The Ultimate Guide to Enjoying Your Renaissance Faire Day (Without the Blisters or Burnout)
- Firelight Fables Candle Co.
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
From roasted turkey legs to wandering minstrels and fully armored knights, Renaissance Faires bring the magic of the past into the present.
Kasey here, the creator of Firelight Fables, coming to you with a few tips and tricks I've learned over the years when it comes to making your Ren Faire experiences worth while!
Whether you’re planning your first-ever faire or returning as a seasoned adventurer, these tips will help you stay comfortable, immersed, and ready for anything.
And when the tents come down and the mead has run dry? We’ll show you how to keep the magic alive at home too—with a candle that smells just like being there.
🧀 Pack Snacks Like a Rogue on the Run
While I love downing a rosemary lamb meat pie or a bucket of freshly made mini-donuts, I've learned the hard way that waiting in food lines can eat up your day (hah...see what I did there? 😉).
I would plan to eat lunch or dinner at the faire, but the less time you spend in lines waiting for snacks or drinks, the more time you'll have to explore.
Bring some snacks like:
Protein bars or jerky
Dried fruit or trail mix (Costco’s Kirkland Signature is a fave!)
Sealed fruit pouches (great for kids or hot days)
Sweet treats
Tip: Some faires allow outside food, but others don’t—check their website or FAQ ahead of time to be sure.
🌞 Beat the Heat, Faire-Style
Costumes are often fun and gorgeous but can be hot. Since most faires take place during the warmer months, here are some ways you can stay cool and sunburn free with:
A folding hand fan (Lace or wood fans on Etsy) or battery powered handheld fan
Travel-size sunscreen
A themed parasol to shield you from the sun while keeping your vibe on point (I have yet to get one of my own, but see many people with these on the hot days!)
Lightweight shoes (speaking from experience, your feet can get HOT walking around in warm weather all day)
👜 Go Hands-Free with Belt Bags & Leather Loops
Regular purses or backpacks can ruin your look, especially if you've spent hours planning your outfit and don't want to break the immersive aspect of dressing up.
But if you plan on bringing snacks, sunscreen, a water bottle and/or doing some shopping (all of which I recommend), then you need some ample storage on your person.
Here are some stylish things you can try:
Invest in a leather belt with multiple pouches or holsters for your phone, wallet, snacks, etc. (Etsy and Amazon have plenty of options)
A bottle holster for hydration (again, plenty on Etsy!)
Clip-on or wearable phone pouches (They come in belt attachments and even thigh holsters!)
If you don’t have time to build a full outfit, even pairing these accessories with neutral clothes can give you a medieval flair.
Pro Tip: Add a carabiner or loop for small items like your fan or keys.
📜 Master the Schedule Like a Court Scribe
Most faires post their full entertainment schedule, as well as a map of the stage and other faire locations, online. I like to save it to my phone as well as print it out ahead of time to review the different events going on.
Though you don't have to stick to the schedule 100%, it's helpful to know what is going on when and where so that you don't miss your favorite acts or can get a decent seat at the jousting tournaments! We like to take a pen to the printed out sheet and cross out any events we know we don't want to attend and highlight our must-sees.
Don't forget to plan in time to shop and eat!
💧 Hydrate Like a Highlander
Bring a refillable water bottle—assuming yours' offers free water refill stations. You can bring something cool, like a stainless steel fantasy themed water bottle, or just rock a simple Gatorade bottle like I did at this faire!
Bonus: Stick an electrolyte pack in your snack bag, especially if you plan to be drinking booze.
👞 Footwear First (Seriously, Don’t Skip This One)
Your day hinges on your feet. You don't want hot, sweaty, sore soles all day long. Here’s how to survive the day:
Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes or boots.
Add inserts or gel insoles for support. Using cooling inserts is even better!
Consider leather boot covers over sneakers if you want a costume boost without sacrificing comfort
Avoid sandals or open toed shoes unless they have arch support and straps that won’t chafe. Depending on where the faire is held, your feet can get very dusty or muddy, which is highly unpleasant.
💰 Cash Is Still King
While many vendors now accept cards, I've noticed that a lot of vendors can have card reader issues with so many different vendors fighting for cellular service. You’ll speed up checkout and be better prepared by carrying some small bills and cash.
Plus, it's great to be able to tip wandering acts that find themselves offering you unique entertainment!
Here's a video of two wandering "artists" at this recent faire who drew a portrait of our whole group in 1 minute. It was a fun, unique experience, and we were glad to have a few dollars on hand to tip them!
🧺 A Few Extra “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Tips
✔️ Bring wet wipes or hand sanitizer (faire restrooms can be rustic)
✔️ Pack a mini first aid kit— just in case, we brought a few blister bandaids, allergy meds, etc.
✔️ Bring a cloak or shawl for cooler days or evenings evenings
✔️ A foldable seat pad or blanket for sitting on grass or bleachers if you plan to attend multiple shows/events
✔️ Shop towards the end of your visit - less things to carry around all day
🕯️ Bring the Faire Home with You: Town Square
Your locale faire may not be open, but you can bring the scent of the Renaissance Faire straight to your home!
Our Town Square scent is inspired by everything we love about the Renaissance Faire—the roasted meats, the hand crafted leather goods, and the warmth of freshly baked breads and pies.
✨ Notes of woodsmoke, peppered meat, warm bread and leather.✨ One of our customers said about this scent:
“It smells absolutely just like being at a Renaissance Faire! Every note listed, you can definitely smell! It's one one my favorites! Of course, all of them are my favorite!!" - Angelique B.
Burn Town Square during your next Dungeons & Dragons session to immerse players in a bustling marketplace or city center, or light it while reading a fantasy novel, working on your next ren faire cosplay, or exploring a vibrant town in your favorite videogame.
This scent comes in candle, wax melt and Mystic Mist form!
🕯️ Shop Town Square now »
Because Renaissance Faires shouldn’t be limited to just summer weekends. 😉
Got a tip, memory, or costume idea?
Leave a comment below—we love hearing your faire stories!
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