Frequently Asked Questions

First time at the Faire? Your first Faire covers what to wear and bring, where to park, and how to skip the line.

The basics

What is a Renaissance faire?

A Renaissance faire is an outdoor festival that steps back into an older world: armoured combat, riders and swordplay, musicians and storytellers, a village of artisans selling handmade goods, and food cooked over fire. Many guests come in costume; many come as themselves. The Shediac Renaissance Faire lets any century in, so knights, pirates, and travellers from stranger places all belong.

Where can I stay?

Shediac fills up on Faire weekend, so book early. Le Griffon B&B is on Main Street, the Parlee Beach Provincial Park campground is beside the Friday site, and more campgrounds and hotels are a short drive away. For a meal in town, there’s Bistro Le Moque-Tortue, and by day Adorable Chocolat across the street.

Tickets

What tickets are available?

These are super early bird prices. They cover the first 1,000 tickets at each festival, on sale from Thursday 29 October at 10 am Atlantic. The next price is announced once they’re gone.

Children under 5 get in free. Booking fees are added at checkout.

Every ticket includes Friday evening’s Gathering of the Realms at Parlee Beach.

What’s the 3-Festival Passport?

The 3-Festival Passport covers all three Shediac Wonderland festivals: the Shediac Mascarade (28 to 30 May 2027), the Shediac Renaissance Faire (20 to 22 August 2027), and Afterland (1 to 3 October 2027). It’s sold on the Renaissance Faire’s ticket page and good at all three festivals.

Are tickets sold at the gate?

No. Tickets are available online only and must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

Can I transfer my ticket to someone else?

Tickets are non-transferable. The Shediac Renaissance Faire does not process name changes, ticket swaps, or transfers. Guests who give their ticket to another person do so at their own risk.

Can I buy tickets from a reseller?

Tickets are sold in one place only: shediacrenaissancefaire.ca/tickets. We don’t sell by message, we don’t run resale groups, and nobody else has early tickets. Only tickets issued by Ticket Tailor are valid at the gate; anything bought elsewhere is bought at your own risk. Last summer, impostors used our own photos and logo. If a page offers tickets, report it to us and to the platform.

How will I receive my tickets?

By email, right after purchase, with a PDF attached. Check the spam folder. If nothing has arrived within an hour, write to renfaire@shediacwonderland.ca with the name and email used for the order. Each ticket has its own QR code and scans once, from a phone screen or on paper.

What is the refund policy?

Tickets are non-refundable. If the entire festival is cancelled before opening day, ticket prices will be refunded. No refunds will be issued for weather-related pauses, partial closures, or cancellation of individual activities.

Getting There and Getting In

Where is the festival?

Friday, August 20: Gathering of the Realms at Parlee Beach. This is included with any ticket. Parking at Parlee Beach is at the provincial park; parking fees are set by the province and are not included in your ticket.

Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 August: Neptune Drive-In grounds, 693 Route 133, Pointe-du-Chêne, Shediac, New Brunswick.

What are the hours?

Friday 20 August, 5 pm to midnight, at Parlee Beach: the Gathering of the Realms, included with any ticket. Saturday 21 August, 11 am to midnight, and Sunday 22 August, 11 am to 7 pm, at the Neptune grounds. On Saturday and Sunday, admissions open two hours before the gates.

Where do I park?

Follow the posted signs and parking map on our website. The parking area is a short walk from the entrance. Accessible parking is available closer to the gate.

How do I avoid long waits at the gate?

Be wearing your bracelet before the gates open. Three ways: Friday evening at the Gathering of the Realms (185 and 221 Parlee Beach Road); Saturday breakfast at the WitZuit canteen (221-B Parlee Beach Road), 7:30 to 11 am, and since the provincial park charges for entry from 9 am, arriving before 9 means free parking; or the gate itself from 9 am, two hours before the grounds open. On Saturday, the express lane takes anyone already wearing a bracelet straight in.

What is the bracelet?

Your bracelet is your proof of entry. You receive it when you arrive at the festival, and you wear it for the duration of your visit. Do not remove your bracelet; it will not be replaced. It’s also your re-entry: leave and come back as often as you like, as long as it’s on.

Food and Drink

How does food work at the festival?

Food and drink at the counters are paid with festival food tickets only, so the lines move. They’re sold at every bracelet pickup point and at the ticket booth on the grounds, by cash or card. They’re good all three days, Friday at the beach included, and they aren’t refundable.

What is there to eat?

Hot meals, wood-fired dishes, and sweet things prepared by Shediac Wonderland’s five kitchens. Additional food vendors may be announced closer to the event.

Is alcohol available?

The entire Neptune Drive-In grounds are covered under the festival’s liquor licence. Alcoholic beverages are available to guests aged 19 and over wearing a 19+ bracelet. The Shediac Renaissance Faire reserves the right to refuse service to any guest.

What payment methods are accepted?

Food and drink counters take festival food tickets only. Merchants in the village take cash and card, including tap. There’s no ATM on the grounds; the nearest is at the Gulf station across the road.

What to Wear and Bring

Do I need to wear a costume?

Costumes are not required but strongly encouraged. If you dress up, you will fit right in.

Can I bring a prop weapon?

Prop weapons made of foam, wood, or plastic are welcome and will be peace-tied by our guild at the entrance. No working or replica firearms, no steel blades, and nothing that shoots, however decorative. All props must be inspected before entry. Any prop used in a dangerous or threatening manner will be confiscated and the guest may be removed without refund.

What about masks?

Full-face masks are permitted but must be removed when requested by our guild, security, or emergency services.

What if the weather is bad?

The Shediac Renaissance Faire is a rain-or-shine event. If extreme weather occurs, certain activities may be paused or cancelled for the safety of guests and performers. Pauses and closures are not refunded.

What should I bring?

Sunscreen, comfortable shoes (the ground is grass and can be uneven), an empty reusable water bottle (free refill at the water station), and your ticket on your phone. Leave coolers, outside food and beverages, and pets at home.

What about bags?

Every bag is checked at the entrance. A backpack or day bag is fine; suitcases, coolers, and anything larger than a backpack aren’t, and nothing can be stored at the gate, so leave them in the car. Less to check means a faster line for everyone.

Families

Is the Faire good for children?

Yes. Children of all ages are welcome when accompanied by an adult. A few workshops and activities are for adults only and are marked 19+ in the program.

Are strollers and wagons allowed?

Strollers and wagons are welcome on the grounds. Please be aware that the terrain is grass and can be uneven.

Are pets allowed?

Service animals are welcome with proper documentation. Emotional support animals and pets are not permitted on the festival grounds.

Accessibility

What are the ground conditions?

The Neptune Drive-In grounds are mostly grass with some uneven terrain and small hills. The ground may be soft or wet. Paved surfaces are limited.

Can I bring a wheelchair or mobility scooter?

Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome. Please be aware that the ground is uneven with small inclines that may be difficult for manual wheelchairs. Electric scooters or power-assist chairs are recommended.

Are there accessible washrooms?

Porta-potties are available on-site, including accessible units on firm ground.

Is there accessible parking?

Accessible parking is available closer to the festival entrance. Please follow posted signs.

I have an accessibility need not listed here.

Please contact us at renfaire at shediacwonderland.ca and let us know what assistance you need. We will do everything we can within our means to accommodate your needs.

At the Faire, the accessibility table sits under the blue tent at the entrance. A request form goes up on this site two months before the festival. On Friday, the Parlee Beach spaces are step-free on firm ground, with wheelchair access onto the beach bar decks but not onto the sand.

The Program

What language is the festival in?

We are actively working to offer more bilingual programming. Currently, most performances and programming are in English, with some bilingual and French content. Our guild can assist in French.

Is each day the same?

No. Friday evening is at the beach, included with any ticket. Saturday and Sunday are two different days on the grounds: some shows run both days, others one day only.

When will the schedule be published?

A tentative schedule will be posted on our website and social media in the weeks leading up to the festival.

Merchants, Performers, and Volunteers

2027 applications: festivals.shediacwonderland.ca, one form for all three festivals.

We welcome artisans, performers, and musicians who fit the spirit of the Shediac Renaissance Faire. If you have a product, performance, or skill that suits the theme, we would love to hear from you.

Volunteers are essential to bringing the Faire to life. Costume is encouraged but not required. Apply at the same link and we will be in touch.

Contact

For questions about the Shediac Renaissance Faire, reach us at renfaire at shediacwonderland.ca.

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