Carolina Renaissance Festival
Fall festival · Huntersville · North Carolina
Sixteenth-century Europe rebuilt in the woods north of Charlotte, with jousting knights, falconry, and a dozen stages of music and comedy running weekends from early October into late November. The oak canopy over the fairgrounds is well into color by the back half of the run.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Saturdays and Sundays; pre-show at 9:05 a.m., gates open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Dates from the official announcement, checked August 20, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 8–November 12
Color builds from November 2 · mostly bare by December 3
Sampled at Carolina Renaissance Festival’s own coordinates and elevation (223 m) rather than a regional average.
This window comes from 25 weather points across North Carolina, nudged 6 days later to match 1 published peak date from smokymountains.com and almanac.com. North Carolina is running 7 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Carolina Renaissance Festival
Good color holds through about November 19, giving you roughly 17 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 1 day earlier than North Carolina as a whole.
This one is within Charlotte itself, which makes it an easy half day.
Carolina Renaissance Festival on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of North Carolina, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in North Carolina
Leaves & views
Farms & harvest
Plan from a city
Frequently asked
- When is Carolina Renaissance Festival open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Oct 3 – Nov 22. Saturdays and Sundays; pre-show at 9:05 a.m., gates open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does Carolina Renaissance Festival peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 8–November 12 (best estimate November 10). Color starts around November 2 and is mostly bare by December 3.
- How do I get to Carolina Renaissance Festival?
- Carolina Renaissance Festival is in Huntersville. The closest city is Charlotte, about 15 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of North Carolina's fall lineup.
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