Ohio Renaissance Festival caps daily attendance, visitors must purchase tickets in advance

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new information provided by a Renaissance Festival spokesperson.

Ohio Renaissance Festival visitors will have to plan ahead this year due to new daily attendance limits.

Festival officials announced in a Monday social media post they are capping daily attendance and encouraging all attendees to purchase tickets in advance online.

Tickets will only be sold at the gate if the event is below capacity that day.

Renaissance Festival spokesperson Cheryl Bucholtz declined to give the attendance cap number, but said it is "significantly reduced from the busiest days of 2023." She said the decision to move to date-specific ticketing was reached by ownership to provide the best possible experience to visitors. Date-specific ticketing would reduce wait times for toilet facilities and food and drink areas, plus make it easier for visitors to browse artisan shops.

There are measures in place to close the parking lot in a sell-out situation, as well as keeping up with communications on social media, Bucholtz said. Season pass holders, any day adult ticket holders, unlimited admission ORFans passholders, and complimentary passes will be guaranteed admission. If the festival reaches a sell-out situation, pre-purchased ticketholders will be the only patrons allowed to enter and park.

The festival runs Aug. 31 to Oct. 27 this year. The fairgrounds are located at 10542 Ohio 73 in Harveysburg.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio Renaissance Festival caps attendance, tickets available online