Press Release 2026 Festival
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Central Coast Renaissance Festival Marks 40th Year with a Grand Celebration: Two Days of Entertainment, Feasting, and Merriment at Laguna Lake Park
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – June 5, 2026 – The Central Coast Renaissance Festival, a beloved tradition on California’s Central Coast, will celebrate its 40th annual event on July 18 and 19, 2026, at Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo. The festival invites guests of all ages to step back in time for a weekend of immersive historical entertainment, live performance, fine food, and unique shopping.
This year’s festival transports visitors to a 16th-century English village where Queen Elizabeth I herself has arrived on her summer progress. Guests can cheer on armored combatants in full-contact steel battles with Armored Combat Worldwide — some familiar from the History Channel series Knight Fight — with bouts held twice daily at 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Live music fills the grounds from beloved returning performers, including the Merry Wives of Windsor, Tea and Strumpets, the Story Wrens, the Minstrels of Misrule, and Wild Thyme Larks. A free-flying falconry demonstration, children’s Buccaneer Boot Camp, a daily costume contest, and a bustling marketplace of skilled craftspeople round out the weekend.
Food and drink are very much part of the experience, with vendors offering giant turkey legs, savory meat pies, fresh-baked sweets, ales, wines, meads, and ciders.
“This 40th anniversary is a milestone we’re incredibly proud of,” said festival organizer Rick Smith. “We’ve poured extra magic into this year’s event to thank our loyal patrons and welcome new ones. It’s a celebration of art, history, and community — and we can’t wait to raise a goblet with everyone in July.”
Sunday, July 19, is Pirate Day, featuring special pirate-themed activities, a treasure hunt for kids, and entertainment throughout the grounds.
Tickets are on sale now at www.ccrenfaire.com. Advance purchase is encouraged. Costumes are welcome but not required.
About the Central Coast Renaissance Festival: Now in its 40th year, the Central Coast Renaissance Festival is the Central Coast’s longest-running Renaissance faire, drawing thousands of visitors annually to Laguna Lake Park in San Luis Obispo. The festival celebrates the art, culture, and spirit of the Elizabethan Renaissance era with live entertainment, artisan merchants, period food and drink, and family-friendly activities for all ages.
Media Contact: Rick Smith, Media and Entertainment Coordinator, Central Coast Renaissance Festival info@ccrenfaire.com (805) 550-9177 www.ccrenfaire.com