The 2012 Des Moines Renaissance Faire at Festival Park
Huzzah! The 2012 Des Moines Renaissance Faire has concluded. If you attended, please take a moment to send us your feedback on the event. The event producers and park owners read everything you send in, and use your suggestions to help enhance the event.
Stay tuned for details on the 2013 event...
"might have been our favorite Renaissance Faire ever, so many new cool things, we didn't even see everything!" - Jen from Des Moines (via our Facebook page)
We are celebrating seven years at Festival Park (though this is technically the 10th festival)! Learn more about this event, including what entertainment, shopping and food you can expect at this year's expanded festival.
(JoustEvolution from September 1, 2012. You can also see them in Kansas City, but this event may be closer for you.)
(Sons of the Mist from September 8, 2012. Kilts galore during Celtic weekend!)
2012 Dates, Hours and Themes:
- The first three weekends in September, starting Labor Day Weekend! 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine!
- September 1-3 - Knights, Barbarians & Heroes
- September 8-9 - Scots, Britons and Irish
- September 15-16 - Pirates, Scallywags and Buccaneers
2012 Pricing and Discounts
| A full day (10 a.m to 6 p.m.), rain or shine! (If the forecast just looks drizzly, bring a rain poncho or umbrella and hang out in the merchant shops or be entertained in the Feast Hall and Italian Palazzo all day long! If weather keeps you from getting to the stages, we will bring the stages to you!) *Prices and event details subject to change at the front gate. **Your image (photos, video) may be captured while at the faire, and may be used for future promotion in ads, posters, etc | |
| Although some merchants inside do accept credit cards, ticket sales are CASH ONLY. ATMs available at the front gate, and inside near the tavern. | |
| Under 5 | FREE |
| Ages 5-12 | $8 (buy online) |
| Adult One Day Pass | $16 (buy online) |
| Adult Two Day Pass | $25 (Good for admission on any two days of the festival.) (buy online) |
| Season Pass (all 7 days) | $35 (buy online) (NEW for 2012! Kid's season pass for $25) |
| Military discount | $4 OFF for service person, their spouse, and children ages 13 and older. (Children age 5 through 12 are already half price for everyone.) |
| Parking (secured and patrolled) | $1 per vehicle. |
| Group discounts | Call 515-262-4100 |
| All shows (and the Treasure Hunt) | Included in price of admission! |
| But why pay full price? Group discounts are available, and $2 OFF coupons are available around Des Moines (check with Casey's General Stores) and area Hy-Vees offer discounted tickets (you may want to call first and confirm; we have reports of stores that are supposed to have tickets having staff that is unware of it). | |
See also: Tickets and Discounts
Location
- "Festival Park" is a new 18-acre outdoor event center (and permanent home of the Des Moines Renaissance Faire). Located at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, just south of the state fairgrounds at 4051 Dean Ave.
- See also: Maps and Directions
Feel free to e-mail us with any questions, or call Sleepy Hollow Sports Park at (515) 262-4100.
Friday, November 2 2012
Official dates, times and prices for 2013 will be announced later in 2013, but traditionally the event opens Labor Day Weekend (which would be Aug 31-Sep 2 in 2013) and runs three weekends. Please follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook (or subscribe to the mailing list) to receive news updates when important announcements are made.
Sunday, September 16 2012
Huzzah! We still have to let the dust settle, but this may have been a record breaking year at Festival Park (it certainly had some record breaking days for various merchants, and some days that did a great job filling our parking lot). Thank you for your support!
Your thoughts and comments about this year's festival are needed to help us improve it next year.
What did you like? What did you not like? What did you want that wasn't there? What act or character did you think was great and worth having back? Who would you rather not see again? Who had the best food? Or your least favorite food?
Let us know! Your comments get forwarded off to the event producers and site owners and many others. Thanks!
2012 Feedback Forms
Saturday, September 15 2012
Ahoy!
Sunday the 16th is the FINAL DAY of the 2012 Des Moines Renaissance Faire! Hundreds of visitors even showed up in pirate costume on Saturday -- you could definitely tell it was a pirate invasion! And, the pirate version of the torture chamber was a big hit, so if you come out, hit it as soon as you get there to avoid a long line later in the day.
