Aug 16 2008
Renaissance Festival on a Budget
How to go to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival with five people on a budget:
- Be sure three of the five are under age 6 so they’re free.
- Get a free child’s ticket for an older child at GoCityKids Steals & Deals.
- Buy one adult admission for $19.95.
- Eat a big breakfast/lunch before heading in.
- Warn kids that you won’t be paying for expensive food, trinkets, or activities.
- Be prepared for a constant line of “Why can’t we do that?” and “Why can’t I have that?” when you realize that nearly everything at the festival that is fun for kids costs $3-$5 per child, and that a bottle of water is $2.00 and soda is $3.50.
- Explain that there are several shows that are free. Then feel like a thief if you don’t contribute when the performers “pass the hat” after the show.
- Finally find the Children’s Realm where the kids can make a wand or mask or have a balloon animal made and do a few other play things. But wait, are you supposed to tip for those activities as well?
- Leave the festival with kids disappointed because they didn’t get to do much that was fun and you disenfranchised because you wonder what your admission price got you.
- Realize that the only way to take your family to the Renaissance Festival on a budget is if your budget for the day is $200.
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
- http://www.renaissancefest.com/MRF/index.html
- Off Highway 169, just south of MN 41, Shakopee, MN
- 800-966-8215
- Weekends and Labor Day, mid-August through September
- Adults $19.95, ages 6-12 $10.95, seniors 65+ $17.95. Discount tickets available; check website for details.
- Stroller accessible, although terrain is rough through parking area.
- Restrooms (”privies”/portapotties) available
- Concessions available
Those thieves! I can’t stand being ripped off!
I am with you on this one. The children’s realm was an awesome addition, and if you keep ‘em busy with shows you can kill a lot of time, but we usually have to budget something for treats and eats. The parking lot is usually too far off for proper cooler diving. Unless you get there at sunrise.
[...] From the Wacky Chickens (whom the kids remembered as one of the few highlights at our visit to the Renaissance Festival) to the Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater’s puppet show (which my five-year-old loved because of [...]
I listen to kdwb every day and it said you can get 2 tickets for the price of 1 to the Renissance Festival. If that is true I was wondering how to get them please.
I am not affiliated with the Renaissance Festival; I merely wrote about our experience there. Perhaps contacting the Renaissance Festival or KDWB would give you an answer to your question.
[...] (minnemom) writes about family travel at Travels with Children. Although her trip to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival with kids didn’t go so well, she and [...]
Don’t lose hope.
Rather than spend all of that money on each and every attraction at a single festival, check out a different festival in a different region. Not all charge as you go. Not all “encourage” tipping each and every performer you watch for more than 3 minutes.
Some festivals are even convenient to other tourist attractions so that you can combine your travel plans and see so much more. Yes, I’m guessing you’ll spend more than $200 by the time you’re done. But at least you won’t feel cheated for your money.
FWIW, my personal favorite is the Maryland Renaissance Festival just outside Annapolis, Maryland. It’s close to Washington, DC and Baltimore, Maryland as well if you want to plan an extended vacation. Oh yeah, and once you get inside the gate (adult tickets are under $20 and they don’t charge for parking), you don’t have to pay for anything else except food and *exceptional* services (e.g., pony rides are free but elephant rides are not, the pirate playground is free, but the huge hill-consuming slide is not). I take my kids every year and they enjoy their day with less than $20 each out of my pocket (including ticket and meal).
Wow, my mom brought me to the fair when I was little and I gotta say I still had an amazing time. Sounds like you and your children both need to learn to have a good time without spending money. This is really no different cost wise then the state fair. Also in case you were not aware, those performers that you, “feel like a thief” not tipping…those people many times do not make a base pay. If they are a stage crew they will make a small amount but most of their pay is tips. So cough up a few bucks if you had a good time. As for what your admission covers, all those “free” shows, jousting, the beautiful gardens and the like.
My guess is that you just did not know where to look for the good times that the MN Fest offers every weekend. I go every weekend and I have to tell you I pay the 80 bucks for my season pass, and after that I might spend….7-10 dollars a day? MAYBE. Walk out to the cooler and eat a pb&j.
This is why we are trying our hardest to keep Winslowshire inexpensive, as it is a benefit for the Animal Sanctuary in Norton, MA. Our adult tickets this year for 09 were $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for kids, and $2.00 off if you wore Garb, and a $15.00 two day pass.
The food we have no control over…it is what the food vendors want to charge, but we have told them to keep it somewhat reasonable.
All in all this year (for 2009) the farm made over $8,000 so we consider that a huge success!
Feel free to post this blog on http://renaissanceperformers.ning.com if you like.
I am sorry that the Renaissance was beyond your budget. My husband and I used to save for a full year to get enough money to have a really great time. We saved $400 (and we were very poor at the time) 25 yrs ago to spend for our day.
We could tip the performers, buy food and get in. We could buy artwork from the artists trying to make a living.
Instead of complaining about how much it costs, perhaps you should just realize that it is beyond your means and do something cheap for your weekend outing.