Check the festival website for the dates and times. You can also print out a coupon for discount tickets or pick one up at grocery stores, such as Giant Food or Safeway throughout the D.C./Baltimore region.
Look for the list of special-themed weekends offered throughout the season. The Maryland Renaissance Festival offers weekend devoted to Scottish heritage, to pirates, to chivalry or on one of the days where children or senior citizens are admitted for free.
Dress in a Renaissance-themed costume, a kilt, a pirate outfit or other appropriate garb if you'd really like to get into the spirit of things. You will also find such attire available for purchase or rental at the festival if you do not have any of your own.
Park your car where directed, in the field outside of the festival site. You might want to get to the festival as soon as it opens to avoid the long hike you'll have to take should you arrive later in the day.
Purchase your tickets at the gate. Be sure to pick up a program on the way in, as well, so you'll know what types of entertainment are being staged and where to find them.
Take in all of the sights and sounds around you. The Maryland Renaissance Festival employs over 600 costumed festival participants, and you will see music and spontaneous street theater performed throughout the Renaissance Festival, not just on the Royal, Jury Rig, Gatehouse, Fortune, Market and Lyric stages.
Be sure to catch a thrilling jousting exhibition by the The Free Lancers. This local group of jousters is dedicated to preserving Maryland's state sport.
Shop at the different craft booths. Wander down Queen's Path to look at one-of-a-kind pottery, or check out unique jewelry creations on Valley Meade or Stub Toe Lane. Perhaps you'd like to get a Tarot reading on Mary's Dale Way or have your face painted on Tiltyard Path.
Enjoy a bite to eat at one of the food stands found throughout the festival. Enjoy steak on a stake or caramel apple pieces on Mary's Dale Way, friar's fritters on the King's Field, and, of course, a whole smoked turkey leg from the stand on Kenwood Lane.
