JUST OVER 30 DAYS OUT - TEXAS RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL PREPARED TO OPEN OCTOBER 3
Safety Guidelines in place, TRF in the home stretch to opening day.
Todd Mission, TX (September 1, 2020) - The Texas Renaissance Festival is just over 30 days from opening the gates for the 46th season of the largest Renaissance festival in the nation. The outdoor, open-air festival is nestled on 60 acres in the Piney Woods of Todd Mission, Texas, with an additional 220-acre campground at The Fields of New Market located adjacent to the festival grounds. TRF management has worked closely with county and local government and health agencies. Following Open Texas and CDC guidelines, the festival has published Safety Guidelines that will be followed by TRF staff, Vendors, Participants and Patrons throughout the season.
Highlights of the safety guidelines include:
- Opening at 50% capacity to provide patrons ample space for social distancing.
- Nightly decontamination of the festival area and increased cleaning of high touch areas during each festival day.
- Festival parking spaced accordingly for social distancing.
- Over 200 hand sanitizers placed throughout the festival grounds and campground.
- TRF and its Patrons will be expected to comply with the Governor's Executive Order 29 and its exceptions regarding face coverings
- Face masks will be required of all TRF staff, vendors, and participants with temperatures checked and logged before each shift.
- Shop owners will be following 50% capacity limitations, social distancing guidelines, sanitizing protocols, and some may require patrons to wear masks while in their shops.
- 20 face mask break areas have been added
- Safety and Health guideline sign reminders throughout the festival.
- Path entertainment and shows have been creatively adapted to social distancing guidelines while maintaining its immersive experience.
Discount Tickets on Sale at H-E-B
In anticipation of capacity limitations during the 2020 season, ALL tickets are DATE SPECIFIC and must be purchased in advance of arriving at the festival. The only tickets being sold onsite are Military, First Responder, Student, and Senior discount tickets, as they require an ID to receive the discount. In addition to purchasing date specific tickets online at www.texrenfest.com and Groupon, starting September 1, discount date specific tickets will be available at H-E-B store business centers.
Tickets received in 2019 for Vendor Appreciation will be honored as Any Day tickets.
Children 12 and under are admitted every Sunday for free.
New for 2020
Highlighting the 46th season of the festival will be the opening of the new expansion area that will feature a Pirate Ship Museum, Tower Slide, Royal Bourbon and Rum tastings, new vendors Crimson Chain Leather and local Houston artists Bug in the Box, the return of the Washing Well Wenches to the Forest Gazebo and the Airy Botter and the Sorcery School Headmaster's Office Escape Room.
The Texas Renaissance Festival will welcome Pyro Juggler Thomas Wood and Accordionist Amanda Kitchens to the Cloister in the Green along with The Dublin Harpers. The popular Full Armored Combat will move to the Joust arena to provide even better views of the action, and you can fly on the new DaVinci's Flying Machines ride in the Dove Meadow area.
In addition to guest vendors throughout the festival, making its debut this season will be the multi-story Wyrmwood Public House featuring entertainment and absinthe and tequila tastings, and Kackle King Booth 625F offering delectable delights such as drunken chicken and drunken pork.
Along with the the daily costume contest, a face mask contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Forest Gazebo in the new Enchanted Forest expansion that will be judged on the weekend's theme and creativity.
2020 Season Changes
Three hundred and forty-nine vendors will be selling their unique wares including 11 Guest Vendors and 20 New Vendors. Over 30 stage acts are set to entertain and delight festival patrons each day of the festival along with the capstone fireworks event at dusk.
Working closely with partners and participants, the Texas Renaissance Festival has announced the following changes for the 2020 season.
- After Dark - The After Dark Saturday evening entertainment experience will not open this season. We look forward to greeting guests in 2021.
- Costume Rentals - There will be no costume rentals available this season.
- Games and Service Providers - Some games will not be running with limited service providers.
- Deaf/Blind Event - Due to scheduling conflicts, ASL Faires Texas will not be hosting a deaf/blind event this season but is looking forward to returning with two events in 2021.
- School Days - After careful consideration with educators, parents, and Festival participants, TRF has made the difficult decision to cancel School Days for this season. More information can be found at www.texrenfest.com/school-days.
- The King's Feast has undergone considerable changes for the 2020 season with only one seating for the feast each day, limited seating and added value with the purchase of the King's Feast pass. More information can be found at www.kingsfeast.com.
- Tea & Strumpets high tea will take place with limited seating to maintain social distancing and to follow all CDC and food service guidelines. To make reservations visit www.trftea.com.
