4-02-2025 5:46am

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire | Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area | Apr 5 - May 18

Eric Bergstrom Editor

The Renaissance is a time when individuals celebrated the awakening of a new idea when the light was let into darkness. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire celebrates the spirit of this period of history.

We offer the public an opportunity to experience a true Renaissance of our Renaissance, one that was introduced 60 years ago. The Faire is one of the most diverse places on Earth and an escape from the stresses and demands of the modern-day. We offer cutting-edge performances, artisans, and culinary delights.

Join us for a day free of cares and create some indelible, delightful memories.

THEME WEEKENDS 2025

Theme Weekends add an extra layer of fun for our guests. Every weekend celebrates the joy and spirit of the Renaissance and, on the following weekends, we infuse an exciting twist.

We are excited to present some fun and interactive theme weekends with you this season! Below are the dates and the activities associated with each. We will update this information as plans are finalized.

Pirate & Marketplace Weekend

April 12 & 13, 2025

Welcome, pirates of all ages, to the annual celebration at Port Deptford! Dust off your finest attire and show up with your best manners for a civilized dive into our take on Pirate culture!

Marketplace Weekend

Spend $500 in our Marketplace and receive two tickets to return to the Faire through May 11, 2025. Bring your paper receipts to the Information Booth inside the front gate before 7 p.m. to redeem this offer. All paper receipts must be for purchases made on the same day, either April 12 or 13. Tickets must be claimed on the date of your visit, April 12 or 13. Please note that this offer excludes admission, food, beverage, rides, games, and the Renaissance Collection Souvenir Shop.

Pirate Trivia

Prove you know the difference between port and starboard at our Pirate Trivia challenge. Winners receive the second-best pirate booty – bragging rights! Check the stage schedule for location and time.

X Marks the Spot

Hunt for treasure and fun! Engage our good cousins on the streets of Port Deptford and finish the tasks they set you to receive a small treasure! Instructions will be provided. You bring a thirst for adventure, and we’ll provide the fun! Check the stage schedule for location and time.

School of Seafaring

Have you ever wanted to learn how to sail the High Seas? Want to be the Captain of your own crew? Would you like to find glory for Her Majesty? Then attend our School of Seafaring designed for the younger pirates and hosted by Her Majesty’s Privateers! Upon completion, all participants will receive a Letter of Marque from Her Majesty. Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Sailor Knots

Can you knot? Can you not knot? Join our experts and we can turn the can not knots into can knots! Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Nautical Astronomy

Learn to read the oldest map and never get lost again*!
*Results not guaranteed
Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Pirate Crew Photo Gathering

Bring your finest pirate attire and your cameras for this season’s pirate gathering and group photo! Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Cottagecore Weekend

April 19 & 20, 2025

This weekend we invite you to don your best woodland attire and frolic at the Faire where we will feature the village artisans who create the enchanting aesthetic known as Cottagecore. We’ll provide a map at the Information Booth for a self-guided ‘Cozy Crawl’ showing the locations of our creators demonstrating their skills and some of the Faire’s talented guild members who will teach you to create beautiful hand-made items for your own cozy cottage.

Cottagecore Maypole Dance

Kick off the celebration in joyful style! Dance experience is not required. Laughter and good vibes are guaranteed. Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Toadstool Time

Calling all friends of toadstools! Engage with our cousins in the streets of Port Deptford who will seek you out and tell you where and when you can find our secret toadstool meetup.

What’s Cooking?

Join our chefs as they teach you an ancient recipe that you’ll enjoy making back home in your cozy cottage kitchen. Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Renaissance Botany

Attune with the bounty of the land and learn about the magical, medicinal, and culinary traits of both cultivated and foraged plants. Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Fairy Frolic Drum Jam

Dance, spin, and frolic your cares away! We’ll close out your wondrous day in the Food Court. Our talented musicians will set your spirits soaring. The drum jam is the perfect ending to a great day at the Faire!

RennCon™

April 26 & 27, 2025

RennCon™ is a celebration of cosplay! Whether you draw your inspiration from the sci-fi scene, anime, comics, television, fairy tales, or anywhere else… we invite you to mingle with our 16th-century townsfolk at the biggest costume party in L.A.

Get the most out of RennCon™ Weekend by attending one of our panels. Subjects ranging from characterization to cosplay will be discussed. Stop by the Information Booth to pick up a RennCon™ Panel Schedule.

Cosplay Self Care

Your costume looks amazing, and how do you feel? Take home this advice from characters who have learned to withstand extreme conditions while looking (and feeling!) fabulous.

A Character’s Core: As Told by Them

A brief discussion on character construction and psychology, then an in-depth first-person guided exercise into the subconscious reaches of your character’s mind.

Bringing Out Your Inner Villain

What’s so good about being bad? Pick up movement tips on portraying an intimidating villain, and how to act like a villain in a group of people without making them actually hate you for reals.

Costume vs Clothing – Making it Last

Duct tape and WD-40 can temporarily fix everything, but you want your costume to survive longer than the judging round. Here we’ll offer the tricks to creating a look to withstand life outside the convention floor.

Cosplay Maypole Dance

Put on your favorite cosplay and join us for the biggest cross-genre extravaganza you’ve ever seen! How would your favorite villain dance around the Maypole? Check the stage schedule for location and time.

Time Traveler Costume Contest

Polish your brass goggles, dust off your time machine, and join us with your finest time-traveling attire! Sign up at the Guest Services booth at the top of the Food Court before 1:30 p.m. Check the stage schedule for location and time. We’ll close our gathering with a group photo.

GNOME HUNT (Every Weekend)

Those rascally gnomes have again invaded Port Deptford! They cleverly hide in our shops and guild yards during the daytime, but at night they come out and play mischievous tricks on us. We must find these gnomes so we can stop the mayhem!

You can help us find them by picking up a list of likely Gnome locations at one of the Guest Services booths. Then when you find them, have the shop owners make a mark on your list.

When you have found fifteen or more gnomes, turn in your list at Kids’ Kingdom (top of the Food Court) to receive a frameable certificate declaring that you are a Gnome Hunter Extraordinaire. This certificate entitles you to a Special Edition Collectible Pewter Gnome Pin from Fellowship Foundry at a deep discount, which is awarded only to successful Gnome Hunters. There is a different pin each season. Start collecting them now!

PUB CRAWL 2025 – on sale starting March 15, 2025

The Renaissance Pleasure Faire’s legendary Pub Crawl is back! Join the loud and lusty Pub Crawl Crew who guide you along the village streets to four fine taverns and public houses joking and singing all the way. Try not to spill as you jiggle and giggle at the most bodacious songs, jokes, stories, and riddles the shire has to offer. It’s the most fun to be had this side of 1599! You will visit four pubs that offer a variety of refreshing beverages including gluten-free options. Beverages are included in the price of the Pub Crawl.

The Pub Crawl departs at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. and costs $65 to party with us. All of the tickets for each crawl are available online. Pub Crawl tickets must be redeemed at the Information Booth (inside the front gate) between 10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. to receive your wristband. You MUST check in at least 30 minutes before your scheduled Pub Crawl to receive your wristband. No wristband means no Pub Crawl. No refunds.

You may only Crawl once per day!

The Pub Crawl sells out quickly and does not include admission to The Renaissance Pleasure Faire. You will need an admission ticket and a Pub Crawl ticket if you wish to drink with us.

Must be 21 to participate (IDs will be checked for everyone). Children are not permitted on the Pub Crawl (including children in strollers). Please drink responsibly, we like return customers!