New Hampshire Renaissance Faire

The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is a family-friendly charity faire held across the second and third weekends of May at an open field site on Martin Road in Fremont, NH. Produced by the non-profit Three Maples Renaissance Corporation, it exists largely to raise money for local causes, with proceeds going to charities including the New Hampshire Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Rockingham County. Billed as educational, visual, theatrical and fantastical, it mixes historical knights with fantasy fairies and leans on mostly local artisan merchants. It is a notably dry faire, with no alcohol permitted on the grounds. Programming spans roughly six stages with musical acts, storytellers, comedy, a royal-court plot, live-steel combat reenactment and children's activities, and gate admission runs about $20-$25 with kids five and under free.

Regulars describe the NH Ren Faire as a small, welcoming, well-run event with a warm small-town communal vibe, and many return year after year, several saying they prefer it to the larger, pricier King Richard's Faire. Common criticisms are that it is small (often called worth only one day rather than two), that parking and food/entry lines can be frustrating, that prices for food and costume goods feel high, and that the open-field setting is basic and not especially accessible for those with mobility issues.

Recent-edition accounts describe a fun, welcoming family day out with lots of vendors and food options, tempered by heavy lines (entry, food and drink) and a plain open-field layout; several attendees loved the armored-combat show while noting the faire is small and best treated as a single-day visit.