area from 3 to 3:30 p.m. While the Pirates boast of their adventures, anonymous judging will occur. We’ll close our gathering with a group photo. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire’s Pirate Booty winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m. on the Maybower Stage each day.

School of Seafaring
Have you ever wanted to learn how to sail the High Seas? Want to be the Captain of your own crew? Would you like to find glory for Her Majesty? Then come attend our School of Seafaring hosted by Her Majesty’s Privateers! – Upon completion, all participants will receive a Letter of Marque from Her Majesty.
Kids’ Kingdom Stage – 12:30 p.m. & 4:00 p.m.

X marks the spot
Hunt for treasure and fun! Engage our good cousins on the streets of Port Deptford and finish the tasks they set you to receive a small treasure! Instructions will be provided, you bring a thirst for adventure, and we’ll provide the fun!

Marketplace Weekend
Spend $250 or more in our Marketplace and receive 2 tickets to return to the Faire through May 14, 2023. Bring your paper receipts to the Information Booth inside the front gate before 7 p.m. to redeem this offer. All paper receipts must be for purchases made on the same day, either April 15 or 16. Tickets must be claimed on the date of your visit, April 15 or 16. Please note that this offer excludes admission, food, beverage, rides, games, and the Renaissance Collection Souvenir Shop.

RennCon™

April 29 & 30, 2023

RennCon™ is a celebration of cosplay! Whether you draw your inspiration from the sci-fi scene, anime, comics, television, fairy tales, or anywhere else… we invite you to mingle with our 16th-century townsfolk at the biggest costume party in L.A.

Get the most out of RennCon™ Weekend by attending one of our panels at the RennGarden (beer garden) across from the Golden Jubilee Stage. Subjects ranging from characterization to cosplay will be discussed. Stop by the Information Booth to pick up a RennCon™ Panel Schedule.
Panels run for 20-30 minutes each.

Cosplay Maypole Dance
Put on your favorite cosplay and join us for the biggest cross-genre extravaganza you’ve ever seen! How would your favorite villain dance around the Maypole? Find out at 11:30 a.m. at the Maypole Commons!

Time Traveler Costume Contest
Polish your brass goggles, dust off your time machine, and join us with your finest time-traveling attire! Sign up at the Guest Services booth at the top of the Food Court before 2:45 p.m. All contestants will gather in the Food Court Area from 3 to 3:30 p.m. While the Time Travelers discuss the finer points of the timeline, anonymous judging will occur. We’ll close our gathering with a group photo. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire’s Time Traveler Costume Contest winners will be announced at 4:45 p.m. on the Maybower Stage each day.

NEW! Cottagecore Weekend

May 6 & 7, 2023

This weekend we invite you to don your best woodland attire and frolic at the Faire where we will feature the village artisans who create the enchanting aesthetic known as Cottagecore. We’ll provide a map for a self-guided ‘Cozy Crawl’ showing the locations of our creators demonstrating their skills and some of the Faire’s talented guild members who will teach you to create beautiful hand-made items for your own cozy cottage. To top it off, you can earn free tickets to return to the Faire by shopping in our Marketplace!

Marketplace Weekend – Part Two!
Spend $250 or more in our Marketplace and receive 2 tickets to return to the Faire through May 14, 2023. Bring your paper receipts to the Information Booth inside the front gate before 7 p.m. to redeem this offer. All paper receipts must be for purchases made on the same day, either May 6 or 7. Tickets must be claimed on the date of your visit, May 6 or 7. Please note that this offer excludes admission, food, beverage, rides, games, and the Renaissance Collection Souvenir Shop.

11 a.m. The Fairy Godmother’s Feast of Fantasy
Deptford’s resident Fairy Godmother will meet and greet you at Maypole Commons for an imaginary feast, a feast of fantasy. And, be sure to get a photo with our magical Fantastikals. Stay for the Cottagecore Maypole Dance happening at 11:30 a.m. This is also where you can pick up the ‘Cozy Crawl’ map detailing all the stops you’ll want to make on your memorable journey throughout the village. (The map is also available at the Information Booths.)

11:30 a.m. Cottagecore Maypole Dance
Welcome the month of May in style! Dance experience is not required. Laughter and good vibes are guaranteed. Join us at Maypole Commons.

2:45 p.m. Fool’s Coronation (May 6 only)
Gather at Queen’s College for a parade beginning at 2:45 p.m. We’ll find and crown this year’s King of Fools!

2:45 p.m. Cottagecore Costume Contest
Show off your magical and cozy creations! Sign up for the costume contest at the Guest Services booth at the top of the Food Court before 2:45 p.m. each day. Then please join us at the Food Court Area where anonymous judging will occur from 3 until 3:30 p.m. Three winners will be selected. We’ll close our gathering with a group photo of all contestants. Go to the Maybower Stage at 4:45 p.m. each day to find out who won!

4:45 p.m. Costume Contest Winners Announced
Go to the Maybower Stage to find out who won! The three winners will be called up on the stage for a photo op!

6:15 p.m. Fairy Frolic Drum Jam
Dance, spin, and frolic your cares away! We’ll close out your wondrous day where it started: in Maypole Commons. Our talented musicians will set your spirits soaring. The drum jam is the perfect ending!

Are you hosting any other Theme Weekends?

No. We are only hosting two Theme Weekends for the 2023 season: Pirate Weekend and RennCon™. We look forward to the return of other theme weekends (such as Scout Weekend) in future seasons. Thank you for your continued support.

Gnome Hunt sample gnomes at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire theme weekends special events

GNOME HUNT (Every Weekend)

Those rascally gnomes have again invaded Port Deptford!  They cleverly hide in our shops and guild yards during the daytime, but at night they come out and play mischievous tricks on us. We must find these gnomes so we can stop the mayhem! 

You can help us find them by picking up a list of likely Gnome locations at one of the Guest Services booths.  Then when you find them, have the shop owners make a mark upon your list. 

When you have found enough gnomes, turn in your list to earn a frameable certificate that declares that you are a Gnome Hunter Extraordinaire. This certificate entitles you to a Special Edition Collectible Pewter Gnome Pin from Fellowship Foundry at a deep discount, which is awarded only to successful Gnome Hunters. There is a different pin each season. Start collecting them now!

PUB CRAWL – sold out for 2023!

Play the best beer game this side of 1599 at Renaissance Pleasure Faire’s legendary Pub Crawl. Join the loud and lusty pub crawl crew, and skip long lines as they personally amuse you along the village streets to several fine taverns and public houses. Try not to spill as you jiggle with merriment at the most bodacious songs, jests, jokes, stories, and riddles the shire has to offer. You will visit four pubs that offer a variety of refreshing beverages including gluten-free options.

The Pub Crawl departs at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and costs $65 to party with us. ALL of the tickets for each crawl are available online. Pub Crawl tickets must be redeemed at the Information Booth (inside the front gate) between 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to receive your wristband. You MUST check in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled Pub Crawl to receive your wristband. No wristband means no Pub Crawl. No refunds.

You may only Crawl once per day!

The Pub Crawl sells out quickly and does not include admission to The Renaissance Pleasure Faire. You will need an admission ticket and a Pub Crawl ticket if you wish to drink with us.

Must be 21 to participate (IDs will be checked for everyone). Children are not permitted on the Pub Crawl (including children in strollers). Please drink responsibly, we like return customers!

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