‘We will be back': Popular Carolina Renaissance Festival canceled due to virus

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the popular Carolina Renaissance Festival has canceled its upcoming season.

“For the health and safety of our participants, for our guests, and for everyone’s families and communities all will arrive from, we look to be part of the virus mitigation solution,” Festival Producer Matt Siegel said.

Organizers said they were hopeful that the circumstances would improve in time for the festival. With coronavirus cases and hospitalizations still rising across the state, they said it is clear the pandemic is far from over in the Carolinas.

“At the heart of the Renaissance Festival is a cornucopia of socially interactive experiences that is hard to compromise with the necessities of social distancing,” Siegel said.

The festival is one of the largest outdoor Renaissance themed events in the country and features music, comedy and circus arts as well as arts and crafts, markets, jousting knights, swimming mermaids and feasts.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had to actually cancel an entire season,” Siegel said. “For us to not operate a season this year it is going to be a significant impact on us. Our industry was the first to shut down and we’re going to be the last to open.”

Organizers said they intend to return to their location in Huntersville on Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 2 through Nov. 21, 2021.

“We will be back,” Siegel said. “The Festival village gates will open again. Our patrons and participants are counting on it.”

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