If it’s your first time ever attending a Renaissance festival, you might be at a lost with all the preparations. What do you wear? What do I do there? These are all important questions to answer before you go. A really important question you need to answer before attending though is, what should I pack for a ren faire? There are a few key essentials you definitely don’t want to leave home without. As a veteran Renaissance faire attendee, I’m here to share with you my supply list I take to every faire.
Renaissance Faire Packing List
The following essentials can either be carried on your person at the faire or can be left in the car.
What to Carry at the Renaissance Faire
- Cellphone – You obviously will want to have your phone ready for personal use. You also will want it if you’re wanting to take pictures or videos while at the faire.
- Cash/Wallet – Most vendors are cash only, however there are quite a few booths these days that can take cards. Between paying for food, tipping performers and shopping for clothes and trinkets, you are going to want to have your wallet.
- Selfie stick – If you too are an influencer, you should definitely verify the faire you’re attending allows selfie sticks and pack it along. I always have mine with my at the Bristol faire in Wisconsin. I also specifically opted for one that can be used as a tripod.
- Potion bottles – While it doesn’t specifically have to be a potion bottle, something to carry water in is a must. Some faires don’t allow water bottlers but will allow empty potion bottles that you can then fill up inside. You’ll have to check ahead before you go. Make sure to have a special holder for your potion bottles to carry them.
- Fan – It can often be very hot when you’re walking around outside at a ren faire, especially if you’re in costume. Whether it is a battery operated one or a manual fan, either will help to keep you cool.
- Skirt hikes – If you plan on wearing a long skirt, you might want something to hold it up and get a little air flow. Having some skirt hikes handy as you walk the faire will help with that.
- Bag – You will want anything from a belt pouch, purse, fanny back or small backpack to carry everything and your purchases throughout the park. Otherwise stuff might get dropped or lost.
What to Pack in the Car for the Renaissance Faire
These items you might want to have but can be left behind in the car rather than carried on your person at all times.
- Change of clothes – When you get to the car after a full day of walking around dirt trails and sweating buckets, it’s nice to have a fresh change of comfortable clothes. Especially if you wore a costume to the faire.
- Back up costume – Sometimes a costume you brought doesn’t work out. Thus it can help to have a back up. I’ve had costumes that have ripped, or just proven to be too much for the heat and had to change in the car for something else.
- Back up shoes – Shoes can break or just hurt to wear for too long. Have comfortable back up shoes for driving or to switch out at the faire waiting in the car for you.
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