Celebrate the holidays with a Renaissance vibe

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Have you ever wondered what a holiday celebration might look like during the Renaissance era? Well, now is your chance to find out.

Over the course of four weekends in November and December, the Ohio Renaissance Festival will host a Yuletide Village. This celebration of the holiday season will include visits with Woodland Santa Claus and Krampus, a Yuletide Market with plenty of potential gift ideas, from jewelry to classic wooden toys, themed lit areas, a colorful Gum Drop Alley, costumed carolers, cheery food and beverage menu and live entertainment.

Visitors to Renaissance Park in Waynesville can wander through themed-lit areas decorated either in old-world charm or dazzling, modern-day decorations. Woodland Santa and Krampus will be available to determine who has been naughty and nice. You can take a photo with Santa or Krampus that comes with a commemorative frame for $10.

While you get your holiday shopping done at the Yuletide Market and wander through the colorful Gum Drop Alley, be on the lookout for costumed carolers serenading the crowds with special holiday songs.

Aside from keeping warm at the warming stations set up all over Renaissance Park, visitors can warm their bones with a healthy helping of beef stew, chicken noodle soup, chili, hot chocolate, coffee or ale, peach cobbler, apple dumplings and pumpkin rolls. Renaissance Festival favorites, like turkey legs, will also be available for purchase.

Ohio Renaissance Festival’s Yuletide Village will be open every Friday and Saturday from Nov. 26 through Dec. 18. Hours of operation are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.

Admission is $15 per person. Children 12 years of age and younger get in for free. Parking is also free. Tickets can be purchased online and at the gate. For $25, guests can purchase a combination ticket that gives them admission to both the Yuletide Village: Season of Lights and Brimstone Haunt: A Scary Little Christmas. These combination tickets can also be purchased by visiting bigtickets.com. The Yuletide Village event is separate from the Ohio Renaissance Festival, which means that it is not included in 2021 season pass purchases.

HOW TO GO

What: Ohio Renaissance Festival’s Yuletide Village: Season of Lights

Where: Renaissance Park, 10542 OH-73, Waynesville

When: Every Friday and Saturday from Nov. 26 through Dec. 18. Hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays.

Cost: Admission is $15 per person. Children 12 years of age and younger get in for free.

More info: yuletidevillage.com

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