Tennessee Renaissance Festival - TN Ren Fest in Triune, TN

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The Tennessee Renaissance Festival at Castle Gwynn

If you would like to travel back to 16th century England, you'll want to visit this historic annual family entertainment venue just outside of Nashville. The Tennessee Renaissance Festival takes place the first four weekends in May and on Memorial Day every year at Castle Gwynn (the home of photographer Mike Freeman) in the Arrington/Triune area outside of Franklin, Tennessee.

Featuring a Renaissance marketplace, jousting, live chess matches, juggling, comedy, pirates, and lots or music, entertainment and food, the Tennessee Renaissance Festival is a great way to entertain family and friends for a day!

The festival is situated on 68 acres which includes the parking areas for patrons and staff parking, tournament field, backstage areas, and surrounding woods. The actual marketplace is only a few acres, which makes the Tennessee Renaissance Festival medium sized in comparison to other Ren Faires around the country.

Theme weekends usually include Family Weekend, Romance Weekend, Pirate Weekend and a Jousting Tournament. The Tennessee Renaissance Festival is definitely a great way to spend a weekend in May!

Don't miss the Renaissance Marketplace at the bottom of this lens for all your Ren Fair needs and costumes suggestions!

All photos © 2009 by Kathryn E. Darden. All rights reserved.

Find out More about Castle Gwynn 

featured lens Castle Gwynn in Tennessee

Castle Gwynn in Arrington, Tennessee, is the fulfillment of owner/builder Mike Freeman's life-long dream which began in 1970 in Freeman's high-school architecture class where he drew the first sketches of the castle he wanted to build one da...

 

For more Renaissance shopping, visit the Renaissance Marketplace.

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How to Prepare for the Tennessee Renaissance Festival 

If you have never attended the Tennessee Renaissance Festival, you may find the prospect of doing something different a bit intimidating. To help my visitors know what to expect and how to prepare, I have written two articles on How to Prepare For and How to Attend the Tennessee Ren Fest:

How to Attend the Tennessee Renaissance Festival
A visit to the TN Ren Fest is a step back in time to see the Queen of England and her courtiers, jousting knights on horseback, musicians, dancers, jugglers, live chess matches and more. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your visit to the Tennessee Renaissance Festival.

How to Prepare for a Renaissance Festival
This second article will help you make plans and preparation to attend and enjoy the Tennessee Renaissance Festival, or any other Ren fest, for that matter! A little preparation will make any Renaissance festival that much more enjoyable.

For Renaissance shopping ideas, visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

Where to Find Renaissance Clothes 

featured lens Renaissance Marketplace

FOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY RENAISSANCE SHOPPING NEEDS! In my two Renaissance Festival lenses Renaissance Festivals in Tennessee - TN Ren Faires  and Tennessee Renaissance Festival - TN Ren Fest in Triune, TN, I have provided a few shopping recommenda...

Tennessee Renaissance Festival - Family Weekend 

Family Weekend is the first weekend in May

The first weekend in May is always Family Weekend at the Tennessee Ren Fest. This is the best time to bring your children as there are some discounts for children and grandparents. In 2009 the family deal was: With the purchase of two regularly-priced adult tickets, two grandparents received free admission. Children age 12 and under were admitted free with two paid adult admission tickets Family Weekend only.

The question has been asked - how family friendly is the Tennessee Ren Fest? Overall it is very family friendly, especially the first weekend. There are rides for kids, as well as an audience with the Queen for kids in addition to the costumes, food, entertainment and free tours of Castle Gwynn. Visitors will see many young fairies, princesses and pirates cavorting in Covington Glen.

However, parents should be forewarned that some of the entertainment is PG and even R-rated, and there is ale in abundance. There is a program handed out at the entry that gives the ratings for each act. It is my opinion some of the G-rated acts are actually PG due to some double meanings and mildly sexual banter.

I have heard some ren fests are much darker with strong occult and even sexual overtones. The Tennessee Renaissance Festival avoids those pitfalls and remains reasonably family friendly for the most part with a stricter dress code and cleaner entertainment than many ren fairs have.

22nd Tennessee Renaissance Festival Family Day

Queen Elizabeth - Queen of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival 

The queen of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival graced the cover of Renaissance Magazine in 2008

Renaissance Magazine 

Keep up with Renaissance festivals, costumes, armor and more!

Renaissance

Renaissance

Amazon Price: $193.22 (as of 12/28/2009)Buy Now

The publication for all interested in the Middle Ages or Renaissance!

Movies about Queen Elizabeth 

For more period movies, visit the Renaissance Marketplace below
Elizabeth - The Golden Age (Widescreen Edition)
Elizabeth - The Golden Ag...
Elizabeth (Spotlight Series)
Elizabeth (Spotlight Seri...
Masterpiece Theatre: Elizabeth I - The Virgin Queen
Masterpiece Theatre: Eliz...
Elizabeth: The Acclaimed Saga of England's Virgin Queen
Elizabeth: The Acclaimed...
Elizabeth R
Elizabeth R

Renaissance Costumes 

Two Renaissance ladies add color and style to the Tennessee Renaissance Festival

 

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Renaissance & Celtic Music at the Tennessee Renaissance Festival 

Music, especially Celtic and Renaissance music, is a big part of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival

There are strolling minstrels and musical stage shows at the Tennessee Renaissance festival. Period musicians such as Celticopia and Empty Hats (pictured here) perform Celtic music every year.

 

Music from Empty Hats and Celticopia

Life in the Past Lane

Life in the Past Lane

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 12/28/2009) Buy Now

5

5

Amazon Price: $21.49 (as of 12/28/2009) Buy Now

 

Tread carefully or you might fall victim to trolls and other fell creatures at the TN Ren Fest!

 

For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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Step back in time at the Tenessee Renaissance Festival

Ren Fest Photo Gallery 

What Do You Think About Ren Fests? 

Ye Olde Renaissance Survey

Did you know much about Ren Fests before visiting this lens? Have you been to a Renaissance festival before? What do you think about Ren fairs? Do you have a favorite Ren fest? Speak your mind about Ren fests here!

Have you been to a Renaissance festival before?

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Yes

KathrynDarden says:

Yes! I have been to the Tennessee Renaissance Festival, the Ardmore Renaissance Faire, and the Shakespeare and Friends Celtic Renaissance Festival.

Posted June 18, 2009

No

 

 

Movie characters and peasants stroll through Covington Glen.

 

More costume & accessory ideas

Related Lenses 

More lenses about Ren Fests

featured lens Renaissance Festivals in Tennessee - TN Ren Faires

Tennessee is host to four annual Renaissance faires in Triune, Cookeville, Rogersville and Ardmore, TN. A Renaissance festival is a fun way to spend the day, combining history with live entertainment, much of it interactive. Where else can you mingl...

featured lens Castle Gwynn in Tennessee

Castle Gwynn in Arrington, Tennessee, is the fulfillment of owner/builder Mike Freeman's life-long dream which began in 1970 in Freeman's high-school architecture class where he drew the first sketches of the castle he wanted to build one da...

 

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Renaissance Marketplacce

Renaissance Marketplace 

What to wear when you visit a Renaissance Festival

Ren Fairs are much more fun if you dress the part. Although wearing a period costume is not mandatory, it adds to the experience. For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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For more Renaissance wardrobe ideas, visit the Renaissance Marketplace
featured lens Renaissance Marketplace

FOR ALL YOUR HOLIDAY RENAISSANCE SHOPPING NEEDS! In my two Renaissance Festival lenses Renaissance Festivals in Tennessee - TN Ren Faires  and Tennessee Renaissance Festival - TN Ren Fest in Triune, TN, I have provided a few shopping recommenda...

 

For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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For more Renaissance shopping visit the Renaissance Marketplace Lens.

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Come Visit the Tennessee Renaissance Festival in May! 

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Current Weather at Covington Glen 

Home of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival

Current weather conditions in Arrington, TN

Local Pollen Reports

27°F (Feels like 17°F)

Last update: 12/28/09 1:56 AM CST

Humidity: 63%
Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 18°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.18in rising
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 12mph From: Airport Conditions
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Today


Mostly Cloudy
High: 40°F
Low: 24°F
Sunrise: 6:56 AM
Sunset: 4:41 PM

Tuesday
Dec 29 


Partly Cloudy
High: 41°F
Low: 28°F
Sunrise: 6:56 AM
Sunset: 4:42 PM

Wednesday
Dec 30 


Partly Cloudy
High: 47°F
Low: 36°F
Sunrise: 6:57 AM
Sunset: 4:42 PM

Thursday
Dec 31 


Showers
High: 46°F
Low: 25°F
Sunrise: 6:57 AM
Sunset: 4:43 PM

 

by KathrynDarden

Author - Publisher - Poet - Publicist




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