Renaissance fairs, which are popular in the United States with over 200 events annually, are now taking place in the UK. The UK Renaissance Faire scene is currently in its early stages, according to Calypso Ellison, who co-founded Renaissance Faire UK with Jamie Joberns-Dash in 2025.
This year, their three-day outdoor festival in Birchington-on-Sea, subtitled ‘Crossing of the World II’, attracted approximately 14,000 attendees. The event featured a programme that included jousts, goblin raves, masked balls, maypole dancing, and wizard wrestling.
Renaissance festivals are immersive, full-costumed events inspired by 16th-century England, though the aesthetic often incorporates elements of fantasy. A medievalist, Paul Sturtevant, describes the ren faire aesthetic as a "mishmash" and "sexed up," noting its rise coincides with a broader revival in medieval chic.