DADE CITY, Fla. — If anticipation is your favorite part of attending the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival, you're in luck—its new location at Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City is some 35 miles and 45 minutes northwest of its old digs at the Museum of Science and Industry off Fowler Avenue in Tampa's Temple Terrace neighborhood.
What You Need To Know
- The Bay Area Renaissance Festival opened last weekend
- The festival's new location for 2021 is in Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City
- Attractions, events and themed weekends continue through May 23
After its 2020 run was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, the festival kicked off last weekend with a distinctly not-ready-for-prime-time feel; some vendor stations and stages seemed to still be under construction, and threats of incoming thunderstorms may have kept Sunday's crowd on the smallish side. Still, that inimitable ren faire vibe was in full effect, with fans dressing up for the occasion and enjoying shows like Johnny Phoenix's Danger Comedy, Knight Wings Birds or Prey and the traditional jousting sessions.
Check out our photos of the opening-weekend proceedings. The Bay Area Renaissance Festival runs every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. through May 23.
