Though New York’s own Ren Faire doesn’t return until August, you can get your fill of fairies, singing bards and jugs of mead right now at the New Jersey Renaissance Faire which first opened at the end of May and is finishing its 2025 season this weekend (June 7-8)!
Located in Columbus, NJ near the PA border, the NJ Renaissance Faire started in 2009 and has become a county staple since then. Each year it grows larger and larger, transforming into the medieval village of New Crossford with a new cast of characters and storyline. This year, season 16, is all about “The Return of the Golden Age of Pirates.”
It was also recently voted the the #7 Renaissance Faire in the entire country by USA Today!
Here’s everything you have to know, plus how to get there.
When in the New Jersey Renaissance Faire?
The NJ Renaissance Faire takes place across four spring weekends. They are:
- May 17-18
- May 24-25 (Memorial Day Weekend)
- May 31 and June 1
- June 7-8
It’s open each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine.
What is there to do?
Each day of the faire there is live jousting, kids shows, food vendors, and local artisans, plus seven stages with tons of performers and entertainers.
It changes day-by-day when you go, but there’s everything from flame eaters to pirate reenactments, circus performers, sword fighting, belly dancing, harp players, fairy tea parties, singing bards and more! See the final weekend’s schedule below, and the full version on the NJRenFaire website.
Plus in the Merchant Village you can eat, drink, shop and enjoy even more activities. See a quick snapshot of options below.
Food & Drink
- Hocus Smokus BBQ
- Sweet and Sticky Cotton Candy
- The Ravenous Rogues Charcuterie Boards
- Welsh Tea Shoppe Teas and Tea Cakes
- Ye Olde Murphy’s Farm Market
Games & Experiences
- Archery Range
- Fight A Knight at Swords & Stories Encampment
- Hairbraiding and Head Wreaths by Leah
- Hebrew Hammer Blacksmithing
- Knife and Star Throw
Clothing
- Corsets and Cogs
- American Highlander Kilts
- Emporer’s Needle Leather
- Enchanted Adornments
- Galdralist Workshop
Gifts & Decor
- Amber Gryphon Armory
- Anam Cara Apothecary
- Crystal Collaborations
- The Ginger Fae Stitchery
- Miller Woodworking
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How much is entry?
Admission is $31.25 for adults for a flexible day pass and $26.25 for a specific day; kids are $11.25 for a day pass, and fun fact: dogs are allowed with a $10 entrance fee!
They also have lots of ticket choices like family group passes, multi-day passes, and VIP options.
How do I get there from NYC?
Driving is definitely easiest, though of course not ideal for those without a car. It’s Exit 5 (Burlington/Mt. Holly) off the NJ Turnpike, taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan.
For a public transit option, you can take the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor Train from Penn Station to Trenton Transit Center and then transfer to the Light Rail going to Camden and get off at Florence. A rideshare or cab is needed from there to the Fairegrounds. This option will take double the time though, so it’s worth staying over and making a weekend of it, or even splitting a rideshare with a larger group from the city all the way there.