Ready to encounter knights, fairies, and other mythical creatures? Head over to the Texas Renaissance Festival starting October 11th, where the King and Queen will welcome you to their magical kingdom for endless fun and entertainment.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the 2025 season. You’ll discover the full schedule of themed weekends, the history and legacy of the festival, details on tickets and lodging, highlights of food, shopping, and shows, along with tips to make the most of your visit.
What is the Texas Renaissance Festival 2025?
Celebrating its 51st year, the Texas Renaissance Festival is the largest event of its kind in the United States, held each fall right here in Todd Mission, Texas!
The location is easy to reach by car from Houston, Dallas, or Austin. The festival grounds are large, with villages, performance areas, markets, food stands, and camping spaces. Parking is available on site, and there are options for general, preferred, and handicap parking. Visitors can see jousting matches, parades, music, comedy shows, and even acrobats. Actors dressed as kings, queens, knights, pirates, and fairies wander the grounds to make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time. There are also plenty of places to eat and drink, from giant turkey legs and sizzling sausages to sweet mead and international dishes.
Every weekend has its own theme, such as Oktoberfest, Pirate Adventure, or Celtic Christmas. Guests join the fun by dressing in costume, and competing in contests and games that add to the lively atmosphere.
Texas Renaissance Festival History and Legacy
The festival began in 1974, when George Coulam and his brother David started it on some land in Todd Mission, Texas. Back then, it was much smaller, covering just 15 acres, with three stages, and vendors selling their goods on blankets. Even so, around 30,000 people attended that first year, excited to see what it had to offer.
Over the years, the festival grew larger and more popular. New villages, shops, and stages were added, additional themed weekends brought even more excitement to the grounds. Today, it has become one of Texas’ most famous events, drawing people from all over the country.
The founder, George Coulam, became known as “King George” and was even the mayor of Todd Mission for many years. He passed away in May 2025, but his legacy lives on. Thanks to him, the Texas Renaissance Festival has become a tradition that combines history, fantasy, and community. It continues to bring joy to hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
What’s New at the Texas Renaissance Festival in 2025
The Texas Renaissance Festival keeps adding new things, and 2025 brings some fun updates. This year, there’s a new escape room inside a large air-conditioned building, found near the Enchanted Forest area. The festival also has a new Stay & Play pass. With this ticket, you can camp from Thursday to Monday and get entry for both Saturday and Sunday, plus free showers in the campground. The campground itself has been improved, too, with more organized spaces for tents, RVs, and trailers.
Texas Renaissance Festival 2025 Schedule and Calendar
So, how long is the Texas Renaissance Festival each year? In 2025, the festival begins on October 11 and ends on November 30, running for eight weekends plus Thanksgiving Friday.
The gates open at 9:00 in the morning and close at 8:00 in the evening. No one can enter after 7:00 PM, so it’s best to arrive earlier in the day, with time to get the full experience.
With each weekend’s unique theme, check out the 2025 lineup:
- Oktoberfest (Oct 11–12): German food and music, beer, and a bratwurst eating contest.
- 1001 Dreams (Oct 18–19): A fantasy weekend filled with fairies, elves, and magical costumes.
- All Hallows’ Eve (Oct 25–26): A spooky Halloween celebration with ghosts, ghouls, and costume contests.
- Pirate Adventure (Nov 1–2): Pirates take over the kingdom with themed contests and swashbuckling fun.
- Heroes and Villains (Nov 8–9): Dress as your favorite hero or villain and take part in contests and shows.
- Barbarian Invasion (Nov 15–16): Celebrate the wild side with barbarian costumes and eating contests.
- Highland Fling (Nov 22–23): Scottish and Celtic fun with games, kilts, and music.
- Celtic Christmas (Nov 28–30): The season ends with holiday cheer, Christmas costumes, and festive food.
Texas Renaissance Festival Shows and Performers
The Texas Renaissance Festival has all kinds of shows, from music and comedy to magic and jousting. Some acts perform on big stages, while others wander through the fairgrounds to surprise guests and take photos.
Here are some of the main highlights you can see in 2025:
- Music & Bands: Cantiga, Coal Black Rose, Crannog, Doc Mojoe, Dublin Harpers
- Comedy & Magic: Clan Tynker Family Circus, Buckler & Dirks, Jackeem the Magician, Jingles the Jester
- Arena Shows: The Joust, Birds of Prey, Full Steel Combat
- Evening Entertainment: Wyrmwood Public House, The Green Hour (21+)
Texas Renaissance Festival Food and Drink 2025
Food is a big part of the Texas Renaissance Festival. You’ll find dozens of booths selling everything from full meals to delicious sweet snacks. Some favorites include turkey legs, bratwurst, gyros, chimney cakes, kettle corn, toffee, and apple strudel.
If you want drinks, there are taverns serving beer, wine, and mead. For non-alcoholic choices, there’s soda, lemonade, and iced tea.
There’s also the King’s Feast, a ticketed sit-down meal with multiple courses and live entertainment. It’s one of the most popular dining experiences at the festival because it gives you a chance to dine like royalty while enjoying live music, performances, and a festive medieval atmosphere.
Texas Renaissance Festival Shopping
The festival has more than 400 shops selling handmade goods. You can buy:
- Costumes, cloaks, and armor
- Jewelry, leather belts, and bags
- Pottery, glassware, and woodcrafts
- Fantasy props like swords, wands, and masks
Most items are made by local or traveling artists, so it’s a good place to pick up one-of-a-kind gifts.
Texas Renaissance Festival Costumes, Contests, and Dressing Tips
In addition to the costume contest held weekly, there are also eating contests, such as bratwurst, pie, or gyro competitions.
Although wearing a costume isn’t required, many people dress up to join in the fun. Costumes can be rented or bought at the festival, or you can bring your own. Good shoes are important because you’ll walk a lot, and layers help since mornings and evenings can be cool. Even simple touches like a crown, hat, or cape make it more magical.
Things to Do Near the Texas Renaissance Festival (Todd Mission, TX)
A trip to the Texas Renaissance Festival doesn’t have to stop at the gates. The area around Todd Mission is full of fun places to explore, whether you want nature, food, or local culture.
- Lone Pint Brewery (Magnolia, TX) – A popular craft brewery that often has food trucks and outdoor seating. It’s a friendly place to enjoy a local beer after a busy day at the festival.
- Yankee Doodle Donuts (Magnolia, TX) – Stop in for fresh donuts, kolaches, and coffee. It’s a tasty way to start your morning before heading to the festival.
- Magnolia Stroll (Magnolia, TX) – A half-mile, tree-lined walkway that connects parks, shops, and the farmers market. Along the path, you’ll see street art, benches, and places to stop for food or shopping. It’s a calm and scenic break from the festival crowds.
- COLTON Community (Todd Mission, TX) – A brand-new master-planned community located right next to the festival grounds. Visitors can explore the community and see why COLTON was recently named master-planned community project of the year. With 14 unique model homes showcasing COLTON’s exclusive Texas-style architecture, you’ll experience what the Quintessential Texas lifestyle is all about. Homes range from the $300’s to over $1 million, with plenty of move-in ready options to tour today.