Ready for nine weeks of fun and adventure? As the Ohio Renaissance Festival puts the finishing touches for the 2025 season, we are geared up to provide an experience for the whole family. It’s no surprise that many of you want to know: “What shows are appropriate for my kid?” Great question! While ren faires are no strangers to a bit of adult humor, ORF takes pride in providing a great variety of shows and environments throughout the festival that are aimed at our younger visitors.
While the following suggestions are a general guideline, if you are not enjoying a show, there is another right around the corner. As always, you as the parent/caregiver are the best judge of what your child is ready for.
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Excellent Kid-Friendly Areas
Gamers Grove – Archery, Storm the Castle, and Catapulting Frogs! Take a stop in our Gamers Grove and test your skills. Gamer’s Grove is a well-shaded area right next to the Queen’s Pub. There are restrooms right next to the archery booth, making this a convenient spot for a bit of fun.
Whimsy Woods – Storytellers and fairies with a natural playground wait to be discovered in this expansive addition to ORF. There are plenty of food and drink options along with three stages and multiple events during the day. The area is well-shaded with restrooms and a First Aid station next to the Gryphon’s Nest Pub
1 to 3+ Years: Waddlers & Toddlers
Energetic, full of wonder, and determined to explore the world around them, toddlers have short attention spans and can often be overwhelmed by unexpected or unusual circumstances. With this in mind, we focused on events that will be enjoyable for you and your child while keeping in mind their needs.
Eight Hands Round Village Dance / 11 – 11:30 am / Market Square
Watch the village entertain the royal court with fun games and real historic court dances. Hold hands, dance along, and grab a ‘portrait’ with Queen Elizabeth herself for a perfect start to the festival day.
Fairy Playtime / 12:30 – 1 pm / Whimsy Woods
Bring your kids out for a special fairy playtime with the Fae-bles of the Ohio Renaissance Festival. A great opportunity to let your kids make new friends while playing classic games like Red Rover or Duck, Duck, Goose.
Knighting Ceremony / 3:30 – 4:30 pm / St. Peter’s Church
A beautiful ceremony that makes for an even better portrait. Arrive early and meet with the villagers of Willy Nilly, who will give you a crash course on etiquette before you meet the queen! Be knighted royal protector of the realm, or space princess of the stars, and get your very own official certificate to take home.
Mudde Show / Multiple Shows / Muditorium
If your child hates getting dirty (or you do), then you may want to skip this one! Enjoy classic literature such as Dante’s Inferno, Beowulf, and Jerkules told by three sludge-covered thespians leaping through the seats. With mud flinging in every direction, audience participation isn’t so much an option as a promise.
On the Fly / Multiple Shows / Whimsy Woods
This playful, easy-to-approach duo keeps a fun environment with silly jokes and an energetic performance that is perfect for a younger audience. With skilled acrobatics and their “Circus for Idiots” manual, what could go wrong?
Queen’s Choice Singers / Multiple Shows / St. Peter’s Church
A perfect way to relax amid the excitement, Queen’s Choice offers beautiful ballads and dreamy songs in the pastoral St. Peter’s Church. It offers a little escape from the quick pace of the day and a chance to decompress for any overstimulated kiddos.
3 to 6+ Years: Active & Curious
Independent and imaginative, these kids have all the energy and a strong desire to interact with the world around them. They can handle sitting still if something keeps their attention, and they want to share their experiences with others. Knowing this, we have suggested more physically active events and shows aimed to be engaging.
Circa Brava / Multiple Shows / Reveler’s Stage
These brightly colored aerial acrobatics are sure to keep you clapping the whole time. A touch of magic and a lot of daring adds up to some wild tricks and a lot of fun for the audience. Be sure to get a front row seat so your kids can see just how high these performers get!
Cirque Lapin / Multiple Shows / Washer Women Well
Magic tricks, puppies on piano, and a rabbit being shot out of a cannon. A delightful menagerie of comedy and canines makes for a wonderful show as these talented folks show off. Be sure to stick around after and ask nicely if you can pet the stars.
Human Combat Chess Match / 2 – 2:30 pm / Chess Field
The villagers of Willy Nilly arrive to settle disputes and claim honor in combat as Her Majesty watches from the dais. This stunt extravaganza shows off not only the dedication and skills of the ORF cast, but it’s the best place to get great portraits with everyone from court to peasant alike.
Lady Ophelia’s Dance / Multiple Shows / Rabbit Hole Stage
Whether you’ve danced before or have never tapped a toe, Lady Ophelia is here to help. Enjoy learning renaissance dances from around the world as the audience joins in to form one big dance troupe. A great way to burn off some of that energy in the kids before leaving.
Pirate Playtime / 2:30 – 3 pm / Chess Field
Join the crew of pirates (that’s privateers when the Queen is near) on the chess field for a round of fun and games. Play Tag, learn how to Talk Like a Pirate, and take home awesome prizes like your very own eyepatch. Remember to have fun and stay hydrated!
The Swordsmen / Multiple Shows / Swordsmen Stage
Masterful swordplay and skilled comedic timing make the Swordsmen a wonderful show for kids and grown-ups alike. Enjoy their ribald wit and fast-paced action as swords fly. There is some flirtatious humor here and there, but most of it is subtle enough that younger children miss the innuendo.
7 – 10 Years: Independent & Talkative
With more developed communication skills and improved self-regulation, kids this age still need to move and play. However, they are better able to sit still and understand complex storytelling and performances, opening up more entertainment options for the family.
Birds of Prey – Midwest Falconry / Multiple Shows / Arena of Champions
The power of conservation means more than we know, and Midwest Falconry is dedicated to spreading knowledge on how to better protect our winged friends. Along with their stunning animal ambassadors, Birds of Prey teaches you the incredible dynamics of these creatures, along with their history through the Renaissance.
Cincinnati Barbarians / Multiple Shows / Barbarians Ring
Full armored hand-to-hand combat explodes as the Cincinnati Barbarians crash head-to-head in the ring! A brilliant display of historical armor, fighting skills, and good sportsmanship, this group really is bringing their A game to the faire. Every hit is real, and so are the friendships. Be sure to stay after the match for a Meet and Greet!
Equestrian Chaos / Multiple Shows / Arena of Champions
The history of women warriors charging into battle on horseback stretches across the globe. From the mounted Scythian warriors of the 7th century (BCE) to the Onna-musha of Japan, the riders of Equestrian Chaos celebrate the bond between rider and horse and mounted combat skills.
Full Armored Joust / Multiple Shows / Arena of Champions
One of the biggest shows at faire, get your seats early for the pounding of hooves and crash of armor! Combatant’s Keep takes the list, displaying historic jousting skills fit for a champion. This show gives a lot of pageantry, but make no mistake. Those hits are very real, and when a lance breaks, it shatters!
Pirate Stunt Show / Multiple Shows / Shipwreck Stage
Ready for swords and cannon fire? Bring yourselves to the Pirate Comedy Stunt show where our very own pirate crew gives you more action than you can shake a doubloon at! A great performance as well as a chance to get a portrait with the pirate crew. This show involved stage sword fighting and gunfire, which may be startling for some children.
Wheel of Death / Multiple Shows / Barbarians Ring
Incredible high-flying stunts astound as the wheels go round and round. This amazing display of balance, combined with an absolute disregard for gravity, is sure to please. Add in fire juggling, death-defying stunts, and a touch of humor for a truly amazing show.
With all this and more, the Ohio Renaissance Festival is sure to be a perfect place for your family this season. Be sure to plan your day ahead of time and leave some room for things like lunch, restrooms, and a little break now and again. We can’t wait to see you!