Texas Renaissance Fair Camping / The Fields of New Market Campground, Plantersville TX

Even though it was freezing when we camped it still was a lot of fun to be able to chill until late and wake up to go straight to the Festival. Very friendly atmosphere. We took our fire pit to keep warm, and our bbq pit. A unique experience.

History
1) Attending Renaissance Festival almost yearly for the last 30ish years
2) Began camping 4 years ago and now come to camp 1-3 times per year
3) We *always* have fun camping. Even when it was windy, cold and we returned to our tent to find it flipped over.

Pro Tip for oldies like us and families that want a good night's sleep and have easy setup/packup:
1) Bring earplugs if you plan on going to sleep before 2 AM.
On Saturday, After Dark (think night club) will be blasting music (which can be faintly heard from our usual camping spot) until 2 AM and the activity near the bonfire can go on nearly all night.
2) Location, Location, Location!
If you actually want to get a good night's sleep, have access to real toilets, showers, food, drinks, supplies, wood then I suggest camping towards the rear end of the campgrounds, far away from the festival entrance in the "family and staff" area that is just next to the main campground entrance. To get there, enter the campground after purchasing your camp pass and take the first right past the general store and find a spot to camp in over in the open field. If you were to take the first left instead, you will be close to After Dark After our first camping experience, we decided to camp nowhere near all of the fun activities going on all night because there was so much noise and activity that we had a hard time getting rest, which led to a rough day at the Ren Fest. Also, the wife is not a big fan of port-o-potties and neither am I.
3) Moisture in the morning! Give yourself extra time to dry out your camping equipment. We often wake up and our tent is covered in moisture that settled in over night. That means that either a) you dry out everything in the sun b) towel everything off or c) pack it all up wet and dry it out at home. We usually dry by sun while drinking our coffee.
4) Expect your phone to have lousy reception! Take screenshots of your tickets if they're digital, download local copies of media, notify friends and family, etc. There are usually a lot of people and the local towers don't seem to be able to handle the bandwidth. It also may depend on your carrier. We use Cricket. We haven't tried other phones. Best to just plan ahead.
5) The bonfire area should be considered as an adults-only area beginning at 6-7 PM. Trust me. If you want your kids to remain innocent until they've reached puberty, maybe avoid this area. If you don't care, take em! They're your kids, of course.: D

New in 2019:
Only Camping Pass Needed.
They are no longer requiring that you purchase a ticket to the Ren Fest to camp, which is a HUGE plus for us. We typically will go to After Dark and camp afterwards, meaning that we arrive at 3-6 PM, go to After Dark at 8 PM, sleep by 2-3 AM and leave by 10 AM.

Improved Customer Service.
This year, we noticed there seemed to be an uptick in engagement by camp staff. We had multiple staff checking in on us to see if we needed assistance with setting up our tent (it was dark when we arrived) and received an invite to a campfire event that was being held for kids in the area we typically camp. This had not happened in previous years, though customer service has *never* been a problem. I especially enjoy talking to the folks who run the general store. (The Drag On Inn?)

In short, if you are going to the Ren Fest and haven't tried camping, you definitely should. If nothing else but to experience the throngs of costumed people that descend upon the area annually and the large, seemingly endless array of tents, events, and wild nighttime activities.

Update: Added more photos!

We come every year, and they find a way to improve the experience every year! Port-a-potties were cleaned out every morning! We love this place, and camping is the best way to experience it!

We have camped out here for years and love it more and more as the years pass. The campground has changed a bit over the last few years but it's still a blast and still safe.

Love my first experience of camping. It was kid friendly in the family campgrounds. My kids enjoyed the festival, we cannot wait to go back next year.

Great if you only go for the renaissance atmosphere. Portapottis are not adequate for the number of people camping. There are paid showers and they want $5 for 3 minutes. Way overpriced.

Ok so this place is always the best. It is open for tent campers and RVers but be for warned, this is DRY CAMPING only. With in walking distance from the festival and after dark is always a pleasure as well. We never miss a year.

While I rather dislike the fair itself these days, the campgrounds are always a fantastic time. The highlight of my year.

My boyfriend was at his food truck with his Memphis style BBQ and everybody love it, hopefully you could get the chance to try it.

Plenty of room to camp. Clean restrooms at the entrance. Great atmosphere to do what pleases you. EMS and Law enforcement on scene. Small stores with stuff you may have forgotten at home. Family friendly. Overall, no complaints. 5 stars mang

The glamping tents are a lot of fun, but beware you can have very noisy neighbors. Bring extra blankets in the cold weather, what they supply is less than adaquate.

I camped with defiance. I dont think I have ever met a more amazing crowd of people. I have never in my life felt more accepted and welcomed. I love everyone out there. The fire spinners and drum players walking around camp made it magical. I know a lot of people go for the theatrical draw of the plunderdome but I prefer traditional camping experiences.

Revelry campground is spectacular! It's an adult environment, but folks are respectful if not only mildly poor behaved. It's a yearly ritual and I wouldn't pass it up. Showers are great, bathrooms are mostly portable, there is a market and some food available.

Usually it's pretty nice away from the wilder spots, but the past two weekends we've had people camp too close to our spot and be rowdy. We are not in the rowdy section. Bongos in the middle of the night isn't as fun as you'd think

Very comfortable stay, with a beautiful view of pine trees all around. The campgrounds are well organized and offer a variety of types of camping. They offer tent areas, RV parks, log cabins, and a quiet area specifically for family oriented people. I felt safe and invited, and my stuff was never messed with. The general store at the front has all of your camping essentials. They even have a shower area.

I have been coming to TRF since 1994 with my fiancee then. Last year we started camping and we realized how much fun we missed after dark in the campgrounds!

When we first started camping here years ago it was quite (in the family area) now with the after dark ball room it's loud.then the shower is $1 per minute and with a family of 5 that's expensive

Great atmosphere. Very friendly and open. If you want debauchery hang out near the bonfire. If not the quiet zone is the place for you.

Nice field with plenty of trees for shade. They need to separate generator camping from regular camping though. Too few toilets.

Great place to people watch drink and eat. Just one of those things I look forward to every year. Camping is also a blast.