One of the most popular seasonal events in Warren County is the Ohio Renaissance Festival. Warren County tourism describes it as a “16th-century-style experience with jousting, jesting, mediaeval entertainment and family-friendly festival programming. The festival takes place in Renaissance Park in the Harveysburg/Waynesville area and typically runs weekends in the late summer and autumn.

The festival creates a complete immersive environment with costumed performers, themed food, artisan shops, staged entertainment, jousts, and themed weekends. Axios reported the 2025 season as running weekends through Oct. 26, hours of 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., more than 175 shops and major entertainment including jousts, swordfights, comedy and theatrical performances.

It’s one of the best attractions to sell to autumn travellers. It gives Warren County a good seasonal tourism hook other than Kings Island.

Best for: fall trips, families, couples, groups of friends, lovers of costume, food-and-festival travellers.
Trip style: seasonal event / full day
Pair with: Fox Hollow Rodeo, Waynesville, Caesar Creek.

Ohio Renaissance Festival: Step Back in Time

The Ohio Renaissance Festival is a perennial favourite in the Midwest, offering patrons a chance to experience a lively 16th-century English village brimming with entertainment, history and fun for the entire family. Held each autumn near Harveysburg in Warren County, Ohio the festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to enjoy a unique blend of historical recreation, live performances, artisan crafts and unforgettable themed experiences. The festival is set in a beautifully designed village with medieval-style buildings, winding pathways and colourful market stalls and creates an immersive environment for visitors to step back in time and explore a world of knights, royalty, merchants, musicians and entertainers. Costumed performers animate the village, making it an engaging, entertaining experience for guests of all ages.

The festival’s most popular attractions are the thrilling jousting tournament where armoured knights compete in exciting displays of horsemanship and skill. Visitors can experience live music, comedy acts, acrobatic performances, storytelling and interactive shows on multiple stages during the day. The festival also includes hundreds of artisan vendors selling handcrafted goods including jewellery, leatherwork, pottery, clothing, artwork and unique souvenirs. Foodies can enjoy a wide variety of traditional and modern festival fare including giant turkey legs and roasted meats, to pastries, sweets and speciality beverages.

Families will enjoy the many activities designed especially for children, including games, rides, educational demonstrations and chances to meet colourful characters throughout the village. And, extend the fun with seasonal themed weekends with special events and entertainment experiences. A great addition to any regional itinerary, the Ohio Renaissance Festival is conveniently located near Waynesville, Caesar Creek State Park and other Warren County attractions. Whether you are a history buff, family traveller or just looking for a fun, one-of-a-kind day of entertainment, the festival offers a magical, memorable experience like no other in Ohio.