Sarasota Fairgrounds | Sarasota, FL

Nov. 18-19, 25-26, Dec. 2-3, 9-10

2023 SunCoast Renaissance Festival
We are back bigger and bolder for 2023
Celebrating Our 4th Season
Whether you've been with us from the start or this is your first time, 2023 is a year not to miss.

2023 SunCoast Renaissance Festival

Take a journey back to a time of magic

Nov. 18-19, 25-26, Dec. 2-3, 9-10

Gather one and all for the 4th season of the SunCoast Renaissance Festival at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Our enchanting event promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. Join us at the Sarasota Fairgrounds for a journey back in time that will transport you to a world of magic, merriment, and adventure.

A full cast of colorful characters fills the lands with music, dancing, and more. With over 100 stage shows daily, varieties of foods and treats, and numerous artisan merchants with handcrafted wares, the SunCoast Renaissance Festival invites guests to immerse themselves in a unique experience of History and Fantasy!

Weekend Themes

Pirate Weekend

November 18 & 19

Ahoy, me hearties! Prepare to hoist the Jolly Roger and set sail for a swashbucklin’ good time! Get ready to channel your inner Blackbeard or Anne Bonny as you join our crew of scallywags and buccaneers for a high-seas adventure like no other. Test your mettle in the Bustier Contest, where pirates and wenches alike will flaunt their finest corsair attire, proving that style is just as important as booty. With cutlasses clashing and sea shanties filling the salty air, it’s a weekend fit for the most daring rogues of the seven seas. So grab your tricorn hats, eyepatches, and a hearty “Arrr!” and join us for a yo-ho-hoing good time!

We will be hosting a canned food drive the first two weekends with donations accepted at the gate.

Fantasy Weekend

November 25 & 26

Dress to impress for Fantasy Weekend, where the only limit is your imagination. Join our “Cosplay Contest” to show off your hard work, or just have fun heckling Stormtroopers from a distance, secure in the knowledge that they will not be able to hit you. Strap on whatever weirdness you have in your closet, and don’t forget to set your phasers to “fun”!

We will be hosting a canned food drive the first two weekends with donations accepted at the gate.

Viking Weekend

December 2 & 3

Prepare to embark on a Viking adventure like no other! Join us for a weekend filled with hearty feasts, horns of mead, and thrilling battles that would make Ragnar Lothbrok proud. Don your horned helmets and fur-lined tunics as you immerse yourself in the mystical world of the Norse warriors. But the highlight of the weekend? The Beard Contest, of course! Show off your epic facial hair, braided and adorned with trinkets that would make Odin himself envious. Whether you’re a fierce Viking warrior or a bearded bard, this weekend promises to be a pillaging good time! Skål!

We will be hosting a toy drive with Toys for Tots the final two weekends. Donations will be accepted at the gate.

Celtic Christmas Weekend

December 9 & 10

Get ready to jingle your bells and deck the halls with a Celtic twist at our enchanting Celtic Christmas weekend! Join us for a yuletide celebration like no other, where the pipes and drums of Pictus will transport you to the misty Highlands, while the foot-stomping rhythms of The Jackdaws will have you stomping your feet in no time. And don’t forget the Bonnie Knees Kilt Contest – flaunt your finest tartan and let those knees shine like freshly fallen snow. It’s a merry and magical blend of Christmas cheer and Celtic culture that’ll warm your heart and lift your spirits! Sláinte and Happy Holidays!

We will be hosting a toy drive with Toys for Tots the final two weekends. Donations will be accepted at the gate.

Party on a Pub Crawl

Choose from two exciting Pub Crawl options:

Party hardy with Music the Gathering and The Black Velvet Band.

Stay tuned for 2024 Pub Crawl details.

What to Expect in 2023

The 2023 SunCoast Renaissance Festival promises to be bigger and better than ever before! With an expanded lineup of activities, shows, and vendors, there’s no shortage of excitement awaiting you. Witness knights in shining armor compete for honor, listen to minstrels’ enchanting melodies, and indulge in delectable Renaissance-era cuisine.

Join our Mailing List