Every weekend in May the Tennessee Renaissance Festival is held in Arrington, just off interstate 840 in Williamson County. The Renaissance Festival began in 1986 making this year its 30th anniversary. The Festival is based on 16th century England with shows, food, games, rides, vendors and a tour of the castle. The ticket price is $20/person for adults and $7 for kids ages 6-12 with ages 5 and under being free. The shows begin at 10:15 am and the last show is at 5:30pm.
This is the flyer from the very first Tennessee Renaissance Festival held the last three weekends in June 1986.There are lots of vendors where you can buy Renaissance style clothing, swords, chainmail, and jewelry.This is a vendor selling animals that set on your shoulder and they have strings that make them move. It’s actually quite freaky.These are handmade all leather boots that are sold by one of the vendors.The Royal Joust is held three times a day and is a must see. It is very entertaining and always draws a large a crowd, therefore, I would suggest getting there a little early for a good seat.There are so many shows to watch and not enough time to see them all. Over the years we have our favorites that we watch every year. This one is Buckle & Swash and it is a very funny show for the kids. I would also suggest Paolo Garbanzo which is a juggling act and Axel the Sot is an absolute must see.In the kids area there are games and rides for an extra fee. This is Davinci’s Hurlinator. It is $3/person to ride. There is also an area to ride a camel for $5/person.All of the rides are man powered, therefore, on this particular ride, the faster you move the handle bar the faster in a circle you go.There is a Pirate Maze that is $2/person. It is created using sheets and easy to maneuver through. Near the center, there is a bell for the kids to ring and when they finish the maze they get a small prize.There is a vendor that is always set up selling metal garden sculptures and statues and this year he presented this massive statue.This is Lady Ettie and every year she is dressed like this. Chris knows she creeps me out, so he insisted that I get my photo made with her.This is Mike Freeman, the guy who built Castle Gwynn and started the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. Before touring the castle, you will stop on the lawn and he will give a little history of the castle and the festival.To tour the castle, you get on a school bus and ride from the festival over to the castle. This is included in your ticket price. The tours are from 11am-3pm.This year, a sun room has been built onto the castle and this is the statue that is located on each side of the path.There are many fireplaces located inside the castle. This one is located in the kitchen.This is a chandelier located on the second story of the castle and it actually lowers down so you can light each candle and then it is pulled back up.Medieval clothing located on the second story of the castle.It took Mike, the owner of the castle, five years to make the armour for this horse and knight that is located on the second story of the castleThis is the front of Castle Gwynn, which is the permanent residence of Mike Freeman and his wife.
2015 marked the 30th Anniversary of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival!
