Texas Renaissance Festival Announces New Performers, Vendors and Rides
TRF ready to open October 3 for 46th Season
The grounds of the Texas Renaissance Festival have come alive for the opening of the 46th season on October 3, located just an hour north of Houston.
Visitors to this year’s festival will notice parking with six-feet between vehicles, line monitors ensuring social distancing, plexiglass partitions at some food booths, socially distanced seating at performance venues and eating areas, spot cleaning at high traffic areas, newly installed hand sanitizers throughout the festival grounds, and face mask break areas.
The outdoor, open-air festival is nestled on 60 acres in the Piney Woods of Todd Mission, Texas, with an additional 220-acre campground at The Fields of New Market located adjacent to the festival grounds. TRF management has worked closely with county and local government and health agencies.
Following Open Texas and CDC guidelines, the festival has published Safety Guidelines that will be followed by TRF staff, Vendors, Participants and Patrons throughout the season. Full 2020 TRF Safety Guidelines can be found at www.texrenfest.com/safety-guidelines.
New for 2020
Highlighting the 46th season of the festival will be the opening of the new expansion area that will feature a Pirate Ship Museum, Tower Slide, Royal Bourbon and Rum tastings, new vendors Crimson Chain Leather and local Houston artists Bug in the Box, the return of the Washing Well Wenches to the Forest Gazebo and the Airy Botter and the Sorcery School Headmaster’s Office Escape Room.
The popular Full Armored Combat will move to the Joust arena to provide even better views of the action, and you can fly on the new DaVinci’s Flying Machines ride in the Dove Meadow area.
In addition to guest vendors throughout the festival, making its debut this season will be the multi-story Wyrmwood Public House featuring entertainment and absinthe and tequila tastings, and Kackle King Booth 625F offering delectable delights such as drunken chicken and drunken pork.
Along with the daily costume contest, a face mask contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Forest Gazebo in the new Enchanted Forest expansion that will be judged on the weekend’s theme and creativity.
New Performers
The Texas Renaissance Festival will welcome The Washing Well Wenches and their good clean fun to the new Forest Gazebo located in the new Enchanted Forest Expansion area. Singer, Songwriter, and Accordionist, Amanda Kitchens will delight you at the Cloister in the Green with her toe-tapping tunes that may inspire to get out of your seat to dance!
Dangerous Curves will make their debut at The Barbarian Inn this season. This adult “public roast” show will require your “boos”. Thomas Wood the Pyrojuggler will make you laugh, scream and squirm three times daily at the Cloister in the Green.
Fun for Everyone
Located by The Executioner and Head Toss game, the new DaVinci’s Flying Machine (695GR) is for young and the young at heart. Take a spin in this colorful ride propelled by humans! Climb the steps and slide down the Dragon Tower Slide (1EF), test your puzzle skills at Airy Botter’s Escape Room (17EF) and see the sights at the Pirate Museum (2EF) all at the new Enchanted Knoll.
Drunken Chicken, Absinthe and Tequila Oh My!
As you make your way through the German area to the Polish area, stop by the Kackle King (625F) for drunken chicken and pork! Whet your whistle at the new Wyrmwood Public House (Booth #225) where you can enjoy a craft cocktail, indulge in one of the absinthe or tequila tasting parties, or share a drink with the internationally acclaimed performers of The Green Hour.
For more information about The Wyrmwood Public House Green Hour, Absinthe/Tequila Tastings and Parade Soiree visit www.texrenfest.com/wyrmwood-public-house.
If you are a connoisseur of bourbon or rum, tastings will be offered at the new Royal Tastings tent in the Enchanted Forest Expansion area. For those who enjoy teas, Tea and Strumpets offers unique and ethically sourced teas.
2020 Season Changes
Three hundred and forty-nine vendors will be selling their unique wares including 11 Guest Vendors and 20 New Vendors. Over 30 stage acts are set to entertain and delight festival patrons each day of the festival along with the capstone fireworks event at dusk.
Working closely with partners and participants, the Texas Renaissance Festival has announced the following changes for the 2020 season.
• After Dark – The After Dark Saturday evening entertainment experience will not open this season. We look forward to greeting guests in 2021.
• Costume Rentals – There will be no costume rentals available this season.
• Games and Service Providers – Some games will not be running with limited service providers.
• Deaf/Blind Event – Due to scheduling conflicts, ASL Faires Texas will not be hosting a deaf/blind event this season but is looking forward to returning with two events in 2021.
• School Days – After careful consideration with educators, parents, and Festival participants, TRF has made the difficult decision to cancel School Days for this season. More information can be found at www.texrenfest.com/school-days.
• The King’s Feast has undergone considerable changes for the 2020 season with only one seating for the feast each day, limited seating and added value with the purchase of the King’s Feast pass. More information can be found at www.kingsfeast.com.
• Tea & Strumpets high tea will take place with limited seating to maintain social distancing and to follow all CDC and food service guidelines. To make reservations visit www.trftea.com.
TICKETS
In anticipation of capacity limitations during the 2020 season, ALL tickets are DATE SPECIFIC and must be purchased in advance of arriving at the festival. The only tickets being sold onsite are Military, First Responder, Student, and Senior discount tickets, as they require an ID to receive the discount.
Date specific tickets are available online at www.texrenfest.com, Groupon and at H-E-B Business Centers. Tickets received in 2019 for Vendor Appreciation will be honored as Any Day tickets.
Children 12 and under are admitted every Sunday for free.
Shopper’s Delight
This season TRF welcomes new and guest vendors for the 2020 season. Please note that some shops will be following capacity limitations and may require a face mask for entry.
New Vendors
• Bug in the Box (12EF)
• Gem Stone Mine (692F)
• Elisabella’s Royal Closet (#131)
• Sabersmith Swords (#241)
• Kiyan’s Cove (#264)
• Petrified Dragon (#422)
• Primal Dreams (#423)
• Journeyman Leather (#511)
• Pandora’s Box (F11)
• Artemis Designs (9EF & 10EF)
• Scribal Workshop (6EF)
• Crimson Chain Leatherworks (18EF)
• H&H Glass Castle (19EF)
• Blackbeard’s Booty (4EF)
• John’s Wood (15EF & 16EF)
• Widgets and Gizmos (14EF)
Guest Vendors
• Beaute and the Bath (#79)
• Two Tarts’ Toppers (#203)
• Blooms and Shrooms (#311)
• Green Faerie Apothecary (#502)
• Legacy Forge (#523A)
• Tipsy’s Woodworking (#675WW)
• Henna Body Art (Arena Location)
• Hullabaloo Henna (5EF)
• Face painting by Shandi (#640S)
• Stone Wick (7EF & 8EF)
• Mischief Masks (670WW)
About the Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival is the nation’s largest Renaissance event. Each year over 450,000 patrons enter through the gates of the festival into a 16th Century European Village where performers immerse you in the enchantment of the village that feature 21 stages of music and stage acts, 400 shoppes, artisans, and a world tour for the taste buds.
The Texas Renaissance Festival is located one hour north of Houston. 2020 TRF season dates are Saturdays and Sundays, October 3 – November 29.
Photo credit: V. Sweeten