WAYNESVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio Renaissance Festival typically hosts thousands of people each year, but due to the pandemic, this year the grounds were mostly closed.

What You Need To Know

  • The Ohio Renaissance Festival is debuting a new Christmas and Elizabethan-themed attraction called the Yuletide Village, Season of Lights

  • There are thousands of Christmas lights on display

  • Tickets cost $7 online

  • Masks are required, and social distancing is strongly encouraged

But the team has come up with a new idea to try to bring some magic back to 2020 by debuting Yuletide Village, Season of Lights.

It’s an Elizabethan-themed holiday celebration featuring sparkling Christmas lights all through the land. 
 
It hosts more than 30 vendors and different eateries to try. Kids can visit with a woodland Santa Claus, and even Krampus. Marketing Director Cheryl Bucholtz said it’s a one of a kind experience. 

“This is a great place to come out and experience some holiday magic,” Bucholtz said. “Without being able to operate the Ohio Renaissance Festival in its full version this year. This is a way of giving people an experience they’ve never had before.” 

Part of the unique experience is getting the chance to meet various characters. And the performers get just as much joy from the experience as the guests, or should I say loyal subjects.
 
“I love being able to bring holiday magic and fair magic to the people that have come to find this is their home away from home,” Connie Pfeiffer said. 
  
Pfeiffer portrays Queen Elizabeth and has performed the role for nearly a decade. But with the pandemic causing a headache for operations she wasn’t able to perform her usual royal duties. Now, she’s just happy to be back in her role making the holidays special for guests.

“It’s so good to come back and be able to be Queen and make people feel like they are the most special people in the world — because they are,” Connie said. 
 
Connie’s husband, John, portrays the Earl of the Shire. He said it’s an exciting time to try something new this season.
 
“We just hope that all the villagers and people from around the shire who come to visit her majesty who has never come to the village before in the winter time,” John said. “So, it’s a very special occasion, our first visit ever and we are hoping to put on quite the party for her, and we need your participation.” 

Bucholtz said masks will be required to visit, but it’s a wide-open space that’s perfect for social distancing. 
 
They encourage tickets be purchased online at renfestival.com to easily limit capacity and tickets are $7 for ages 5 and over. And while this year has been been a drag for the arts and entertainment industry as well as fairgoers across the state, Queen Elizabeth lends her best words of encouragement. 

 “We know that more magic is going to come,” she said. “We’re all trying to keep everyone safe. I will do my best to bring my magic and my majesty to you.” 

The Yuletide village will operate on Fridays and Saturdays, ending the week before Christmas.