Great Plains Renaissance Festival
Hear ye, hear ye! Now’s the time to taketh an RV road trip to Wichita, Kansas, for two days of the Great Plains Renaissance Festival is about to begin!
Event information
The Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival is as the name suggests: great. It’s a family-friendly weekend event that welcomes young and old to enjoy festivities from days gone by. The festival is a spring event held annually in April in the beautiful city of Wichita, Kansas. It graces the Sedgwick County Park, by Sedgwick County Zoo and embraces the spirit of yesteryear.
Visitors will be astounded by the jousts, jests, knights, blacksmiths, fire breathers, fairies, bagpipes, and more. There’s face painting for the kids, entertainment for young and old, and plenty of stalls to peruse at your leisure. You can easily while away a full day at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival.
The beauty of this festival is that no two years are the same. Dress up in your Renaissance-era garments, then enjoy a whole new type of entertainment each time you visit. The kids will love returning each spring.
But when you’ve seen, experienced, and enjoyed everything on offer, why not check out what else is available in and around Wichita? Visit the local zoo nearby, or go walking at Swanson Park. There is even plenty of time to take a day trip to El Dorado to visit the beautiful state park.
It’s time to bring your armor and shields out of storage, dust off your RV, and head back in time.
Tickets
The Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival in Wichita is a fun and affordable day out for the family, but it can be even more affordable if you buy your tickets online. Child and adult tickets have been between $5 and $15 in the past, but significant savings can be made by being the early bird.
Explore Great Plains Renaissance Festival RV Rentals
Transportation
Driving
Wichita, Kansas, is a central city to the four states of Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. It’s within proximity to many natural attractions and is accessible by many interstates, such as I-35, I-125, and I-135.
The drive to this beautiful Kansas city should be a pleasant one, with spring foliage creating some attractive photo opportunities along the way. However, if you’re on a tight schedule to get to the Great Plains Renaissance Festival, then an app like Kansas City Scout can be of assistance and does reach southwest to Wichita.
With it, you can remain up to date with any congestion or delays. Upon arriving in Wichita, follow the sounds of Renaissance-era harps to the Sedgwick County Park near the MS Mitch Mitchell Floodway.
Parking areas
When you get to within the vicinity of Sedgwick County Park, set your RV in the direction of Park Drive, with parking signs leading the way to the parking area. Parking spaces are not marked, which means there is unlikely to be any size limitations. However, if you prefer to enjoy the Great Plains Renaissance Festival without the stress of finding somewhere to park, then consider public transportation for both days of the event.
Public Transportation
Wichita is home to some standout public transportation options, which means you may be able to arrive at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival with time to spare. Make use of rideshare services and taxis, which can also pick you up from your accommodation in Wichita and surrounding cities, such as Maize.
Where to stay
Onsite
Those traveling from outside of Wichita, such as Oklahoma City or Kansas City, might be on the lookout for onsite camping spots at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival. Even though the Sedgwick County Park is an expansive area spanning several acres, it’s not set up for campers of any kind. Start looking for somewhere to stay with an RV at the same time you buy your tickets online.
Nearby
There are a handful of RV campgrounds and resorts that welcome short-term campers within a 20-mile radius of the Great Plains Renaissance Festival. Book your campsite with time to spare to ensure you get your first pick.
If you enjoy luxury and service hookups, then the Wellington KOA Holiday within 40 miles is always a preferred option for RV travelers. If you’re more of a primitive RV camping kind of family, Eldorado State Park, within a 45-mile drive, also welcomes campers with open arms.
Getting around
Getting around the Great Plains Renaissance Festival will be easier than you think, but you’ll require sturdy footwear for the varying terrain. If you’re wearing an outfit to get into the theme of the event, then make sure it won’t have an impact on your comfort as you navigate the grounds. Any bicycles, scooters, or skateboards are best to be popped back in your RV for use after the event.
What to pack
Clothing
Shirts, doublet coats, colorful tights, high-waisted dresses, kilts, and puffy sleeves are all must-have items to get into the spirit of the Great Plains Renaissance Festival. While you can wear your everyday clothing, where’s the fun in that? Just make sure that whatever you do wear is warm and that you can put a raincoat over the top if needed. Temperatures can fluctuate and plummet during spring in Wichita, Kansas.
Gear
Being able to park your motorhome at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival during the day offers many conveniences. Instead of dragging all of your possessions with you through the festival grounds, you can leave everything in your RV – something officials also prefer.
Outside food and beverages are not allowed, due to the sheer number of fabulous options from which to choose at the festival. However, you are allowed to bring your dog with you, if you clean up after them and keep them on a leash. Remember your festival ticket, cash for purchases, and a raincoat in case of an unexpected downpour.
Health & Safety
Whether you’re only in Wichita to check out the festival, or you’re using your time to explore attractions in nearby cities like the El Dorado Lake near El Dorado and Towanda, your health and safety should be to the fore. Never travel without fresh drinking water, a first-aid kit, any prescription medication you might need, and sun safety supplies. Even in spring, the sunshine can take its toll.
The Great Plains Renaissance Festival is also a smoke-free area. You may smoke in the parking area and outside the main gate.
Where to eat
Cooking
Camping prep can involve not only making sure you’ve packed enough water and clothing, but food and cooking supplies as well. Are you prepared for primitive RV camping and resorts with service hookups in Wichita? Make sure you’ve got enough propane, pots, and pans, and ingredients to whip up your favorite stew or soup. You can also pick up supplies in Wichita within a three-mile drive of the Sedgwick County Park.
Restaurants
If a giant turkey leg at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival wasn’t enough to curb your hunger, then don’t be afraid to wander into the city center and find out what else is on offer. Even within a few short miles of the festival, time travelers will find everything from Mexican and buffets through to chicken, seafood, and American cuisine. Some of the best eateries in the city are within driving distance of the local zoo.
Vendors
You will want to bring plenty of cash to the Great Plains Renaissance Festival, for there are vendors galore. From the food pavilion with covered seating and divine food choices to the myriad of Renaissance-era vendors calling ‘hear ye, hear ye’ to capture your attention, the shopping experience is like no other. Browse through the artwork, costumes, toys, books, and more, and pick up something beautiful to remember your RV trip to Wichita.
Safety
Security
The Great Plains Renaissance Festival is a family-friendly event that welcomes all. Security may greet you at the gate to take your tickets, but they are also there to make sure you aren’t bringing in anything that could be distracting or dangerous.
If your costume requires the addition of a sword, please ensure it is peace-tied. Exposed blades and weaponry, be it real or replica, is prohibited. Remember to lock your RV at any time you leave it unaccompanied, and if you require assistance, the Wichita Police Department is within a four-mile drive of the festival.
Weather
Spring conditions in Wichita are not always the most reliable and can change in a heartbeat. The area experiences temperature fluctuations of between 40 and 70 degrees-Fahrenheit, as well as rain throughout the month. A weather app can help you keep up to date with what weather conditions to expect, but the festival is a rain or shine event.
Medical
Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival officials do all they can to keep everyone safe and secure, but medical assistance is on-hand for anyone who requires it. From stubbed toes to sprained ankles, you can approach an official to lead the way to someone who can help. You may also dial 911 in an emergency, or locate the nearest hospital and pharmacy within a short three-mile driving distance of the festival.
