Are you are looking for an interactive spring activity with the family in Metro Atlanta that doesn’t involve sports or sitting in a movie theatre?  Our family had an incredible time fun traveling back in time and spending a day rubbing shoulders with royalty at the Georgia Renaissance Festival in Fairburn, Georgia.

Every weekend from mid April to early June, Fairburn steps back in time and transforms into Elizabethan England complete with 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and dance. At the Georgia Renaissance Festival, it’s time to party like it’s 1599!

If you’ve never been to a  Renaissance Festival before, it is a recreation of a medieval village filled with costumed actors, performers crafts and games for the entire family to enjoy.  Each weekend also has a special theme and/or special discounts. More information is available on their website.

The Georgia Renaissance Festival runs is spread over 32 rolling acres and features live performances of medieval jousting, storytelling, aerial acrobatics, maypole dances, juggling, music, magic, craft demonstrations and  much more.  There are also human-powered amusement rides and animals to entertain younger children. We had a great time!

Feast like Royalty from their huge menu of items. Start off with an appetizer of Fried Mac & Cheese on a Stick, and move up to a Giant Roasted Turkey Leg or Steak-on-a-Stake. Munch on roasted corn on the cob, and wash it all down with a cold frothy ale. You can  top it all off with one of the many sweet desserts favored by the Queen or sip on mead from a sheep’s horn. You’ll not go hungry in this Village!

Attending a Renaissance Festival will prove to be a great time .  It will be a long and tiring day, but a magical one for your family.  There’s plenty to do, see, buy and eat at the Georgia Renaissance Festival and with over 150 shows daily, it will be impossible to see it all in one day. Below is a list of five tips so your family can get the most out of your Georgia Renaissance Festival experience:

Tip #1 – Buy Your Tickets in Advance and Bring Cash – Daily admission is $22 for adults, $10 for children and children under the age of five are free.  Expect to wait on long lines if you purchase your tickets on-site, especially if you arrive when the Faire first opens.  Plan on purchasing your tickets in advance and print them out online so you can cut the lines and stroll right in to all the action and fun.  You can also save a few extra dollars ($19 & $8 for adults and children respectively) by purchasing discounted tickets for the Festival at your local Sam’s Club.  Bring cash to tip the performers and parking  fills up fast, plan to arrive early.

Tip #2:  Dress comfortably. – While some Festival-goers dress up in period costume, it’s not required for a great time. However, costumes are available for rent at the entrance.  Keep in mind that the Faire takes place entirely outside and during the month of May and early June, it can get rather hot and dusty.  T-shirts, jeans and shorts are all good clothing choices. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen and a hat or risk getting a sunburn on sunny days.  For cooler or rainy weekends, a light jacket or sweater are a good option to have, especially for kids.

Tip #3:  Wear comfortable shoes. – There is a lot of walking and standing involved at the Georgia Renaissance Fair, so good and comfy shoes are a must!.  Sneakers or any other sort of closed-toe shoes are recommended especially since you will be on open fields and walking upon dirt and gravel roads. Because of that you should also consider skipping the stroller if you have younger kids, either encouraging them to walk or use a wearable baby harness to get around easier.

Tip #4 : Use the Map!  Upon entering , you’ll receive a map of the and a show schedule. Read over your map and figure out what you want to see and visit first. Want to see the joust? Make sure you’re not caught at the far end of the Festival when it happens. Want to meet the King/Queen? Check their schedule to see about royal court visits.  Arrive at least 10-15 minutes in advance for any show, since seats fill up fast.  For the joust, fans start getting their seats/spots lined up starting a half-hour before.  Plan on spending at least five hours, if not the entire day there.

With so much to see and do, it comes as no surprise that the Georgia Renaissance Festival is one of the crown jewels of Atlanta’s popular summer festival season. Although this was  our first visit, we will be coming back for years to come and highly recommend it for  any family looking for a great weekend adventure.

About the Georgia Renaissance Festival:

Dates: April 15 – June 4, 2017 – Saturdays, Sundays & Memorial Day – 10:30am – 6:00pm

Directions: I-85, Exit #61 (Fairburn-Peachtree City) Just minutes south of the Atlanta Airport Physical Address: 6905 Virlyn B Smith Rd, Fairburn, GA 30213

Admission at the Gate: Adults – $22 /Children – $10 / Children 5 and Under – FREE

Visit www.GArenfest.com for complete information, discount ticket offers, and special themes and promotions scheduled for each weekend.