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Prepare Thyself for Merriment!

We are excited to announce our Entertainment lineup for 2024!

a woman holding a sign
a building with a sign and flags
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a baby girl sitting on a chair with a duck
a person with a beard and a microphone with a person in the back
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They're Back!

Rota Temporis

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New Show!

Boom Boom Shake

a woman dancing outside

New Show!

Cast in Bronze Carillon

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New Show!

Zoltan the Adequate!

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New Show!

Tuey!

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Special Guests

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The John Mohr Mackintosh Pipe and Drum Band

Who doesn't love a pipe and drum band? Especially on Highland Weekend! The John Mohr Macintosh Pipe and Drum Band will be in the lanes, parading and piping throughout the village of Newcastle.

April 27 & 28

Filter Attractions:

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New! Rota Temporis 

THEY ARE BACK! Rota Temporis is a five person, high-energy Celtic band from Italy. The focus on medieval music but with a decidedly heavy metal approach! The driving sound of their pipes and drums might just knock you off your bench! DON'T MISS the end-of-day Front Gate Jam!

Performing All Season!

King's Hall Stage

Shows at 12:15pm, 1:45pm, 3:30pm and their Front Gate Jam at 6:00pm

people sitting on a bench with a person holding a sword

Barely Balanced Acrobatic Daredevils

They're back, diving through fire, hurling machetes, and testing the limits of natural selection! Don't miss seeing your favorite acrobats endanger their lives in this hilarious, award winning show. The day starts with their "Sharp Knives and Stupid Humans Extravaganza" and ends with the incredible "Fire Finale." Come laugh, cheer, and become a part of the action!

Performing All Season!

Halfwit Harbor

Shows at 10:45am, 12:45pm, 2:45pm and their Fire Finale at 4:45pm

a man with bells

New! Cast in Bronze Carillon

4 tons of bronze bells fill the Festival with their majestic sound! You'll be enchanted by the melodies and energy produced by the 35 bells of the Carillon and Carillonneur Charlie St. Cyr-Paul.

Performing All Season!

Tavern on the Hill

Performances at 11:00am, 12:15pm, 1:30pm, and 4:00pm

two people in jousting clothing

DeBracey Joust Productions

You'll be on the edge of your seat as noble knights in shining armor battle and compete with lance, sword, and chariot! This epic show is filled with thrilling stunts, trick riding, and over twelve tons of equine fury!

Performing All Season!

Joust Arena

Tournaments at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 5:30 pm

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Pub Crawl Special Event

Join our Crew for a Pub Crawl!

Every Festival Day at 12:30pm, 1:15pm, 3:00pm, and again at 3:45pm, our resident cut-purses and scallywags host a rowdy and bawdy voyage to each of Newcastle's drinking establishments. You'll meet at the Brewer's Pub where you'll get a souvenir tankard to hold yer grog, enjoy some fine beer-drinking entertainment, make your way to the Drunk Monk Pub (and our secret stage just for you), and finally make port at the Tavern on the Hill. Along the way you'll be served a beer at each pub, be forced to listen to bad jokes, puns and/or riddles, hear some great music, and play a few bawdy drinking games while maintaining your sea legs! Huzzah!

This is an additional ticket and does not include admission into the Festival. Pub Crawls are rated R.
Tickets are just $40 available online - get yours when you plan your trip!
Only 30 spots available for each Pub Crawl, so don't wait!

Tavern on the Hill, Drunk Monk Pub & Brewer's Pub

Each Day at 12:30 pm, 1:15 pm, 3:00pm and 3:45 pm

a person holding a fire stick

New! Zoltan the Adequate

Brilliant? Amazing? No, just adequate! Come see feats of bizarre geek magic and stunts of sheer stupidity! Watch and cringe as Zoltan plays with fire, swallows a four-foot balloon, and more. Zoltan will fool you, delude you about how you were fooled, deceive you about that delusion, and then bamboozle you about the deception. Surely a curiosity to be reckoned with.

Performing from April 13 thru May 5 only!

Crown Stage

Shows at 11:30 am, 12:45 pm, 2:45 pm, and 5:00 pm

a person from a rope

New! Tuey

Tuey has been providing laughter and awe for over 40 years with his clean quality entertainment. He will have you laughing, gasping and applauding as you watch a display of skill that is awe inspiring and a perfect blend of family friendly comedy, jaw dropping skills, and danger.

Performing May 11 thru June 2

Crown Stage

Shows at 11:30 am, 12:45 pm, 2:45 pm, and 5:00 pm

two women wearing flower crowns

Washing Well Wenches

The Washing Well Wenches are the funniest pair of "ladies" you'll ever meet! Part vaudeville, part sketch comedy, full-on entertaining, the Washing Well Wenches make interactive theater fun for everyone! See their new show in their new location on the Garden Cottage Stage!

Performing All Season!

Garden Cottage Stage

11:30am, 1:00pm, 3:15pm and 5:00pm

a person holding a bird

Birds of Prey

In addition to a presenting a majestic Falconry exhibition, this complete bird show includes hawks, eagles, owls and vultures. You'll be astounded as these spectacular birds exhibit their free-flight skills directly over the heads of the audience! Presented by Earthquest™. See them in their new spot - Marrakech Mews Stage - wide open for excellent bird viewing!

The greatest free-flying bird show in America. - Jim Fowler, Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and NBC's The Today Show

Marrakech Mews Stage

Shows at 11:15 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm

a woman dancing outside

New! Boom Boom Shake

With middle eastern roots and a modern vibe, Boom Boom Shake blends rock, world, surf and jam genres together to create a signature sound. BBS will dazzle with world. Bring your dancing shoes, because you won't be able to resist the groove!

Performing All Season!

Fool's Knoll

Shows at 11:00am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm and 4:00pm

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Audience with Queen Amina of Zazzou

Meet Queen Amina, visiting African royalty!

Crown Stage

Audience begins at 12:00pm

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New! Judas & Magnolia

This husband and wife team will amaze and astound you with their fearless escapes and illusions!

Performing All Season!

King's Hall Stage

Shows at 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, and 4:30pm

a man wearing a hat

New! Charry Garcia - One Man Band

Charry Garcia is a magician when it comes to creating beautiful music on a various array of instruments - all by himself! You'll be amazed at the melodies he conjures forth!

Performing All Season!

Middleton Stage

All Day

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New! The Reelin' Rogues

From the hills and the seas come The Reelin' Rogues, a bardic band of rebels committed to upholding the monuments of the Celts through song.

Performing All Season!

Marrakech Mews Stage

Shows at 12:15 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm, and 5:00 pm

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Free Juggling School

Are you convinced you can never learn to juggle? Sir William Drops will prove you wrong! Sir Will is a master juggler and has been teaching juggling for over 30 years, and really enjoys a challenge. Learn to juggle and receive an official certificate to prove it. And it's free...!

Performing All Season!

Old Towne Area

Lessons every hour on the hour

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Friar Finnias Finnegan

A proud member of the Bawdy Bodacious Bothersome Brown Bohemian Brethren, this fun-loving Friar will delight you with songs of drinking and merriment!

Drunk Monk Pub, Tavern Stage

Drunk Monk Stage at 12:00pm, 1:30pm; Tavern on the Hill Stage at 5:15pm

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Iggy the Gargoyle

We're celebrating a Decade of Iggy! Join Festival fan-favorite Ignias Rockford III (Gargoyle From the Left on the Cathedral Wall) as his stone face brings a smile to yours.

Performing All Season!

In the lanes

All day

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Juggling Geoff

A unique interactive circus show that includes hat juggling, plate spinning, and other obscure gravity defying feats that will not only ask yourself how does he do that? but... why is he doing that? Come witness the Master of Mischief and Mayhem - Juggling Geoff!

Performing All Season!

Fool's Knoll Stage

Performing at 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm and 4:30pm

a person in a hat and dress sitting at a table

New! The Lady Victoria

The Lady Victoria specializes in Celtic and Early music on the Hammered Dulcimer. She mixes education and entertainment in a high energy show. Great for kids and music lovers of all ages.

Performing All Season!

Playing in the lanes, and on the Middleton Stage

Performing at 12:00pm, 2:45pm, and 4:30pm

a man and woman with dogs

New! The Puppies of Penzance

This brisk, energetic act takes audiences on a jolly trip on a pirate ship manned by pups. Always a favorite, audiences will be blown away by this merry band of mutts and will watch with baited breath to see if Poochie will really walk the plank!

Performing All Season!

Halfwit Harbor Stage

Shows at 11:45am, 1:45pm and 3:45pm

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The Barehead Bards

The Barehead Bards perform pub song staples along with classic fiddle tunes. These bards always have fun and put on an entertaining show.

Performing All Season!

Tavern on the Hill, Drunk Monk Pub & Brewer's Pub

Tavern on the Hill Stage 12:45pm; Brewer's Pub Stage 3:00pm; Drunk Monk Pub Stage 4:00pm

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Landloch'd!

From the highlands of Scotland, and the Moor-infested lands of Spain, these two men met upon the high seas and decided to share their love of Celtic and pirate music with the masses.

Performing All Season!

Photo credit: SoulCatching Photography

Brewer's Pub Stage and Drunk Monk Pub Stage

Brewer's Pub Stage 12:30pm, 5:00pm; Drunk Monk Stage 2:00pm, 3:30pm

a group of people posing for a photo

Learn to be a Pirate!

Be A Pirate with Captain Sillybeard!

Young lords and ladies can learn all the necessary skills to become a legendary pirate from one of the silliest pirate Captains to ever sail the seven seas!

Middleton Stage

Show at 3:30pm

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Mother and Father Goose

Stop by the Goose Gazebo and have a visit with Mother and Father Goose and their "children" - gentle, tame geese who love to snuggle on your lap for a photo!

On Display All Season!

Goose Gazebo

All Day!

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New! Old Soul Silk Road

These three world travelers stop by Newcastle to regale you with tunes from foreign lands, full of mystery, intrigue and fun!

Performing All Season!

Brewer's Pub

11:30am, 1:15pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm

a person wearing a red dress and a red headdress

Queen Amina and her Court

Aminatu the warrior Queen has traveled from her homeland of the Hausa tribe in western Africa to Newcastle to learn about new cultures and to share her own. Watch and listen as she challenges her nation's status quo of male dominance and female submission. As queen, she seeks to honor and represent her people; as a woman, she hopes to be an inspiration to women everywhere to find and harness their power.

Performing All Season!

Throughout the Village

All day

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New! Shenanigans!

Shenanigans are known for just that - mischievous music and melodies! A trio of wand'ring Irish bards, they will steal your heart and anything else they can get ahold of!

All Season!

Tavern on the Hill, Drunk Monk Pub & Brewer's Pub

Brewer's Pub Stage 11:00am; Drunk Monk Pub Stage 12:30pm; Tavern on the Hill Stage 2:00pm

a man and woman on a stage

New! The Shipwreckers

This duo of bawdy balladeers have washed ashore at the Georgia Renaissance Festival, and you know what that means: naughty tunes, drinking songs, and mayhaps even a heart-felt ballad or two!

Performing All Season!

Brewer's Pub and Drunk Monk Pub

Brewer's Pub Stage 12:00pm, 3:45pm, Pub Sing 5:30pm; Drunk Monk Pub Stage 2:30pm

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The Courtier's Academy

Join members of his Majesty's Royal Court as they instruct the young members of the Kingdom in proper court behavior and manners. Upon completion, each young noble receives a certificate from the King!

All Season!

Middleton Stage

Begins at 12:30pm

a woman talking to a boy

The Peachtree Handspinners Guild

Throughout the day, the spinners of Newcastle tell tales and spin yarns sharing the history of textiles. Watch the hand spinners create beautiful yarns out of colorful wool, straight out of the dye pot! Learn about traditional women's work and what it took to clothe the world. Located just inside the Front Gate.

Performing All Season!

Old Towne Area

Spinning all day!

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The Hounds of Fairhaven

The Hounds of East Fairhaven are a group of volunteers and sighthound owners who enjoy bringing Renaissance history to life. They educate patrons about the role our beloved sighthound breeds played in history. Currently, members of HoEF have Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Whippets, Borzoi, Afghan Hounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Ibizan hounds, Salukis, and Bloodhounds. They also love to share their hounds and promote sighthound adoption and responsible dog ownership.

In the lanes

On display all day!