Scarborough Renaissance Festival • Waxahachie TX

Main Attractions

Hands-down, the main attraction at Dallas' Renaissance festival is the daily jousting matches. Three matches are held each day, and the volunteers put on an amazing show. With real horse and time-appropriate gear, grab yourself a big old turkey leg and some mead and enjoy the 1500s like old-fashioned royalty.

If you're into medieval battles, you'll love this festival. From Dan Juan & Miguel's comedic sword fighting show to the heart-pounding fire whip show, there's enough to keep any blood thirsty spectator entertained. You can also take part in some of the action yourself. With the weapons demo and the Hasselhoff School of Sword, you can get first-hand experience on how the knights and warriors of old did battle.

Rides

The rides here are exhilarating. Classic see-saw rides like the Pirate Ship Swing and the Dragon Swing are sure to be a blast for any age group. However, the Pirate's Assault Bungee Jump is where the real fun is at. Test your balance after being launched to the upper deck and bungee jumping back to solid ground. There are even rides for animal lovers. You can take a ride aboard camels and elephants, or the young ones can have a blast on the farm rides. Ponies, cows, donkeys and llamas are some animals that have appeared at past festivals.

Grub and Ale

All kinds of taverns and restaurants spring up around the festival. For some time-appropriate food, visit the Royal Kitchens for a giant turkey leg and skewered steak and chicken. The West Market Kitchens is where you go for a light, quick bite. With fruit shish kabobs, smoothies and wraps, this place is your best bet for some quick replenishment. A handful of taverns can also be found at the festival. If you're looking to fit in with the theme, be sure to visit the Rose & Crown for some awesome dark ales.

Games

The Scarborough Renaissance Festival is also home to numerous rides and games for visitors. For a great family-friendly option, the Toss Your Cookie event is a blast, while guests of all ages can enjoy the crossbow and cannon throw competitions. There are also many ways to burn the calories from all that great food. The Adventure Climbing Tower is an exciting wall climbing event, and the Quintain is a jousting ride that's safe and fun for the whole family. For some intense competition, try out the Fight Circle, an all-out sword duel (with protection) to see who can pop their opponent's balloon first.