The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow
- Dates
- Sep 5 to 20, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Sleepy Hollow Sports Park (4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317)
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Aug 24, 2026
The experience
What's special
Iowa's largest Renaissance faire has run since 2006 in the sheltered hills and trees of Sleepy Hollow on Des Moines' east side, filling 15 acres with more than nine stages of touring professional entertainment - magicians, acrobats, and knights on horseback - plus 80+ artists and crafters and 11 food and drink booths pouring Iowa-made meads and wines from Van Wijk Winery alongside MacTaters, bubble waffles, and buttered beer. It is unusually pet-friendly (leashed dogs and cats are welcome), kids 12 and under are free, a kept Saturday wristband earns a free Sunday return, and faire Saturdays close with the separately ticketed Cannon Ball evening party. The same organizers also run a Spring Fling faire on the grounds each May.
What people love
Locals rate it a beloved afternoon out - tons of vendors, fun jousting, and interactive street performers - and it draws strong turnout with a large, loyal Des Moines following; recommendation rates on social platforms run very high. Touring musical acts draw their own fans, and even booth vendors report great crowds. The main caveats in recent chatter concern the separately ticketed evening event, which some found thinner than in its early years.
On the lanes & stages
Set in the Renaissance period. Event style: faire.
Lineup
Costumes & what to wear
Do I need a costume?
Come as you are or in anything you can imagine, the faire's own guidance is to dress for the job you want, wizard, knight, fairy, or Viking, with regular clothes equally welcome; the only requirement is clothes, kept decent for a family atmosphere
Costume rules
Shirt and shoes are required for all guests at all times; dressing in Renaissance garb is not required but is certainly encouraged, kept family-friendly
Weapons policy
Carriers must be 18+. All weapons must be completely sheathed and peace-tied at all times (gate staff will peace-tie for you) and never drawn. Axes, claymores, and maces are strongly discouraged and must be tied to your person; bows must be unstrung with arrows tied to the quiver except at the archery range. Firearms of any sort, real, antique, black powder, or replica (including BB and airsoft), plus pikes and halberds are forbidden
Joining in
An archery range lets guests shoot with approval, weddings and special events can arrange weapon use in advance, and the separately ticketed Cannon Ball evening party caps faire Saturdays
Getting there
Nearest airport DSM.
How do I get to The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow?
Public transit 1
DART runs the Des Moines metro bus network at a $1.75 single-ride fare, but the airport terminal is not on a confirmed direct DART route and no scheduled DART stop at the park has been verified, so fly-in visitors should plan on a rideshare or rental for the airport leg rather than relying on the bus
Book / info →Taxi & rideshare 1
The fastest way from DSM to the faire: a roughly 10-mile, 15-20 minute drive northeast across Des Moines to Sleepy Hollow Sports Park on Dean Avenue. Parking at the faire is paid, so a drop-off can also save the parking cost for a day trip
Book / info →By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Use the airport transfers or shuttle options above.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Paid on-site parking (per-vehicle fee; The faire runs cash-only ticket and food booths, so bring cash for parking too. Prepay via None, no prepay system; parking is paid on arrival. Parking is on the park grounds and is patrolled by Sleepy Hollow staff. Gates open at 10:00 AM across the three September weekends; arriving early eases both parking and entry
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at DSM
The practical option for fly-in visitors: DART does not reliably connect the airport to the east-side venue, there is no rail or intercity coach that reaches the park, and rentals are available at DSM. A car also makes the nearby Iowa State Fairgrounds campground and off-site hotels easy to reach
Search car hire →Live price search coming soon.
Where
Venue
Sleepy Hollow Sports Park (4051 Dean Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317)
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near The Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
410 E 30th St, Des Moines, IA, Iowa State Fairgrounds area, about 2 miles from the faire gates
≈ $65-95 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Mid-range hotels 1
Pleasant Hill, IA, just east of the park near the Iowa State Fairgrounds, roughly a 10-minute drive to the faire
≈ $80-120 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Book direct →Airbnb & private camping
Vacation rentals are spread across the Des Moines east side, Pleasant Hill, and the wider metro, most within a 10-15 minute drive of the park. The Fall Faire runs three September weekends rather than a single peak date, so availability is usually easier than at a one-weekend festival
Search Airbnb →The faire itself does not offer patron camping but points guests to the Iowa State Fairgrounds Campground about one mile away, a large public campground with RV and tent sites (confirm September availability, as its heaviest use is the August State Fair). For a more rural basecamp, Hipcamp lists private-land tent and RV stays around the Des Moines metro and central Iowa
Search Hipcamp →Pricing
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