Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire
- Dates
- Expected June
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Warsaw Park (119 Pulaski Highway, Ansonia, CT 06401)
- Price
- $20
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Aug 24, 2026
The experience
What's special
The Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire turns a field at Warsaw Park in Ansonia into an interactive fantasy world where elves, fairies, orcs, goblins, dwarves, and magic are 'real,' running three early-summer weekends with performers on five stages, a scripted storyline guests can follow scene to scene, live armored combat, and a one-night After-Hours Pub Concert & Fire Show. Marking its 15th anniversary in 2026, it is deliberately small and affordable ($20 adult, kids under 5 free), LGBTQ-owned, and family-friendly, with each weekend themed - Summerween, Warrior, and Celtic - and daily costume contests, plus archery and axe throwing for hands-on fun.
What people love
Attendees love it precisely for being small - repeatedly calling it the antithesis of the big corporate faires, family-run, and 'somehow packed with more entertainment, crafters, and magic than you would expect' in such a compact space. The performers (Shakespeare Approves and Daniel GreenWolf's magic among the named favorites), good food at reasonable prices, and an infectious, high-energy cast draw loyal annual visitors. The recurring gripe is that alcohol is confined to the pub tent - a plus for family safety but a frustration for those who missed shows waiting there, worsened by thin signage about the rule.
Last time around
The 2026 season marked the faire's 15th anniversary, running three weekends June 27 through July 12 with new themed weekends (Summerween, Warrior, Celtic) and daily costume contests. Regional press highlighted how manageable the event's smaller size makes it, and the After-Hours Pub Concert & Fire Show returned for one night on July 11.
See the grounds
On the lanes & stages
Set in the Renaissance, Medieval periods. Event style: faire.
Lineup
The next lineup not yet announced. Here is who played in 2026:
Costumes & what to wear
Do I need a costume?
No costume needed, the official line is that costumes are encouraged but regular clothes are welcome, and the fantasy theme means anything goes (elves, fairies, orcs, goblins, dwarves, animal-kin). Wear sturdy footwear for the grassy, uneven ground more than worrying about garb
Costume rules
Costumes are encouraged and regular clothes are welcome; because pathways are mostly unpaved and the terrain is grassy and uneven, appropriate footwear is advised. The faire is family-friendly and reserves the right to restrict attire that would negatively affect other guests
Weapons policy
Period weapons are allowed as part of a costume but must be peace-tied (a plastic zip tie securing the weapon in its sheath). Firearms of any kind, functional, non-functional, replica, or concealed-carry, are strictly prohibited
Joining in
Guests can follow a scripted storyline across the grounds by visiting different scenes, join daily costume contests, be put in the stockade by the mercenaries for a price, and try archery, axe/knife throwing, and safe combat
Getting there
Nearest airport BDL.
How do I get to Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire?
By train 1
Ansonia has its own rail station on Metro-North's Waterbury Branch, about a mile from Warsaw Park. The branch connects at Bridgeport to the main New Haven Line (to New Haven and New York City), so a car-free trip is realistic for travelers coming from the New Haven or NYC corridor rather than from BDL. From Ansonia station, take a short rideshare or walk to the faire
Book / info →Taxi & rideshare 1
From BDL the faire is roughly a 45-mile, 50-60 minute drive south into the Naugatuck Valley at Warsaw Park in Ansonia. From the much closer Tweed New Haven (HVN) it is only about 12 miles, 20-25 minutes. Rideshare covers the whole trip door-to-door; book a return ride ahead, as the valley towns have fewer drivers than the Hartford or New Haven cores
Book / info →By bus
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Use the airport transfers or shuttle options above.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Free. Prepay via None, parking is free, no prepay system. On-site guest parking at Warsaw Park is free. When the main lot fills, additional free parking is available a short distance down the street at Ansonia High School (20 Pulaski Highway), with complimentary shuttles running nonstop between the school lot and the faire
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at BDL
A convenient option for reaching this Naugatuck Valley site, especially from BDL, though travelers on the New Haven/NYC rail corridor can reach Ansonia station by train instead. On-site and overflow parking are both free; rentals are on-airport at BDL (and at HVN if flying into New Haven)
Search car hire →Live price search coming soon.
Where
Venue
Warsaw Park (119 Pulaski Highway, Ansonia, CT 06401)
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Mid-range hotels 2
Shelton, CT, about 5-7 miles from Warsaw Park across the Housatonic
≈ $150-200 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Shelton, CT, about 5-7 miles from the faire
≈ $140-190 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Luxe hotels 1
Downtown New Haven, CT, about 12 miles southeast of the faire
≈ $220-300 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Airbnb & private camping
Vacation rentals are available in Ansonia, Derby, Shelton, and the wider New Haven area, from valley-town houses to city apartments. The faire runs three early-summer weekends; this is not a surge-priced resort market, so rates are typical for suburban Connecticut, book a few weeks ahead for the closest options
Search Airbnb →Connecticut's Naugatuck Valley and the Litchfield Hills to the northwest have scattered Hipcamp private-land tent and RV stays for a greener alternative to the valley hotels, within an easy drive of Ansonia for a summer faire weekend
Search Hipcamp →Pricing
Got fresher info? Tell us, a real person checks every tip, and we love fresh info.