Carolina Renaissance Festival This Saturday: Tickets, Deaf Awareness Day, and How to Beat the Traffic

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is back in Huntersville for its 2026 season, and this Saturday, Oct. 10, is one of the busier days on the calendar. Gates open at 9:30 a.m. at 16445 Poplar Tent Road, with the village open until 5:30 p.m., according to the festival.

If you've never been, picture a 16th century village in the woods north of Charlotte, packed with jousting knights, costumed performers, artisans, and a lot of turkey legs. Here's what's happening Saturday, what it costs, and how to plan your day.

What's special about this Saturday

Saturday is Deaf Awareness Day at the festival. Certified sign language interpreters will interpret performances at select stages, and student interpreters from Central Piedmont Community College will be out in the lanes to help with communication. Deaf and Hard of Hearing visitors can get discounted admission, per the festival's special events page.

It's also the start of BrewFest Weekend, which runs Saturday and Sunday. The festival hasn't posted much detail about it yet, so check its site before you go if craft beer is your reason for making the trip.

What you'll find inside

The festival says the village has 16 stages of music, comedy, and circus acts, plus more than 1,000 costumed villagers wandering the lanes. The main event is the joust, which runs three times a day. General seating at the joust is free, and reserved VIP joust seats are available for an extra charge.

Beyond the jousting, there are falconry shows, fairies, and a mermaid show. Kids tend to gravitate toward the rides and games, which include archery, axe throwing, a rock wall, and a giant rocking horse.

If you like to shop, the artisan marketplace has more than 140 shops, many with live demonstrations of glassblowing, blacksmithing, and candle making.

What tickets cost

Tickets are sold online and are date specific, which means a Saturday ticket only works on Saturday. The festival says dates often sell out, so buy before you leave home.

Here's the 2026 pricing, per the festival, before sales tax:

• Adults (13 and up): $37.99, including a $1.99 service fee
• Children (5 to 12): $23.99, including a $1.99 service fee
• Children 4 and under: Free
• VIP joust seats: $23.99 per seat, all ages

Parking is free.

A family of four with two kids between 5 and 12 should budget about $124 in tickets before tax, plus food and anything you buy in the village.

Bring cash

This one catches first-timers off guard. The festival says most vendors in the artisan marketplace, including many food spots, are cash only. There are about 20 ATMs inside, but the lines can get long. Bring cash with you.

You also can't bring outside food or drinks through the gate. The one exception is a single factory sealed bottle of water per person.

Know before you go

No pets. Trained service animals are welcome. Emotional support animals are not.

Costumes are welcome. If you bring a costume sword or any prop weapon, it has to be blunted, sheathed, and tied with red ribbon or twine, and you'll need to show it to security at the main gate. Firearms of any kind are prohibited, including toy guns that make noise.

Strollers and wagons can be rented just outside the gate, first come, first served. Strollers are $20 for the day and wagons are $25.

Wear good walking shoes. The grounds are a mix of grass, dirt, and gravel. The festival runs rain or shine.

The traffic warning that matters this weekend

The NASCAR playoff weekend is happening at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord at the same time, and the festival specifically tells visitors to use I-77 instead of I-85 when there's a speedway event that day. Take that advice on Saturday.

The festival also says not to rely on Google Maps or Apple Maps. Use the printable directions on its site instead. Stop for gas and restrooms before you get into festival traffic, and don't try to cut through nearby neighborhoods.

Try to arrive early. There's a gate show at 9:05 a.m. before the doors open, and the earlier you arrive, the easier parking will be. The festival says the village wraps up around 6:15 p.m. in October, so leaving a little before closing will save you time getting out.

Plan your day

Grab the 2026 entertainment schedule before you go so you know when the jousts and your must-see shows are happening. The festival runs every Saturday and Sunday through Nov. 22, so if Saturday sells out, there are plenty of other weekends to choose from.

Last verified Oct. 8, 2026. Event details are subject to change. Confirm with the Carolina Renaissance Festival before you go.