Hoggetowne Medieval Faire In Gainesville, Florida
With fun and festive activities for everyone, the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in Gainesville, Florida should be on your list of yearly things to do in Florida!
**A big thank you to Visit Gainesville! Although we were their guests at the fair, as always, all opinions are our own.**
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire has been a popular attraction in Alachua County for over 30 years. For a few weekends in the beginning of each year, you’ll find a magical land filled with the sounds of swords clanging together, the smells of turkey legs cooking, and the sights of colorfully dressed artisans. It’s one of the events that makes Gainesville one of the best cities to visit in Florida.
2023 Dates
January 14 to 15 from 10 AM to 5 PM, January 21 to 22 from 10 AM to 5 PM, January 27 from 9 AM to 4 PM (Family Friday), and January 28 to 29 from 10 AM to 5 PM.
We hadn’t been to a medieval fair in years and to be able to go to one in Gainesville, one of our favorite cities in Florida, was fantastic! The atmosphere was so fun, and everywhere we looked we saw both children and adults smiling from ear to ear.
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Location
The medieval fair had previously been held at the Alachua County Fairgrounds. However, they’ve relocated to 9409 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL (about 4 miles west of I-75). There are event parking signs as well as an officer directing traffic into the parking lot. There is no fee for parking. Additionally, round-trip shuttles are provided from the parking lot to the ticket gate.
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Entertainment
Aside from the fun costumes you’ll see, there are also plenty of attractions, games, and activities to entertain the crowds. One of the most popular attractions is the joust, but there are also scheduled events on various stages performed by magicians, acrobats, dancers, and more. There is also a Royal Procession twice a day, where the king and queen lead over 100 actors, musicians and performers through the grounds of Hoggetowne.
Artisans And Vendors
Visitors to the medieval fair in Gainesville will also have a chance to learn about different crafts, clothing, and jewelry and how they are made. In the front portion of the grounds are many vendors, selling all kinds of things (we were partial to the swords), but what we enjoyed most was towards the back of the fairgrounds.
At the craft village, visitors will find artisans blacksmithing, creating stone and wood carvings, weaving, and hand-blowing glassware. We thought it was so interesting to see these things being done right in front of us. It was as if we’d gone back in time!
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Food
Of course, we can’t forget about the food! There is something for everyone at the food court. Everything from giant turkey legs to roasted almonds. And if you’re looking for beer, don’t forget to stop at Ye Olde Ale House!
Additional Information
To make sure you have as much fun as possible at Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, here is a bit of additional information you may find useful:
- Tickets can be purchased at the gate or in advance online. For ticket prices, click here.
- Credit cards can be used to buy tickets and some vendors may accept them, but we suggest bringing cash for most purchases (including food).
- Pets are not permitted with the exception of service animals.
- For the most part, the fairgrounds are handicap accessible. ADA parking is located near the entrance gate.
- Be conscious of the weather; the fair takes place rain or shine.
- If you’re still hungry after the fair, check out some of the awesome restaurants in Gainesville.
- If you’re thirsty after the fair, visit one of the best breweries in Florida!
Final Thoughts On Hoggetowne Medieval Faire
This Gainesville attraction is definitely something to look forward and one of the top things to do in Gainesville. We loved that it’s something that everyone can enjoy. We saw families, couples, and groups of friends there. The vibe at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire is so festive and cheerful, you really can’t help but get caught up in the spirit of it all.
Have you been to the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire? We’d love to read your comments below! 🙂
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Wow, I’ve never been to that huge Medieval Faire, what a great experience! I’m planning to visit it on the 26th January next year for sure.
I know you’ll have a great time Carl! 🙂
The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire looks so colourful and vibrant. It is always fascinating to experience these kinds of events. It gives a glimpse into the culture, heritage, arts and crafts of the region. I can see that one can indulge in some great food too in the faire. A nice place to enjoy a different experience with the family or alone.
Yes, I’m a big history nerd. That’s why the crafts area really intrigued me because getting to see history come to life is so cool!
So fun but where was your costume, you wench?! I used to visit Renaissance Faires in Northern California but haven’t been to anything like it for too long. So fun.
Hahahaha!! I definitely didn’t dress for the occasion!
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire looks like so much fun! I do love how they hold it over a couple of weekends. The costumes would be a photographers dream! It’s so great to see so many people making an effort to get into the swing of the festival.
I haven’t been to Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, but it is certainly on my to-do list now. Got to get me some of that chain mail.
Wow a good medieval atmosphere there. Seems so much fun getting the first hand experience. I would love to witness those craft making processes. I wonder how different would medieval food taste.
When we escape Toronto weather, Florida is a common spot for us to visit. Now we have a new place to visit and a specific time of year to do it. I love festivals like this where people are all dressed in costume. It is always interesting to watch craftsmen doing things in the traditional way. That turkey leg you at looks huge! But tasty. Thanks for sharing this!
OMG, I never thought such medieval thing could still exists with so much fun, color and festivity. Such local things make the travel more special. Hoggetowne Medieval Faire of Alachua County is really a great place to spend a day and relive old days watching those swords, chain shirts, tapestries etc. It seems, those Gypsy dancers are inspired from Arabian Nights. Ha ha, you look awesome with that sword.
This sounds like so much fun! Would love to see the costumes, eat turkey legs, shop the vendors, play games and watch the Royal Procession for sure
I miss the medieval faire. I miss getting away from college and just having a fun for the weekend. This brings back a lot of memory.
I’ve never been to a Medieval Faire like that before. I would totally wanna dress up and join the craze. How do people join these things? Also, I’d totally wanna stock up on handcrafted jewellery and totally understand you being partial to the swords. So cool!
Wow, this fair seems a little fun! I love costumes and games!
What a fun fiesta this is. Food and Games and just some cultural fun. The gypsy dancers do look interesting. And the games – well – they look like they can just empty your pockets. I can see that you had a blast here. The atmosphere is such that anyone would 😀
Such a great post <3 Hope that one day I could have a chance to visit Florida. I love this state because of its famous beaches and delicious street food. I also have some US friends in here, they are very nice and friendly. I`m sure that my experience there will be one of the most memorable moments in my life. Thank you