Sarasota Medieval Fair Returns to Myakka City This November
- "Pub crawl is a blast. Highly recommend it!" -Lucinda M.
- "We did the VIP pass last year. Worth every penny." - Karen M.
The Sarasota Medieval Fair is once again sharpening its swords and raising its banners this fall. Now in its new home at Mallaranny Farms in Myakka City, the fair will run every weekend from November 1–30, 2025. Expect the fields near Lakewood Ranch to transform into a bustling medieval village, alive with knights, artisans, musicians, and families enjoying one of the region’s most immersive cultural experiences.
Featured Shows & Entertainment
The Medieval Fair has always been about larger-than-life performances, and this year is no different:
- Human Combat Chess – Battle of Halidon Hill: Watch Scottish and English forces clash piece by piece on a life-sized chessboard.
- Washing Well Wenches: Comedy, chaos, and a splash or two of water.
- New Riders of the Golden Age: Knights in armor thundering across the jousting field.
- Knightwings Birds of Prey: Hawks, falcons, and owls soaring overhead in dazzling falconry shows.
- Samkoma: Fire, martial arts, and music in a high-energy performance.
- Blue Skye Pipes & Drums: Celtic music closing the festival with stirring rhythms.
Special guest appearances this year include Ryn: Robin of the Sun (aerial silks, Nov. 29–30), the Celtic band Empty Hats (Nov. 22–23), and Lynx’s Sword Swallowing Show.
Families will find children’s knightings, costumed parades, interactive quests, and storytelling scattered across the fairgrounds, making it a destination that works for all ages.
Themed Weekends
Each weekend comes with its own flavor, encouraging visitors to dress up and play along:
- Nov 1–2: Viking Invasion
- Nov 8–9: Heroes & Villains
- Nov 15–16: Highlands Weekend
- Nov 22–23: Mystical Realms
St. Nicholas Celebration
The fair closes with its St. Nicholas Celebration, running the last two weekends (Nov. 22–23 and Nov. 29–30). Families can meet St. Nicholas, enjoy festive storytelling, and browse artisan holiday gifts. It’s a fun way to blend medieval merriment with the holiday season.
Why Go?
The Sarasota Medieval Fair is more than just a show. It’s an immersive experience where you can cheer for armored knights, shop handcrafted goods, sip mead under oak trees, and share laughs with strangers dressed as wizards, fairies, or warriors. It’s about community, creativity, and the joy of stepping into another world for a day.
Editor’s Takeaway
Nothing beats good old-fashioned turkey legs in hand and a group of strangers coming together — many of them cosplaying — to enjoy a renaissance fair. For me, the key is to go on one of the coolest days of the season, so you can really take in the whole experience without rushing.
Some of my favorite memories are watching the knights charge at full speed and the performers keeping crowds entertained between matches. With the fair now settled into its new home in Myakka, I expect some of the kinks from past years to be smoothed out. Families can look forward to a well-rounded festival that feels both familiar and fresh.
Let the games commence.
