Virginia Renaissance Faire

The Virginia Renaissance Faire is a volunteer-run, weekend Renaissance faire in its 24th season, held across five May-June weekends at Lake Anna Winery in rural Spotsylvania County. Produced by the nonprofit Out of the Woodwork Productions, it themes each weekend (Celtic Heritage, Pirate Invasion, Shakespeare Fantasy, Romance & Roses) and packs the village of Staffordshire with jousting, hound coursing, living-history demonstrations, an archery contest, a Royal Court, dozens of artisan merchants and a lively pub tent pouring beer, wine, cider and mead. Widely described as a smaller, more affordable and less crowded alternative to the nearby Maryland Renaissance Festival, it allows peace-tied costume weapons and is a popular local day out. Tickets are sold online only in advance.

Regulars call it a great, cheery vibe that is both child- and adult-friendly, praising the jousting, the pub-tent singing, the local artisans and the fact that peace-tied weapons are allowed so costumers can wear a full ensemble. Many like that it is cheaper and less crowded than Maryland, with parking they consider well handled on dry days. The recurring complaints are that food and drink are pricey (reports of a $20 turkey leg and $7 beer, and one review of spending $40 on a meal and a lemonade), that it is small compared with larger faires, and that the winery field parking turns to a mud trap in the rain, with cars sliding and getting stuck on the slope.

Opening weekend of the 2026 season was described as a nice little faire full of food, drink, music and fun, but a later rainy weekend wrecked the winery parking lot: attendees reported cars sliding and getting stuck in the mud on the slope, with a crew towing people out, and the Faire waiving cancellation fees for the following rained-out day.