WNC Renaissance Faire set for this weekend in McDowell County
The 2026 WNC Renaissance Faire will take place starting Friday and lasting through Saturday and Sunday at 120 S. Sunny Grove Drive in Nebo.
The WNC Renaissance Faire will have entertainers and performers and activities to cater to every age range.
The event will have an after-hours party taking place at Tuck's Tavern featuring world-touring belly dancer Kimberly Larkspur and her musicians.
Friday through Sunday, you can experience life during the Middle Ages, hang out with Robin Hood and his Merry Men, enjoy feats of archery and knife throwing and revel in medieval entertainment and food in McDowell County.
The 2026 WNC Renaissance Faire will take place at 120 S. Sunny Grove Drive in Nebo, near Dysartsville.
“The horns have sounded, the campfires are being built, and the Merry Folk are gathering in WNC!” reads a news release from the organizers. “Join us in western North Carolina as the legend of Robin Hood comes to life through laughter, live music, daring feats, artisan vendors, archery, knife throwing, pub singing, and unforgettable entertainment. Wander the village by day, then stay beneath the stars with primitive camping and limited RV sites as the merriment continues after the gates close.”
“Whether you've walked the faire paths for years or are discovering your very first Renaissance Faire, there is a place for you around our fire,” the news release said. “Adventure, fellowship, and a few merry surprises await.”
This festival is being put on by North Carolina locals and people who have been in the Renaissance Faire community for decades. The founders of the festival are Phil Johnston of Ellenboro, Dave Harris of Marion, and Mike Williams of Marion, who owns the land where the festival will take place.
There will be performers coming from across the country, several of whom have already toured internationally, according to the news release.
The archery competitors will include current and past state and national champions as well as state, national and world record holders for traditional archery, flight archery and mounted archery, the release said.
Performers will interact with patrons. There will be games of skill such as archery, ax and knife throwing. The Renaissance Faire will have shows like Thomas Wood the Pyro Juggler and Madman Maverick, billed as “The World's Second Greatest Magician.”
The event will have an after-hours party taking place at Tuck's Tavern featuring belly dancer Kimberly Larkspur and her musicians, according to the news release.
“Step back in time with us and experience an age of chivalry, wonder, and untamed spectacle nestled right in the heart of western North Carolina,” reads a statement from the founders. “From the thunder of world-class archery displays to the bustling lanes of our artisan market, history, myth, and legend come alive around every corner. Dust off your finest garb, sharpen your wit, and prepare for a day of merriment, feasting and unforgettable entertainment.”
The WNC Renaissance Faire will take place Friday from 2-7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets cost $20 per person, and the ticket is good for all three days of the festival. A $40 weekend pass includes camping. It is an additional $20 per person to camp on site Friday and Saturday night. There is an RV/camper parking ticket, which costs $50, which is also good for all three days.
The WNC Renaissance Faire is being held at Fort Tater, a new outdoor venue in McDowell County owned and managed by Mike Williams.
For more information, visit the WNC Renaissance Faire Facebook page or visit www.thewncrenaissancefaire.com. Email the organizers at thewncrenaissancefaire@gmail.com.
