Other Ren Fairs
NEWS FLASH - There is a new show in Cincinnati, Ohio. Complete with buildings, merchants, entertainment, food and all the trappings of a Renaisance Festival only set in the Wild Wild West - http://oldwestfestival.com/
Peter Carroll, owner of the Ohio Renaissance Festival, might not want you to know about the other fine events in the Ohio area. He has made rules and contracts to prevent actors from performing at other festivals. These rules have been applied to at least one fair which is not even in Ohio that ends its season more than a full month before ORF opens its renaissance fair to the public for the year. We would like you to know there are alternatives to attending an event whose owner seems to operate the place like a slum lord.
Competing events during the Ohio Renaissance Festival season. Some of them might be closer to your home than you think. If you are like me, you only have a limited number of vacations days or money to spend on recreation. So consider not only the events which overlap the ORF season, but those which take place before and after ORF.
Remember, when ever you spend money you cast a vote. I think that when you spend money at the Ohio Renaissance Festival you cast your ballot for a slum lord who doesn’t much care if he is raping and pillaging his own villagers.
Ravenwood Castle and Medieval Village
New Plymouth, Ohio
A great place for a medieval / renaissance wedding. Much more value for such events than the Ohio Renaissance Festival. This is more of a destination than a faire. Cottage rentals in the Medieval Village as well as rooms in the Castle are available year round. Shopping in the Medieval Village are open May – October - http://www.ravenwoodcastle.com/
Aug. - Sept.
Michigan Renaissance Festival
Holly, MI
August - October
Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire
Manheim, PA is a bit more than 6 hours from Columbus or Cleveland, but well worth the travel.
http://www.parenfaire.com/
September
Kentucky Celtic Festival
Just two hours south of ORF via Rt. 71. About an hour and a half from Cincinnati. The Celtic music at this festival makes it well worth the trip.
http://kycelticfest.com/
Oct. - Nov.
Mid-Michigan Renaissance Festival
Tuscola, Michigan
http://www.michrenfest.com/
Events before the Ohio Renaissance Festival
May
The Medieval & Renaissance Faire at The Ohio State University
This FREE event is held in Columbus, OH
http://cmrf.org.ohio-state.edu/
June - July
The Kentucky Highland Renaissance Fairs
Just two hours south of ORF via Rt. 71. About an hour and a half from Cincinnati.
http://kyrenfaire.com/
Silver Leaf Renaissance Festival
July / August - Battle Creek, MI
http://www.silverleafrenfaire.org/
July - August
The Great Lakes Medieval Faire
Just an hour from Cleveland. About 3 hours from Toledo or Columbus.
http://www.medievalfaire.com/
Note: Although I have heard other Renaissance Fair owners made statements which lead me to conclude that Peter Carroll and the Ohio Renaissance Festival is not well beloved, no fair mentioned here has been listed for having said a thing about Peter Carroll or the Ohio Ren Fair. I have listed these just to demonstrate the options you have.