Let's be real — half the reason people go to Renaissance faires is the food. There's something primal about walking through a medieval village gnawing on a turkey leg the size of your forearm while a lute player serenades you. But faire food can also drain your wallet faster than a pickpocket in Nottingham. Here's your complete guide to eating like royalty without spending like one.
Budget Reality Check
$25-35
Budget Eater
1 main + 1 snack + water
$45-65
Comfortable
2 mains + snacks + drinks
$80+
Royal Treatment
Full feast + mead + desserts
Eating and drinking like royalty is part of the experience
The Faire Food Hall of Fame
The Turkey Leg
The undisputed king of faire food. These massive smoked turkey legs are practically a rite of passage — you haven't truly been to a Renaissance faire until you've carried one around like Henry VIII's personal drumstick. They're smoky, juicy, and satisfying in a way that no regular turkey has ever been. Expect to pay $12-18 depending on the faire.
Pro tip: Share with someone. They're bigger than they look and you'll want room for everything else.
Bread Bowls
Thick, crusty bread hollowed out and filled with stew, clam chowder, mac and cheese, or chili. The bread bowl is the medieval equivalent of an edible plate, and it's genius. The best faires make their bread fresh on-site — you can smell it from three lanes away. Prices range from $10-16, making it one of the better values since you're getting your bowl AND your meal.
Best at: Maryland Renaissance Festival and Texas Renaissance Festival are known for exceptional bread bowls.
Mead and Ale
Mead — honey wine — is THE authentic Renaissance beverage. Good mead ranges from sweet and smooth to dry and complex. Most faires serve both traditional mead and fruit-infused varieties (raspberry mead is a crowd favorite). Craft ales and ciders are also widely available. Expect $8-14 per drink, or look for the mead flights that let you sample several for $15-20.
Many faires sell collectible mugs ($15-25) that get discounted refills all day — worth it if you're drinking more than two.
Corn on the Cob
Fire-roasted corn slathered in butter and seasoning is the unsung hero of faire food. It's always perfectly charred, impossibly buttery, and one of the most affordable options at $5-8. Plus it's one of the few foods you can eat while walking without looking like a medieval disaster.
Scotch Eggs
A hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, breaded, and deep-fried. It sounds insane because it is. Scotch eggs are a Renaissance faire delicacy that you won't find at your average food court. They're rich, filling, and utterly addictive. Usually $6-10 each.
Funnel Cakes and Sweet Treats
No faire visit is complete without something sweet. Funnel cakes dusted with powdered sugar ($8-12), cinnamon-sugar churros, chocolate-dipped cheesecake on a stick, and caramel apples are all faire staples. For something more unique, look for the honeycomb candy, hand-pulled taffy, or Turkish delight vendors.
Hidden Gems to Seek Out
- Meat pies: Handheld savory pies with fillings like steak and mushroom, chicken and leek, or shepherd's pie. Authentic, portable, and delicious.
- Smoked ribs: Some faires have BBQ pitmasters who smoke ribs for hours. When you find them, get them.
- Garlic mushrooms: Sautéed in butter and herbs, served in a bread cup. Vegetarian-friendly and surprisingly filling.
- Fresh-pressed cider: Non-alcoholic apple cider pressed on-site. Perfect for kids and designated drivers.
- Pickle on a stick: Exactly what it sounds like. Absurdly popular. Absurdly cheap ($2-4). Absurdly satisfying.
Dietary Restrictions at Faires
Renaissance faires have gotten much better at accommodating dietary needs, but come prepared:
- Vegetarian/Vegan: Most large faires now have dedicated vegetarian vendors. Look for hummus wraps, veggie stir-fry, grilled corn, and garlic mushrooms. Vegan options are more limited but growing.
- Gluten-free: Turkey legs, corn, and many grilled meats are naturally gluten-free. Bread bowls and funnel cakes are obviously not. Ask vendors — many now label allergens.
- Nut allergies: Be cautious with baked goods and sauces. Cross-contamination is common in faire kitchens.
- Pro tip: Bring your own snacks as backup, and arrive early when vendors are freshest and least rushed to answer questions.
Money-Saving Strategies
- Eat a big breakfast before you go. Seriously. Faire food is for fun, not sustenance.
- Bring water bottles. Most faires have refill stations. A $4 water every hour adds up fast.
- Share large items. Turkey legs, bread bowls, and funnel cakes are all shareable.
- Buy the collectible mug. Refills are usually $2-4 cheaper all day.
- Eat lunch at 11 or 2. Avoid the noon rush — lines are shorter and vendors are less frazzled.
- Bring cash. Some vendors are cash-only and the ATM fees at faires are medieval (pun intended).
Hungry for adventure? Find your next faire: