The grandest time of the year is fast approaching! The castle gates are ready to swing wide for the 2026 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, one of the best Renaissance Faires in the country. Returning to the historic Mount Hope Estate in Manheim, PA and running Saturdays and Sundays from August 15 through October 25, 2026, this 46th anniversary season promises to transport you straight back to a 16th-century English Shire filled with music, magic, and grand spectacles.
Whether you are a seasoned time traveler or a first-time villager, navigating the 35-acre Shire of Mount Hope is an unforgettable experience. This year’s scenario is set in 1567, with Queen Elizabeth making a visit to the Shire of Mount Hope. To help you plan the perfect autumn getaway, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to the festivities—and the best place to relax after a day of revelry.
Choose Your Adventure: The 2026 PA Ren Faire Themed Weekends
One of the best things about the PA Ren Faire is that no two visits are exactly alike. Every single weekend features a completely distinct theme with unique costume contests, special events, and visiting performers.
A few highlights from the incredible 2026 lineup include:
- Viking Weekend (September 5 & 6): Hear the thrumming drums of longboats and see who takes home the crown in the Best Viking Beard Contest.
- Wizarding Weekend (September 12 & 13): Break out your wands and robes as the Shire turns into a school of witchcraft and wizardry.
- Shamrocks & Shenanigans (September 19 & 20): Wrap on your kilts and celebrate Celtic heritage with a good stout and traditional music.
- Oktoberfest (September 26 & 27): Raise a stein and tie on your lederhosen for a weekend celebrating craft brews and traditional German dancing.
- Halloween Days and Spooky Knights (All October Weekends): Enjoy a delightfully eerie twist on the Shire with trick-or-treating, cryptids, and haunting entertainment.
Sights, Sounds, and Savory Treats
Beyond the themes, the daily schedule is packed with standard favorites. You can witness adrenaline-pumping jousting tournaments, marvel at master glassblowers, or escape into immersive fantasy rooms.
And let’s not forget the legendary feast! You can’t leave the gates without indulging in a giant roasted turkey leg or a hearty scotch egg. Wash it all down with a cold pint from the on-site Swashbuckler Brewing Company or a crisp pour of Lancaster County Cider.
Sleep and Feast Like Royalty at The Lancaster Bed & Breakfast
Walking the Shire, cheering on knights, and dancing to madrigal singers is an absolute blast, but it is also exhausting! After a full day of stepping back in time, trading your heavy costume, kilt, or corset for a plush luxury robe is pure bliss.
When looking for lodging near Mount Hope Estate, skip the uninspired commercial hotels and continue to step back in time. Our boutique property, housed in a beautiful 1912 Dutch Colonial home, offers the perfect cozy oasis just a short drive from the festival grounds. We love hosting fellow festival-goers and providing a peaceful, romantic weekend getaway in Lancaster, PA.
In fact, you’ll be resting your head at an award-winning retreat—The Lancaster Bed & Breakfast has been honored with the prestigious TripAdvisor Best of the Best award, ranking us among the top 25 B&B properties in the entire United States!
The royal treatment doesn’t stop when you wake up, either. We know that a day of festival-going requires plenty of energy, which is why we serve a multi-course, scratch-made morning feast that Chowhound named the best B&B breakfast in Pennsylvania. From freshly baked sourdough to house-smoked bacon, it’s the ultimate way to fuel up before heading back out for day two of the revelry. (Or if you’re wanting to explore fall in Lancaster during one of the days of your stay, see the following blog from our site: https://www.thelancasterbnb.com/autumn-walk-lancaster-county/.)
Tickets are date-specific and sell out quickly online, so choose your favorite weekend theme, grab your passes to the Manheim PA Renaissance Faire, and secure your room at our boutique property today. Your award-winning royal retreat awaits!