You’re standing in a dusty parking lot in Larkspur, the sun is beating down on your shoulders, and the line for the box office looks like a scene from a medieval siege. It’s long. It’s hot. And honestly, it’s completely avoidable if you just knew how the ticketing system actually works for the Colorado Renaissance Festival. Most people assume they can just roll up and grab a pass, but things have changed a lot over the last couple of seasons.
If you’re looking for Colorado Renaissance faire tickets, you’ve gotta be smarter than the average peasant.
The festival typically runs for eight weekends through June and July. It’s a massive 300-acre site nestled in the trees, but the logistics of getting through the gate have become a bit of a bottleneck. Since the pandemic, there’s been a massive surge in attendance. We’re talking record-breaking crowds. Because of that, the organizers have leaned heavily into a "buy before you fly" mentality that catches casual visitors off guard every single summer.
The Digital Shift and Why "Sold Out" is Real
In the old days, you could almost always find a way in. Not anymore.
Basically, the festival has a capacity limit. Once they hit that number, the gates close. It doesn't matter if you drove two hours from Fort Collins or three hours from Pueblo; if the lot is full and the tickets are gone, you’re out of luck. That’s why the biggest piece of advice I can give you is to buy your Colorado Renaissance faire tickets online well in advance.
Online tickets are usually date-specific. You can't just buy a "sometime in June" ticket and show up on the final weekend in July. You’ve gotta commit. This helps the staff manage the sheer volume of turkey-leg-eating enthusiasts, but it also means you lose some flexibility. If it rains? Well, you’re probably going to be watching the joust in a poncho. The festival goes on rain or shine, and refunds aren't exactly easy to come by.
Where to Actually Buy Your Passes
Don't just Google "cheap tickets" and click the first sponsored link. You’ll get scammed.
The official source is always the festival’s own website. They use a third-party ticketing platform, usually something like Eventbrite or a dedicated festival portal. But there’s a local secret that almost everyone forgets: King Soopers. For years, the grocery giant has been the primary retail partner for the Colorado Renaissance Festival.
You can usually walk into a King Soopers in the Denver metro area or along the Front Range and grab tickets at the customer service desk. Sometimes they’re a few bucks cheaper than the gate price. More importantly, they often have a small "convenience fee" that is lower than the online processing fees. It’s a bit old-school, but it works. Just make sure you check if the King Soopers stock is also date-specific for the current year, as they’ve been syncing their inventory closer to the digital system lately.
- Adult tickets: Usually range between $28 and $35 depending on when you buy.
- Child tickets (ages 5-12): Usually around half the price of an adult.
- Under 5: They’re free. Bring the toddlers; they won't remember the knights, but they’ll love the dirt.
Avoiding the Resale Scams
Look, people get desperate. When a Saturday sells out, the Facebook groups and Craigslist ads start popping up like mushrooms after a Colorado mountain rain. Be incredibly careful here.
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Scammers love Colorado Renaissance faire tickets because they are easy to fake as PDFs. You send $60 via Venmo, they email you a screenshot of a barcode, and you get to the gate only to find out that barcode has already been scanned three times or was never real to begin with. If you must buy from a third party, try to do it through a verified platform or with someone you actually know. Honestly? Just buy them early from the official site and avoid the headache.
The "Opening Weekend" Strategy
If you want the best bang for your buck, look at the first weekend of the season.
Historically, the festival offers a "Buy One Get One" or a significantly discounted rate for the opening Saturday and Sunday. They want to get the momentum going. The downside? It’s often the most chaotic weekend for the staff. The new cast members are still finding their legs, the food lines might be a bit slower, and the dust hasn't quite settled. But if you're on a budget, that's your window.
The themed weekends—like "Pirate Invasion" or "Celtic Festival"—are the busiest. If you're just there for the vibes and don't care about the specific theme, a random weekend in mid-June is usually your best bet for slightly smaller (though still large) crowds.
What Your Ticket Actually Covers (and What it Doesn't)
Your entry fee gets you through the gate and provides access to about 10 different stages of non-stop entertainment. You can watch the joust, the washing well wenches, the acrobats, and the musicians all day for free.
However, your Colorado Renaissance faire tickets do not cover:
- Food and Drink: This is where they get you. A turkey leg is going to run you $15-$20. A beer? Another $10-$12.
- Games: Throwing an axe or shooting a bow costs extra.
- The Artisans: There are hundreds of incredible shops selling handmade leather, swords, and corsets. You will be tempted.
- Parking: Usually, parking is free in the massive dirt lots, but getting out at the end of the day is a nightmare. Some people pay for "VIP" or closer parking if it's offered, but the standard lots are standard for a reason.
Logistics: Getting to Larkspur
The festival is located at 650 W. Perry Park Ave, Larkspur, CO 80118.
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If you’re coming from Denver, you’re heading south on I-25. If you’re coming from the Springs, you’re heading north. It sounds simple. It isn't. On a Saturday morning, the exit for Larkspur becomes a parking lot itself. I've seen the backup stretch for miles on the interstate.
If you have your tickets in hand, leave your house at least 90 minutes earlier than you think you need to. If the gates open at 10:00 AM, aim to be in the Larkspur area by 8:45 AM. You’ll sit in your car for a bit, but you’ll actually get into the faire when the cannon fires. If you show up at noon, you’ll spend two hours in traffic and another hour in the security line.
Group Rates and Military Discounts
If you’re rolling deep with a group of 15 or more, you can actually snag a group discount. You usually have to coordinate this through the festival office weeks in advance, but it can shave a significant amount off the total price.
Military discounts are also a staple. Usually, these are available at the gate or through specific MWR offices on bases like Fort Carson or Buckley. It’s a nice nod to the local service members, but again, make sure you verify if these "at the gate" options are still valid if the day is already sold out online.
The Nuance of Weather and Timing
Colorado weather is a fickle beast. June is often "monsoon season" for the foothills. You’ll have a beautiful 85-degree morning, followed by a violent thunderstorm at 2:00 PM, followed by more sun.
Because your Colorado Renaissance faire tickets are a "sunk cost" once you enter, don't leave just because it starts to pour. Most people bolt for the exits at the first drop of rain. If you stick it out under a tent or in one of the pubs, you’ll find that the lines for food and the best shows disappear once the sun comes back out 20 minutes later. The dust also settles nicely, which is a huge plus for your lungs.
Is it Worth the Price?
Honestly, yeah. Compared to a professional sporting event or a major concert at Red Rocks, $30 for an entire day of entertainment is a steal. You’re getting a full theatrical experience, a bit of history (loose history, let's be real), and some of the best people-watching in the United States.
The value is in the variety. You can spend the whole day watching high-level equestrian stunts at the jousting arena, or you can sit in the back of a quiet garden listening to a harpist. It’s what you make of it.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Check the Official Calendar: Go to the Colorado Renaissance Festival website and look at the themed weekends for the 2026 season. Decide if you want to be there for "Wizards and Wonder" or if you'd rather avoid the high-cost "closing weekend."
- Buy Early: Once you pick a date, buy your tickets immediately. Do not wait until the week of. Saturday tickets for July almost always sell out by the preceding Wednesday or Thursday.
- Hydrate Early: The elevation in Larkspur is over 6,600 feet. If you’re coming from out of state, the combination of sun, mead, and altitude will wreck you. Drink twice as much water as you think you need the day before you go.
- Cash is Still King: While many vendors now take cards, the internet in the Larkspur trees is notoriously spotty. Credit card machines go down constantly. Having a couple of $20 bills in your pocket will save you from standing in the brutal ATM lines inside the village.
- Comfort over Costume: If it's your first time, don't feel pressured to wear a full wool doublet. It’s hot. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The terrain is uneven, rocky, and dusty. Your feet will thank you more than your aesthetic will.
The Colorado Renaissance Festival is a local institution for a reason. It’s weird, it’s loud, and it’s a total escape from the modern world. Just get your tickets sorted before you hit the road, or you’ll be the one staring at a "Lot Full" sign while everyone else is eating giant turkey legs.