The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, a Southern California tradition since 1963, opens its 2025 season this Saturday, April 5, at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale, just 15 minutes east of Pasadena. Running every weekend through May 18, the event transforms 20 acres into a bustling Elizabethan village, complete with jousting tournaments, period performances, and artisanal crafts. Organizers expect around 20,000 visitors each weekend, based on historical attendance figures exceeding 5 million over the decades.
This year’s faire begins with its traditional opening weekend, welcoming guests from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, located at 15501 E. Arrow Highway, provides a scenic backdrop at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Visitors can anticipate a range of activities, including three daily jousting matches featuring armored knights, tea with the queen, and over 13 stages of entertainment. More than 1,000 costumed performers will populate the grounds, alongside 200 craft vendors and 30 food stalls offering everything from turkey legs to vegan options.
Tickets are available online through the official website renfair.com/socal or at the box office. Adult single-day passes cost $44, while children ages 5-12 enter for $22; those 4 and under are free. Seniors (62+) and military personnel with valid ID receive a $5 discount at the gate, bringing their price to $39. Season passes, covering all seven weekends, are priced at $250. Parking, managed by the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, incurs a separate $12 fee per vehicle, payable in cash or card. VIP parking is available for $25, though spaces are limited and must be reserved online.
The faire’s history traces back to Phyllis and Ron Patterson, who launched it as a school project in Agoura Hills before it became a public event with KPFK radio support. Now owned by Renaissance Entertainment Productions, the event has called Irwindale home since 2005, following stints in Devore and other locations. Its portrayal of a 1580s English market town, Port Deptford, adheres to strict costume standards for official actors, reflecting the Elizabethan era under Queen Elizabeth I. Guests are encouraged, though not required, to dress in period attire or join themed weekends like the upcoming Pirate and Marketplace celebration on April 12-13.
Practical details matter for attendees. Service animals are permitted, but pets are not. The venue charges for parking, and food booths operate on a cash-only basis (inexplicably, it’s not a barter economy). With no camping available on-site, day trips are the norm. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit renfair.com/socal. The Renaissance Pleasure Faire remains a cultural draw in the Los Angeles region, blending history, theater, and community engagement each spring.
Correction: The Pattersons started their mini Renaissance Faire in their backyard in Laurel Canyon.
After a couple of years, KPFK delusionally decided they started the Renaissance Faire and sued for ownership. They lost, of course. And lost the % of revenue the Pattersons donated to KPFK in exchange for KPFK’s promotion. KPFK was represented by the bad lawyering of Jan Goodman and her husband, now deceased. Goodman is still around, still wreacking damage on poor KPFK.
The cash only requirement is an inconvenience. They should have an option for card tapping devices to smooth parking entry.