
A Renaissance Festival on Castle Grounds

2026 Festival Information
Details will be updated as available Fall through Winter 2025
Interested Vendors for 2026
Wares, Activities, Food & Performers
Please follow the protocol below to apply for CF 2026:
1. Join Facebook Vendor Page.
2. Fill out app with photo attachments.
3. Wait to receive an approval/denial email.
4. Pay vendor fee upon approval.
Considerations for approval include but are not limited to authenticity of presentation (ie tent), uniqueness of offering and variety.
Products must be of a hand made nature. No wholesale items welcome.
CastleFaire Gallery Links
Download ~ Enjoy ~ Share
We love seeing your content on social and always love a tag!
@uhuburg #uhuburg #castlefaire

Tickets
Availability and options will be posted here no sooner than September. If the info is not on this page, then it is either undetermined or unavailable at this time (in other words, we won't be able to answer those questions via email right now either).
Weather & Cancellation Policy
Bring your cloaks, capes and coats! CastleFaire is a winter festival and primarily outdoor experience that will be held rain or shine. Please check the weather and plan ahead.
Tickets are non-refundable but transferrable.
Schedules
tbd
Food, Performers & Vendors
tbd









Parking, Shuttle & Walking*
*2025 version; updates pending
Parking
Parking is mostly in off-site lots with shuttle service provided.
Parking fees are not included with ticket purchase (typically up to $10).
Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Four parking options:
1. Uhuburg's on-site parking lot at 571 Ridge Rd, Helen, GA
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Red and white banner flags mark Uhuburg's entrance.
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Parking opens 45 minutes before festival opens each day.
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Ticket check-in will begin 30 minutes before festival opens each day.
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Updates will be put on Facebook posts and Instagram/Facebook Stories when lot is full.
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Please do not expect to park on-site after the lot is full.
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Accessible parking spaces are available until full.
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Check-in at the white tent at the Meadow Village entrance.
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Enjoy the Meadow Village performances and vendors, then take a shuttle to the upper level and enjoy the courtyard performers, vendors, and Uhuburg's castle grounds.
*** Off site parking will likely be in the same location as in 2024 and 2025. When details are confirmed with these partners, details will be posted here. ***
Accessibility
Some accessible parking spots will be available on site. Drop off for guests needing accessible, direct entrance at the castle entrance can be arranged (talk to staff in blue capes upon arrival). Please note we still need to arrange for check-in and must coordinate your drop off with shuttle passage. If you are doing a drop-off, we will do our best to park the driver on-site but can not guarantee there will be a spot available. More info here.
Shuttle
Shuttle service is included with ticket purchase and is provided between parking lots and castle grounds and up to the castle entrance.
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Everyone parked in off-site lots will be dropped off at the Meadow Village at the lower level of Uhuburg grounds.
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Shuttles will run continuously both to Uhuburg and within Uhuburg's grounds from the Meadow Village to the Castle Courtyard.
Walking
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PLEASE NOTE that ice and snow could be found on the banks of Ridge Road. Walking from town/Fun Factory is not recommended.
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Uhuburg is less than a mile walk uphill from Fun Factory and 1.2 miles from the center of downtown Helen. Sidewalks are available until Escowee Drive - always watch for passing cars and shuttle.
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Walkers can typically share the road with Uhuburg's shuttle from the Meadow Village up to the castle. Approximately a 15 minute uphill walk. Stay on the shoulder.
Accessibility
When you arrive, please inform the CastleFaire staff that you require accessible parking accommodations and they will assist you.
Options for parking and entering the castle grounds:
- Accessible parking spots in the lower level parking lot (shuttle service provided)
- Drop-off at the castle entrance coordinated with shuttle
- Two accessible parking spots at the castle entrance
Uhuburg grounds (and CastleFaire) are partially accessible. More stone and brick paths have been added since CF 2025! Most pathways and parts of the upper castle wall are wheelchair accessible, but the grounds are uneven. The Great Hall has an ADA compliant bathroom. The Lookout Tower is accessed only by stairs.
Weapons Policy
Firearms
Concealed and open carry firearms are PROHIBITED on the grounds, except as required by law with regards to law enforcement personnel with properly presented credentials. CastleFaire is hosted on private property.
Costume Weapons
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Only arms relevant to the period portrayed in costume are allowed. Such arms include but are not limited to swords, daggers, axes, bows and arrows, crossbows and replica firearms.
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All costume blades must be properly sheathed and peace tied with red twine, ribbon or zip ties at all times. Arrows must have tips removed (except padded LARP tips), tied together and tied inside the quiver.
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Crossbows must not be capable of launching any projectiles.
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Only period appropriate replica firearms allowed. Replica firearms must not be capable of launching projectiles and/or making loud or gunfire sounds.
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Foam weapons are okay to wield, but please no fighting (except in our foam sword fight ring!).
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All persons and weapons are subject to search and inspection. Any item found to be potentially harmful or unsafe will be removed and securely stored until departure.
Uhuburg, Eagle Owl Castle

Uhuburg is the Renaissance Eagle Owl Castle in Helen, GA. It is a philosophical, food producing, natural and celebratory place. Outside of CastleFaire, Uhuburg offers day visits with guided tours, unique guest chambers for overnight stay, photoshoots and special event bookings as a venue.
Read more about our mission, the mural project, history, and visit our Gallery
During CastleFaire, the 2 level castle walls, Lookout Tower, and Great Hall will be open for festival participants.
Address: 571 Ridge Rd, Helen, GA
#uhuburg
Frequently Asked Questions
2025 version, updates pending
Why is CastleFaire in January?
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The community businesses that partner with Uhuburg to provide off-site parking, buses and drivers for CastleFaire are not available at other times of the year.
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It's the time of year vendors and entertainers said they have availability.
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We are providing an opportunity for you to wear all that winter garb you have! Kidding aside, thanks for braving the cold with us. We love how many folks have expressed enthusiasm for bringing out the wool, furs and velvet and not sweating so much for once! If winter temps aren't for you, there are many warm weather ren fests to check out - we know winter CastleFaire might not be what everyone wants. Here's a cool list of them: The Renlist.
What parts of Uhuburg are open during CastleFaire?
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During CastleFaire, the upper castle wall promenade with vista towers, lower wall with philosophical murals, Lookout Tower, greenhouse, general grounds, Great Hall and Drawing Room are open for festival participants. The Great Hall will have tables chairs, Visions of the Oasis belly dancing performances all weekend and a fantasy musical performance by ContraForce on Saturday. The Drawing Room will be open with the rescue organization, Georgia Reptiles.
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Guided tours of Uhuburg are not offered during CastleFaire, Overnight guest chambers can be seen here, the Tropical Atrium is part of our Day Visit tours, and other spaces in Uhuburg's four buildings consist of various staff apartments, utility rooms such as the commercial kitchen, workshops and storage (these spaces are not open to the public).
Can I take pictures?
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Absolutely! Please check in before taking photos of others, as they may not want their photo taken or may be part of CastleFaire entertainment and accepting tips. If you put your photos on social media, we love to see them! We'll re-share if we're tagged and also use #uhuburg.
Is it appropriate to tips performers?
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Absolutely! Please tip performers. It is part of how they can continue making magical moments at events like this.
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Busking or solicitation of tips by non-official CastleFaire entertainment, vendors, staff, volutneers, etc is prohibited.
What happens if the weather isn't ideal?
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CastleFaire is not weather dependent and will happen rain, cold, or shine. The Great Hall is heated and will be set up primarily for seating this year. There are some outdoor heaters available to be set up around the grounds. Check the forecast and plan shoes, coats, layers, hand warmers, umbrellas, raincoats, boots, etc, accordingly. Some hand warmers will be available for purchase in the gift shop.
Will the snow be gone?
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Due to temperatures in the forecast, we expect most if not all of the snow and ice to be melted on roads and in the courtyard area/castle grounds. The Meadow Village does has some tree cover and may not be completely clear, but we anticipate it will be mostly melted.
How do I transfer my tickets?
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Tickets can be transferred to other guests and the original ticket holder must have the name changed on the reservation (Contact Us). We are doing our best to keep up with requests while complete festival preparations. As CastleFaire gets nearer, expect longer delays in receiving a response.
Can I bring my dog?
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Pets are not allowed on Uhuburg and CastleFaire grounds.
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Following the guidelines of ADA, service dogs are not pets and are expected to behave accordingly to the duties they are responsible for. Following the guidance of adata.org, "A service animal means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." "Emotional support animals, comfort animals, and therapy dogs are not service animals under Title II and Title III of the ADA."
We love your love of CastleFaire!
Special Thanks
Lacy Greer - Festival Coordinator
Terry Sims - Off site parking, additional bus drivers and buses
Pierre Maalouf - Off site parking