Every weekend is a new adventure at the Georgia Renaissance Festival! Highland Weekend is a fun Scottish and Irish themed weekend that’s great for the whole clan. Find out what you need to know about attending the popular Highland Weekend at the Georgia Renaissance Festival.
Are you looking for a weekend of fantasy and adventure? Escape reality and immerse yourself in the bustling world of the Georgia Renaissance Festival!
With Highland Weekend, you can venture back in time to the Scottish Highlands and experience the culture and lifestyle of centuries ago.
During Highland Weekend, you can expect to see brave knights jousting in a thrilling tournament, listen to music performed by hardy bagpipers, and take part in some not-so-traditional Highland Games (like a mashed potato eating contest).
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About the Georgia Renaissance Festival
The Georgia Renaissance Festival takes place every year in Fairburn, Georgia in the castle village of Newcastle, a 32 acre park filled with over 150 artisan craft shops, shows of skill, taverns, and food stalls. For eight weekends each spring, the Renaissance Festival brings a 16th century English fair to the metro-Atlanta area.
The Georgia Renaissance Festival opens for its Spring 2023 season from April 15 — June 4, 2023. The festival is open every Saturday and Sunday during these weeks from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Highland Fling Weekend for 2023 will take place April 29 and 30.
See how you can join in on the fun during the popular Highland Weekend at the Georgia Renaissance Festival!
Highland Weekend
The Georgia Renaissance Festival hosts several themed weekends throughout the season, and Highland Weekend is a particular favorite of mine.
During Highland Weekend, the village of Newcastle welcomes the Scottish and the Irish (and everyone else) with bagpipes, drums, and kilted dancers. Wearing your own kilt or tartan is highly encouraged during this weekend (and of course Kevin wore his kilt we bought in Edinburgh).
If you don’t already own a kilt, you can visit the kilt shops in the marketplace to get fitted. That’s one of the best parts of the Renaissance Festival: if you need anything, even a super specific accessory, to complete your themed costume, you can buy it right here at the festival!
In addition to the usual Ren Fest fun of eating a giant turkey leg, watching a joust, playing medieval games, and shopping in the Artisan Marketplace, Highland Weekend brings with it special Scotland- and Ireland-inspired events. It’s time to bring out the Celt in you!
A Mashed Potato Eating Competition challenges you to see how many potatoes you can eat without using your hands; bagpipers and drummers perform and answer your questions in a Q & A session; the Bonnie Knees Contest see who has the best legs and knees displayed beneath their kilts; and the performers like the comedy act of Hey Nunny Nunny are well prepared with commando kilt jokes.
Highland Weekend at the Georgia Renaissance Festival is fun for the whole clan!
Looking for more Renaissance Festival fun? Read these:
- How to Have a Rollicking Good Time at the Georgia Renaissance Festival
- 8 Reasons to Love the Georgia Renaissance Festival
Where to Stay Near the Georgia Renaissance Festival
Find top hotels near the Georgia Renaissance Festival so you can rest up for a big day of fun#
- Closest Hotel: Best Western Plus
- Top Atlanta Hotel: The Candler Hotel
- Great Value: Wingate by Wyndham
Ready to visit Atlanta, Georgia? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Get Familiar With the City: Check out my Ultimate Guide to Atlanta to help plan your trip!
- Book Your Flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Atlanta using Booking.com.
- Save on Attractions: Save 44% on admission to Atlanta’s top attractions using the Atlanta CityPASS.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you experienced Highland Weekend at the Georgia Renaissance Festival? Let me know in the comments!