The Louisiana Renaissance Festival opens on weekends starting November 7 and wrapping up December 13, 2026, at 46468 River Road in Hammond, and Fireside RV Resort sits roughly 10 minutes up the road in Ponchatoula. Gates open at 8:45 AM and close at 5:00 PM, rain or shine. If you’re planning a fall trip built around the faire, staying close means you skip the long parking lines and roll home to a quiet campfire every night.
TL;DR
- What: the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, a 16th-century English village called Albright, on 16 wooded acres in Hammond, Louisiana.
- When: weekends, November 7 to December 13, 2026, 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine.
- Festival admission: date-specific, sold online in advance. Adults 13 and up are about $31 plus tax, kids 6 to 12 about $16 plus tax, and children age 5 and under get into the faire free.
- Where to stay: Fireside RV Resort, roughly 10 minutes away, with full-hookup RV sites and cozy cabins.
When is the Louisiana Renaissance Festival in 2026?
The 2026 season runs six themed weekends: November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29, then December 5, 6, 12, and 13. Hours are 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM every festival day, and it happens rain or shine. Each weekend carries its own theme, so no two visits feel the same. The festival has brought this world to life for more than 25 years now, since it first opened back in 2000.
Here’s the full 2026 weekend-theme lineup straight from the festival’s schedule:
Where should you stay near the Louisiana Renaissance Festival?
Fireside RV Resort, right up the road in Ponchatoula, is roughly 10 minutes from the festival grounds, which makes it one of the easiest home bases for the faire. The festival’s own lodging page actually names Fireside among its recommended Robert-area RV resorts and suggests catching a rideshare from your site so you can skip the parking lines entirely. That’s a nice perk after a full day in costume. We’ve got furnished cabins that sleep six plus full-hookup sites for your rig, so it works whether you’re towing in or you just want a warm bed and a roof.
The best part about Fireside is what’s missing from your bill. No resort fee tacked on at checkout. No site-lock fee just to pick the spot you want. No surprise reservation service fee either. What’s quoted is what you actually pay. The sites are roomy and shaded, the WiFi is free, and the grounds stay clean and quiet, which is exactly what you want after a loud, busy day at the joust. Prices move with the season, so peek at the current rates page before you book.
How close is Fireside to the festival grounds?
You’re looking at about a 10-minute hop between the resort and the festival’s Hammond grounds at 46468 River Road. That short distance is the whole point of staying nearby: you’re not fighting an hour of traffic each way, and you can duck back to your cabin or RV to warm up, grab a jacket, or let the dog out mid-day. Since the faire lands on fall and early-winter weekends, being close also means you can get an early start without a long, groggy commute.
What can you see and do at the festival?
The Louisiana Renaissance Festival recreates Albright, a 16th-century English village spread across 16 wooded acres, with more than 600 artisans, entertainers, and educational demonstrations, according to The Advocate. One of the biggest draws is the full-armor jousting, where riders in real, heavy steel armor compete in unscripted matches, as WGNO has reported. Beyond the list, you’ll find live entertainment on multiple stages, artisan crafts and demonstrations, and plenty of festival food, including the turkey legs that are practically required eating.
The festival’s owner, Alvon Brumfield, told the Bogalusa Daily News in 2025 that the event has “brought history, creativity, and community together.” That community feel is a big part of why it draws visitors from across the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas year after year.
What do tickets and parking cost?
Festival admission is date-specific and sold online in advance, so you’ll pick your exact festival day when you buy. Adults 13 and up run about $31 plus tax, children 6 to 12 about $16 plus tax, and kids age 5 and under get in free. There’s on-site parking, and signs direct you in when you arrive. If you’d rather skip the lot altogether, a rideshare from where you’re staying is a smart move, just like the festival suggests. The festival also offers a weekend camping pass and a “Friends of Faire” season pass for regulars.
A few tips before you go
Bring cash for the artisan booths and food, wear comfortable shoes for a full day on wooded paths, and remember the event runs rain or shine, so pack a layer and a light rain jacket for those cooler fall and early-winter mornings. Pets aren’t allowed on the grounds, and service animals are kept away from the birds of prey for everyone’s safety, so it’s easiest to leave your dog back at your pet-friendly RV site. Outside food, drinks, and coolers aren’t allowed inside, so plan to eat at the faire. If your festival day gets cancelled for weather, check the festival’s official ticket policy for your options.
Since the festival falls in November and December, the evenings back at camp are all about fire rings, cozy cabins, and quiet, spacious sites, not the pool. There’s something pretty great about trading your costume for a hoodie and settling in by the fire after a day of jousting and turkey legs.
Frequently asked questions
It’s open on weekends across November and December, specifically November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and December 5, 6, 12, and 13. Hours are 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM each day, rain or shine.
It’s at 46468 River Road in Hammond, Louisiana, on 16 wooded acres set up as a 16th-century English village called Albright.
Festival admission for adults 13 and up is about $31 plus tax, children 6 to 12 about $16 plus tax, and children age 5 and under get in free. Tickets are date-specific and sold online in advance.
You’ll find full-armor unscripted jousting, more than 600 artisans and entertainers, live shows on multiple stages, artisan crafts and demonstrations, and festival food like turkey legs, all themed by weekend.
Fireside RV Resort in Ponchatoula is roughly 10 minutes from the grounds, with furnished cabins and full-hookup sites for your rig. The festival’s own lodging page lists it among its recommended Robert-area RV resorts.
Around 10 minutes away. That closeness lets you get to the faire early without a long commute and head back to a warm cabin or RV whenever you need a break.
Ready to plan your faire weekend? Fireside sits roughly 10 minutes from the Louisiana Renaissance Festival grounds in Hammond, with cozy cabins and full-hookup sites waiting. Check dates and book your stay at book.firesidervresort.com.
