The Oakenmist Renaissance Faire sprouted onto the scene as the 2023 Maryland Mini RenFaire, an event planned in Eldersburg, Maryland by a tight-knit group of historical edutainers & faire-going enthusiasts with a dream. That dream was to create a fantastical, period-style event that would shine a spotlight on smaller businesses and local organizations — groups that you might not typically see at the bigger renaissance festivals across the Eastern seaboard.

After that first successful event, the Oakenmist Faire found a new home at the Howard County Fairgrounds in West Friendship, Maryland for summer 2024.  With a bigger venue and protection against the elements, we expanded our footprint and doubled our attendees.  This year, we return bigger than ever on August 16-17, 2025 for our 3rd amazing year!

With the help of local communities – including the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), Amtgard, & Darkon,  Oakenmist has grown its roots to accommodate over 70+ local vendors including a variety of artists & artisans, musical performers, interactive acts, educational experiences, and even live demonstrations. Not only do we bring fun & entertainment for the whole family, but we also keep that momentum going by getting our audiences into the live-action roleplay (LARP) scene! With impressive live combat demonstrations and opportunities to step up and participate, the Oakenmist Renaissance Faire has become one of the largest recruiting events for these LARP groups!