Renaissance Fair is a large outdoor gathering where attendees dress up in medieval- or fantasy-themed clothing and enjoy a day of immersive, medieval experiences! Strolling around a Ren faire is like being transported to a lively 11th to 17th century village celebration. Fairgrounds may feature live music and dancing, costumed attendees, and outdoor pursuits from the time period, such as jousting, swordplay or archery. There are often artisan vendors selling handmade goods and food vendors selling themed foods to keep the experience authentic.

Join us for our 1st annual event! The Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire is taking place on Saturday, October 11th and Sunday, October 12th at the Murillo Fairgrounds. The grounds are accessible via Poleline Road, about a 20 minute drive from downtown Thunder Bay.

“Renaissance Faire” is often used as a general term to describe any large scale event that delves into some historical culture. Some Faires incorporate Vikings, Pirates, and the Medieval Period, as well as many other points in time. At the Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire, this event is a general celebration of medieval life while also embracing some level of magic and fantasy – think wizards, elves, fairies, and so much more! 

Absolutely! In fact, we greatly encourage donning a costume to attend the Faire! You’re not required to wear Ren faire outfits to attend, however most loyal followers enjoy wearing costumes to the faire as it adds immeasurably to the immersive experience. Ren faire attendees wear myriad outfits inspired by the history and mythology from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance period. You may find people dressed in robes of King Arthur’s court at Camelot, Nordic Viking attire, Shakespearean couture, pirate slops or even fairy garbs. There is plenty of room for imagination! No matter how you decide to adorn yourself,  everyone will appreciate your enthusiasm and will not call you out for wearing the wrong era! Any effort will be noticed and appreciated. 

Here are a few words of advice from a veteran traveller who has wandered round to many a Faire:

1. Get your tickets in advance: you don’t want to be waiting in line!
2. Check the weather: many Faires will run rain or shine, so it is best to dress and prepare oneself with sunscreen or an umbrella (depending on the forecast). Good, comfortable shoes are a must for any weather experience
3. Bring physical money: while the Murillo Fairgrounds takes steps to ensure connection for POS machines for vendors, bringing physical money is a sure way to know you’ll be able to make purchases. Some coins and bills are also needed to tip your Wandering Bards, as well!
4. Prepare your costume with comfort in mind: don’t wear anything uncomfortable! You’re going to be walking around all day, getting into adventures, so you will want to avoid anything too restricting
5. Take your time: there is SO MUCH to see at a Renaissance Faire! The TB Ren Faire volunteers are putting every effort into ensuring an immersive experience, so plan to stroll leisurely and take it all in!

You will find all kinds of goods and wares in the Merchant Marketplace! We are happy to be hosting over 50 unique artisan vendors for our inaugural year; the full list of our artisans in our Merchant Marketplace will be shared in June 2025. Common wares found in a Ren Faire market are jewelry, soap, trinkets, arts and crafts, clothing, leatherworking, blacksmithing, weaving, pottery, and much more!

Huzzah and feast your eyes on the talent of the Realm! We are pleased to offer live equestrian and medieval fighting demonstrations, as well as music and stage performances from local musicians, actors, and talent. A full list of entertainers and a schedule will be shared closer to the Faire.

Of course! Food is one of the great joys of life and Ren Faire fare is known for being thematic, as well as delicious! Like most festivals, the Thunder Bay Renaissance Faire will not allow you to bring food in from the outside (special conditions outlined in our Code of Conduct), so we are ensuring there will be a variety of treats and meals to feast on. You’ll find modern food, but also usually some more interesting food options that are more in line with the theme of the fair. We would recommend bringing cash just in case your favorite little vendor isn’t accepting card transactions.