Community & Events Downtown Arlington • Saturday, October 31

A brand new Halloween tradition lands in Downtown Arlington this October 31. Shakespeare LIVE! and Create Texas are bringing the inaugural Shakespeare LIVE! RenFest to Levitt Pavilion, and they are stacking the entire afternoon with artisan vendors, live sword fights, strolling musicians, turkey legs, and a Halloween night performance of Macbeth. The whole thing is free.

The festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, with the outdoor stage at Levitt Pavilion transforming into something between a Renaissance marketplace, a Halloween celebration, and a Día de los Muertos gathering all at once. That is not an accident. The organizers specifically designed this event to weave all three traditions together into a single, family-friendly afternoon that gives people a reason to show up in costume and stay all day.

What to Expect at the Festival

The artisan marketplace is the anchor of the afternoon. Local and regional makers will be selling original work across a wide range of categories: art, jewelry, ceramics, fiber arts, illustrations, sculpture, woodworking, and other handmade creations. If you are the kind of person who buys their holiday gifts at artist markets, this is worth your afternoon.

Wandering through the marketplace means running into strolling musicians and live sword fight demonstrations happening throughout the grounds. Interactive vendors will keep the atmosphere moving. Food vendors will be on-site as well, and yes, this has been confirmed: there will be turkey legs.

• Artisan Marketplace: Original art, jewelry, ceramics, fiber arts, illustrations, sculpture, woodworking, and handmade creations from local and regional makers.
• Live Entertainment: Strolling musicians and live sword fight demonstrations throughout the afternoon.
• Food Vendors: On-site food options across the event grounds, including turkey legs.
• Costumes Welcome: Come dressed as Renaissance royalty, knights, fairies, witches, Shakespearean characters, or anything else your imagination calls for.
• Día de los Muertos Elements: The festival intentionally blends Halloween and Día de los Muertos traditions alongside the Renaissance faire format.

The Night Ends with Macbeth

After the RenFest closes at 6 p.m., the stage does not go dark. At 7 p.m., Shakespeare LIVE! performs Macbeth at Levitt Pavilion. A Halloween night production of Macbeth outdoors under the stars in Downtown Arlington is about as good a capstone as a day like this can get. That performance is also free.

“A Renaissance faire, a Halloween celebration, and Macbeth under the stars. All in Downtown Arlington. All free.”

Arlington Network