Support Us Button Widget

Escape the city (and the 21st century) at Sherwood Forest Faire

Experience jousting, live performances, artisan markets, and feasts every weekend through Sunday, April 20.

ATXtoday-Sherwood-Forest-Faire-Washing-Well-Wenches-March-2025.jpg

Attendees are in for a good laugh at the “Washing Well Wenches” show, hosted by the village laundresses Daphne and Cookie.

Photo by ATXtoday

Hear ye, hear ye. The gates of Sherwood Forest Faire, aka Austin’s nearest Renaissance festival, are open every weekend now through Sunday, April 20.

Set across 25 wooded acres in McDade — 35 miles east of Austin — the immersive festival transports visitors to a mystical era of knights, fairies, and fantastical creatures.

A cozy, wooden pavilion at a Renaissance fair where costumed participants engage in lively conversations and activities. A woman in a white dress sits across from a fortune teller dressed in red and gold attire, adorned with jewelry and headscarves. Another woman in a black velvet gown sits nearby, facing a man in a striped outfit who appears to be performing a service or craft. The pavilion is decorated with colorful drapes, a patterned rug, and small tables holding trinkets, bottles, and other items. In the background, fairgoers wander among the trees.

Need to spruce up your attire? No problem. Get a henna tattoo, have your hair braided, make your own jewelry, and more.

Photo by ATXtoday

Grab tickets and don your finest garb to visit the medieval village. Here’s what to expect:

  • 150+ shows each day include jousting, falconry, fire juggling, knife throwing, music + dance performances, comedy shows, sword fighting, and a castle siege.
  • 170+ local artisans set up shop in over 100 permanent buildings on the property, offering handmade goods like pottery, armor, glassware, jewelry, and more. Live demonstrations from craftspeople like silversmiths occur daily.
  • 30+ food and drink vendors serve everything from bangers and mash to chocolate-dipped worms and strawberry pickle lemonade to Thorin’s Viking Mead.
A festival attendee browses through a vendor's tent filled with colorful, handmade clothing and accessories at a Renaissance fair. Dressed in an earthy green outfit with a leather belt and pouches, the woman holds up a delicate crocheted shawl, examining its details. The stall is packed with flowing skirts, embroidered tops, and intricately knitted pieces in vibrant hues. Other shoppers, dressed in medieval and bohemian-inspired attire, peruse the offerings in the background as sunlight filters through the surrounding trees, adding to the rustic, outdoor marketplace atmosphere.

Carve out time to shop at Sherwood Forest Faire and be sure to bring a bag to stow your purchases.

Photo by ATXtoday

Psst — consider on-site camping for an overnight experience.

More from ATXtoday
Designs for the plan are expected to begin in early 2026, with construction slated to begin as quickly as 2027.
We’re asking our readers to submit their top questions about Austin, and we’ll do our best to answer them in 2026.
We’ve got some tips on how to sustainably dispose of your holiday decor.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
These city gifts are way better than a Jelly of the Month Club membership.
Help us bid 2025 adieu by looking back on interviews with some of the most interesting Austinites we spoke with over the past year.
Plus, the JW Marriott holds the crown for the most alcohol sales in 2025, with over $4 million more than the second-place venue.
The Moody Center took the top slot in the 10,000-15,000-capacity category, cementing its prominence as an entertainment hub in the US.
The new arena would be home to the multi-champion Texas Women’s Volleyball team and would be able to seat ~6,000 fans near the Moody Center.
Lifting weights, indoor rock climbing, personal training, dance fitness, boxing classes, and martial arts programs — we’ve rounded up 35 gyms and fitness offerings around Austin.