Your Glorious Adventure

Central Missouri Renaissance Festival

October 17, 2023

“Most enjoyable mayhem and merriment.”

The Central Missouri Renaissance Festival is boisterous fun!

*Updated 4/7/25

2025 Season, Celebrating 20 Years!

April 26th & 27th, May 3rd & 4th, Oct 18th & 19th

Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 6:00pm, Rain or Shine

A truly fun festival!

The Central Missouri Renaissance Festival is a joy to attend. It’s a great place to perform as well. Small enough to have a true community feel, Central MO doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s easy to see that everyone is having a great time. As a more established festival, CMRF (Central MO RenFest) has a mixture of permanent stages and permanent structures with temporary vendor tents. Find me performing there in the Medieval Medicine Show. For 2025, we’ll be there opening weekend 4/26-27. We’ll be performing throughout both days including our Bawdy Body show at our last performance of the day before hosting Shots Fired, the rollicking 21+ drinking event with the Queen herself!

Realm

Experience the 1550 A.D. village of Carlingford, Ireland filled with artisans, musicians, pirates, and more. The Cast and Royal court are a hoot. They bring a ton of joy to the festival.

5 stages provide exciting entertainment: music, comedy, family friendly shows, and more bawdy ones. There are several food options including tasty baked goods and sometimes a pasty (hand-held British pot pie) food truck. There are many exciting vendors to tempt you if you have the shopping bug or need to buy some holiday presents.

Schedule

Central MO RenFest is held one weekend in the fall when it has cooled down around the 8th weekend after labor day weekend (after the Kansas City Renaissance Festival is done). There are also 2 weekends in the Spring, often the last weekend in April and the first in May. Confirm dates on their website or social media. These dates provide an opportunity to wear the fun cloaks, armor, and layers that are less practical at Summer Renaissance Festivals.

Tickets and Festival Hours

The gate opens at 10am and the closing ceremony is at 6pm.
Confirm current pricing online. At the time of writing: Festival tickets are a great deal at $15.00 for adults, children from age 6 to 12 are $10.00, and children 5 and below are admitted free. Season pass: $78 covers all 6 days.
For those 21+ “Shots Fired with the Queen” Tickets at $30, include festival admission and a very bawdy drinking event with the Queen, including a shot glass, and 3 shots. Make sure to bring a designated driver or stay at the faire long enough to recover. Be safe!
Sometimes specials are available: past deals have included discounted tickets available if you bring non-perishable food items for the Fulton United Methodist Food Pantry or Military/EMS/State of Missouri Employee discount.
You can buy your tickets in advance and print out your receipt or purchase at the door.

Tips for What to Do

Explore the Forest including a Children’s Area (there is now a much improved bridge over the river to the forest side).
Be sure to check out the schedule of events for can’t miss show times. In my obviously biased opinion, be sure to see me as the Renaissance Nurse in The Medieval Medicine Show.
Plan your shopping and eating around what you want to see. Eating during less peak times will mean shorter lines and more time for fun.
Use this great opportunity to buy unique gifts and treat yourself.
Consider supporting a music group and get some music for the ride home buy a CD after a show or from an official download site, like Bandcamp.
Buy your ticket for Shots Fired with the Queen for some 21+ bawdy fun.
Stick around at the end of the day for a pub sing and closing ceremony.

Tips for What to Bring/Wear

Bring cash. As of now, there are NO ATMS. It’s only proper to tip performers at least a dollar when you watch their shows (more is always welcome). While you can buy some things with credit cards at shops, cash is easier for smaller vendors and is accepted everywhere.
Dress up to maximize the fun! It’s not required, but I love to dress up. If you don’t have an outfit, you’ll be able to buy one there. Renaissance Festivals are typically rain or shine, so dress for the weather. You may want to take into consideration using a porta-privy when planning your outfit.
Dogs are allowed if certain guidelines are followed (see website).
Prepare to spend a joyful day walking outside: comfortable shoes, layers, sunscreen, definitely bug spray, and maybe even a parasol are in order.

Pro Tips for the Best Experience

Stay hydrated! I like to bring a mug with a special belt clip to really get into the spirit (you can buy these onsite). You will need to purchase drinks to put in this mug as running drinking water is not available.
Consider bringing sanitizer and wet wipes although there are handwashing stations.
The faire is set in open grassy fields and a delightful forest. The terrain can be a little uneven.
I found I had some seasonal allergies related to the forest area, so you may want to bring allergy medicine.
Bug repellant, especially for ticks, is also wise. Do a tick check when you are done for the day. You can pretreat your clothing with permethrin for extra protection (that’s the kind my friend at Everyday Outdoor Family recommended to me). I also got a tick twister (recommended to me by our lovely hostess at the Treehouse on the Magic Land also found in Missouri).
Bring a reusable bag for your shopping finds (bonus points if it looks period!)
You can have a great time on your own, but it’s even more fun with friends or family.
Stop and talk to anyone dressed in costume, this festival is full of fun characters.

Location

4274 County Rd 220, Kingdom City, Missouri 65262

Kingdom City is under 2.5 hours east from Kansas City, less than 30 minutes east of Columbia and less than 2 hours west from St. Louis.

I-70, 144/Hatton Exit, South just under 2 miles to the Fairgrounds.

Complimentary parking is located around the festival and is mostly on grass. As with all festivals, be prepared to walk a distance from where you park. Also be prepared for mud if the weather is wet.

I have made the trip from KC as a daytrip several times, but if you can make it work, stay over at a local hotel and make a weekend of it. When performing we drive out Friday night, so we are there before opening and then drive back Sunday after closing.

Love Renaissance Festivals? Check out my other Renaissance Festival Posts: Kansas City Renaissance Festival, Bluffwoods Renaissance Festival, Oklahoma Renaissance Festival, and VikingFest KC.