Hundreds of performers will bring the Ohio Renaissance Festival to life

No, Beyoncé’s tour didn’t come to Cincinnati. But southern Ohio will still have its annual Renaissance—the Ohio Renaissance Festival (ORF), which will ride back into the region on Labor Day Weekend. 

As usual, the festival will take place in Waynesville. Along with the usual jousts, minstrels and artisans, this year’s festival features an all-new attraction—Whimsy Woods, a five-acre enclave where “fantasy and history collide” in a natural play space for all ages.  

ORF marketing director Cheryl Bucholtz promises Whimsy Woods will “transport our visitors into a realm of pure fantasy and adventure.” 

“It’s a place where the young and the young at heart can explore, play, and create memories that will last a lifetime,” Bucholtz added in a press release. 

The mock-16th-century village where the festival takes place covers 35 acres in all, brought to life by hundreds of costumed performers. Queen Elizabeth I will preside over full-armored jousting matches, musical performances and more. 

The inaugural ORF took place in 1990 and has grown into one of the country’s largest renaissance festivals, as well as a favorite fall event in the region. 

This year, the ORF will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Labor Day from Sept. 2 through Oct. 29. Tickets are $28 for adults and $10 for children ages 5-12.