The wait is finally over! The Carolina Renaissance Festival is back for 2023 and will run Saturdays and Sundays through November 19th. That’s eight weekends you can enjoy the greatest party since Camelot! As their tagline states “history comes alive” and that certainly is true. With so much to see, do, and eat it can be hard to know what to prioritize. Whatever you do is sure to be immersive and enjoyable. However, if you want to narrow down your list I’ve compiled 7 must-dos for this year at the Carolina Renaissance Festival.
New For 2023
All your favorites as back for the 2023 season. Additionally, there are some new experiences to enjoy including four new musical artists, a day drum jam to close out the festival each night, and stories and songs by the Fairy Godmother. You can also try some new foods (hint that’s on our list) including charcuterie on a stick, drunken mushrooms, and brisket macaroni and cheese. Umm yes please to all of those.
Be sure to note some of the changes for this year including date-specific tickets with a limited number of tickets being sold for each date. Also this year the festival will open early, at 9:30 pm and stay open until dusk. These changes as well as some to the traffic patterns have been made to hopefully combat the backups and delays for festival goers and residents alike. I’d still plan accordingly and give yourself a little extra time to get there. You can find more info on that here. If you’ve never been to the festival it’s located north of Charlotte between Concord and Huntersville on Highway 73 at Poplar Tent Road (between I-77 and I-85). You can take exit 25 on I-77 or exits 52 or 55 on I-85.
While you can’t go wrong with whatever you choose these are the must-dos that in my opinion will make for a great time at the Carolina Renaissance Festival.
Eat!
Of course you have to eat at the Renaissance Festival. Turkey legs are a classic! But there are many, many options including:
Cappuccino Inn
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Coffee
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Hot Teas
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Chai
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Espresso
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Cafe Latte
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Cappuccino
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Cafe Mocha
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Frozen Lemonade
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Frozen Italian Soda
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French Soda
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Iced Coffee
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Iced Cappuccino
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Iced Mocha
The King’s Nuts
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Cinnamon Crunch Almonds
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Pecans
The Waffle & Crepe Inn
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Waffles
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Sweet Crepes
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Savory Crepes
The Cottage Bakery
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Cheesecake
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Layer Cakes
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Tiramisu
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Pastries
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Pies
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Cookies
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Brownies
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Cinnamon Rolls
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Scones
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Muffins
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Bagels
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Breads
The Cottage Chocolate Shoppe
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Fudge
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Truffles
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Chocolate Covered Strawberries
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Chocolate Fudge Apples
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Cashew Turtles
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Pecan Turtles
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Rice Krispy Chocolate Bars
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Toffee Bars
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Smores Bars
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Haystacks
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Caramel Apples
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Nut Rolls
Tudor Rose
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Beer
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Wine
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Soda – Pepsi products
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Champagne
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Mimosa’s
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Pretzels
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Waffles
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Sweet & Savory Crepes
King’s Kitchen
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Bread Bowls
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Broccoli Cheese Soup
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Beef Stew
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Meatball & Marinara
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Chili
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Spinach Artichoke Dip
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Turkey Legs
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Sausage on a Stick
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Steak on a Stake
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Corn on the Cob
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Fish & Chips
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Shrimp & Chips
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Chicken & Chips
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Scotch Eggs
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Sweet Potato Fries
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Chicken Wrap
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Steak Wrap
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Herb-Roasted Chicken with Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Sweet Potatoes
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BBQ Pork Shank with Mashed Potatoes or Mashed Sweet Potatoes
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Cheese Pizza
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Pepperoni Pizza
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Fried Sweet Potato Turnover
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Taco Salad
Nut Shop
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Cinnamon Roasted Almonds and Pecans
Dragon Inn
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Portobello Mushroom Sandwich
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Baked Potato with Toppings
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Roasted Chicken Skewer
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Caesar Salad
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Italian Meatball Sub
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Chicken Mac-n-Cheese
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Fried Mac-n-Cheese
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Fried Rice with Teriyaki Chicken
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Soda – Pepsi products
Crown Pub
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Beer
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Wine
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Champagne
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Mimosa’s
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Soda – Pepsi products
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Iced Tea (Sweet & Unsweet)
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Smoothies
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Hot Chocolate
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Water
Crown Jerky Cart
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Beef Jerky
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Beef Sticks
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Pickles
Crown Beer Cart (near the Merriment Stage)
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Beer
Gelato
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Gelato
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Italian Ice
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Hot Chocolate
Lancer’s Kitchen
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Turkey Legs
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Steak on a Stake
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Sausage on a Stick
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Corn on the Cob
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Portabella Mushroom Sandwich
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Italian Meatball Sub
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Caprese Sandwich
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Root Beer Floats
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Smoothies
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Beer
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Wine
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Soda – Pepsi products
Lancer’s Jerky Cart
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Beef Jerky
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Beef Sticks
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Pickles
Lancer’s Beer Cart (near Joust arena)
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Beer
Queen’s Kitchen
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Bread Bowls
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Broccoli Cheese Soup
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Beef Stew
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Meatball & Marinara
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Chili
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Spinach Artichoke Dip
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Clam Chowder (GF)
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Turkey Legs
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Gluten Free (Veggie & Italian Sausage) Pizza
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Steak on a Stake
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Fried Rice Bowl
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Loaded Baked Potato
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Chicken Sausage in a Blanket
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Chopped Salad
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Apple Dumplings w/Ice Cream
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Brownie Sundae
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Strawberry Shortcake
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Cookie & Cream Sandwich
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Ice Cream
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Beer & Wine
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Water & Soda (Pepsi products)
Woodlands Beer Garden
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Brats
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Sausage on a Stick
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Beer
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Wine
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Soda – Pepsi products
Additional Carts
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Pretzels (roaming around the Village)
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Champagne (near Tudor Rose Pub)
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See A Show
There is no shortage of live entertainment at the Carolina Renaissance Festival! Below is just some of the fun you can check out on your visit!
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Over 500 Costumed Characters!
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16 Stages of non-stop, day-long entertainments!
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Knights on Horseback Jousting Thrice Daily!
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Vegetable Justice Tomato Tossing!
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Bird’s of Prey Falconry Demonstrations!
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Music, Dance, Comedy, Magic and Circus Entertainments!
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Throw An Axe
Have some pent-up anger from the week? What’s a better way to get it out than axe throwing? It’s just one of the games you can participate in at the Renaissance Festival others include darts, archery, and “shatter the platter”.
