Michigan Renaissance Festival is a place where you can step back in time and experience Medieval and Fantasy life. Located in Holly, Mi.,it is open on weekends only (except Labor day Monday and Friday Sept 30) Beginning August 20, 2022 and runs until October 2, 2022. You can purchase tickets online or at the box office when you arrive. Parking is free. Rain or Shine, the show must go on! I was able to attend the opening weekend and had a great time.
The entertainment at the festival is fantastic! There are magic shows, all kinds of music, comedy shows, acrobatic shows, jousting, sword fighting, mermaid meetings, and more! I wish there was more time in the day so I could experience every show, every day of the festival. While all the entertainers are worth watching, a few shows stand out and I would say are a MUST see: The Idiot Ric Roc, The Washing Well Wenches, Knights of the New Order Jousting (of course), Pictus music, Tartanic music, The Amazing Flec, and Acrobellum. NOTE: take cash with you to tip the performers, this is their paycheck…
While I know that prices of things are on the rise, I feel like the food prices are quite high. I got cheaper Mac and Cheese and Turkey Legs at Disney World. There is a pretty wide variety of food options, though. I think they have some of the best Pierogies I have ever had! We also found soup in a bread bowl, Stuffed Soft Pretzels, Chicken Fingers, French Fries, Wood Fired Pizza, and Dill Pickles are EVERYWHERE!!! This list only scratches the surface of what food vendors you can find. Don’t forget your drinks! Soda and mead are also available! (as well as ciders, wine and cocktails) NOTE: you are only allowed to bring in one unopened 16oz bottled water with you to the faire.
Restrooms/Bathrooms at the Faire are called Privy’s. At the Michigan RenFest, you will not find running water and toilets but a plethora of Port-a-Potties. Vault toilets are disgusting to begin with, but after a rainy busy day, these get so filthy it is ridiculous. I know there is only so much the Faire can do to keep port-a-jons clean, but maybe buy some mulch, stone, wood planks etc. to fill the walkways around the area or so they don’t get so muddy. They do have hand sanitizer and the foot pumped sinks to wash, but the paper towels are overflowing and it just is a whole mess in every Privy area. My biggest complaint about the Michigan RenFest is the bathroom situation and the trash. I strongly believe that someone should be paid to walk around and pick up trash that people leave laying around (the joustings stands were full of trash) and i passed several overflowing trash bins. Granted, I did pass some empty ones as well so someone, somewhere was doing something…just not enough.
Most people at the Michigan RenFest dress in some sort of garb. Whether it is a fairy, fawn, knight, Elizabethan dress, Steampunk, or a character from a show that is fantasy or set in the time period. There are patrons that wear regular street clothes, though, so don’t fret. While you are at the Faire, you can find all kinds of shops to begin your collection of garb, accessories, and medieval paraphernalia. You can also get face painting, henna tattoos, palm and tarot readings.
I hope you enjoy these photos, however, I have tried my hand at Video and would love for you to check out my very first video upload on YouTube! Please give me feedback about the video as I could use all the help I can get to make the next one better. Thanks for reading! (and watching) Cheers!
The Mouse Traveler 