Planning to head to the 40th annual Tennessee Renaissance Festival? Here’s what you should know before going. 

Hours of operation

Open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Volunteer State’s blast into the 16th century will be held every Saturday and Sunday during May. Adult tickets purchased in advance start at $28.

Parking

Parking waits can build up at the renaissance fair, where parking is free with admission. Peak traffic times are expected between 10 a.m. through 2 p.m., according to the event’s website tnrenfest.com. 

Located in a “grassy field,” parking lots operate on a first come, first serve basis and open at 8 a.m. each day. No RVs or trailers are allowed. 

Sheriff’s deputies and parking attendants will be on the grounds to help patrons park “as quickly and safely as possible,” the event states. 

What if it rains?

The Tennessee Renaissance Festival will operate rain or shine, but some of the experiences may be limited during  inclement weather.

• The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its 2026 all-state wrestling teams.
• Honorees were named across boys’ Class A, Class AA, and Division II classifications.
• The list also recognizes the top high school girls wrestlers in the state.

The Tennessee high school boys and girls wrestling produced over four dozen individual TSSAA state champions through 14 weight classes in Class A, AA, Division II and girls competition in February.

Here are the 2026 Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state girls and boys wrestling teams across the state.

Boys Wrestling

Class A

106 pounds: Germain Velasquez, Seymour, Sr.; Phillip Steelman, Signal Mountain, So.; Wesley Sudderth, Montgomery Central, Fr.; Jaime Sanginez, Springfield, Sr.

113 pounds: Nate Graham, Station Camp, Sr.; Luke Myhan, Soddy-Daisy, Jr.; CJ Weaver, Tullahoma, Fr.; Luke Higdon, Signal Mountain, Sr.

120 pounds: Jacob Stinnett, Upperman, So.; Jay Hill, Station Camp, Sr.; Carter Hostetler, Spring Hill, Jr.; Harold Ward, Greenbrier, Sr.

126 pounds: Ian McCallie, Signal Mountain, 8^th grade; Kyle Nielsen, Spring Hill, Sr.; Brylan Rhodes, Greeneville, So.; Matthew Pennington, Eagleville, Sr.

132 pounds: JoJo Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain, Sr.; Tyson Flavin, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.; Tristen Fowler, Alcoa, So.; Kiivon Butler, Tullahoma, Jr.

ALL MIDSTATE WRESTLING: Meet The Tennessean’s 2026 All-Midstate boys and girls high school wrestling teams

138 pounds: Zedediah Hulet, Anderson County, Jr.; Noah Eller, Gibbs, Jr.; Elving Vera, Spring Hill, Sr.; Derrick Bolden, Millington, Jr.

144 pounds: Christian Davis, Signal Mountain, So.; Ayden Jenkins, Soddy-Daisy, Jr.; Lukas Pratt, Pigeon Forge, Sr.; Hayden Harrell, Anderson County, Sr.

150 pounds: Colin Bull, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.; Tamarion Johnson, Montgomery Central, Sr.; Austin Glass, Volunteer, Sr.; Max Cable, Pigeon Forge, Jr.

157 pounds: Braylan Cosper, Hixson, Sr.; Jake Laxton, Soddy-Daisy, So.; Vincent Ward, Greenbrier, Jr.; Duke Delozier, Seymour, Jr.

165 pounds: Ayden Hood, Pigeon Forge, Sr.; Nathan Highland, Spring Hill, Sr.; Lincoln Rich, Station Camp, Sr.; Kaden Weitzel, Livingston Academy, Sr.

175 pounds: Deamion Leavell, Anderson County, Sr.; Cole Neal, Fairview, Jr.; Landon Shaw, Livingston Academy, Sr.; Thomas Solomon, Eagleville, Sr.

190 pounds: Trevor Burney, Chattanooga Central, Sr.; Evan Prewitt, Anderson County, Sr.; Logan Rawlinson, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.; Hayden Moore, Greeneville, Jr.

215 pounds: Houston Retting, Eagleville, Sr.; Darius Sudderth, Alcoa, Jr.; Pete Laxton, Soddy-Daisy, Sr.; Elijah Whitby, Millington, Sr.

285 pounds: Tyson Click, Samuel Everett, Sr.; Rogelio Gonzalez, Cheatham County, Sr.; Christopher Graver, Marion County, Jr.; Mathew Fowler, Red Bank

MEMPHIS ALL METRO: Meet the Commercial Appeal’s 2026 All-Metro boys, girls wrestling teams

Class AA

106 pounds: Gabriel Nettleton, Arlington, So.; Carson Gambill, Page, Fr.; Q Dyer, Bradley Central, So.; Logan Raske, Cleveland, Fr.

113 pounds: Noah Watkins, Dobyns Bennett, So.; Emanuel Claybrooks, McGavock, Sr.; Boone Maughon, Cleveland, Fr.; Joseph Marcin, Arlington, Sr.

120 pounds: Jose Cordero, Cleveland, Sr.; Andrew Workman, Blackman, Jr.; Brooks Ryan, Dobyns Bennett, Fr.; Blaise Masi, Summit, Sr.

126 pounds: Dominic Cordero, Cleveland, So.; Devin Corbin, Collierville, Jr.; Chase Smalling, Science Hill, Sr.; Nolan Barton, Nolensville, Sr.

132 pounds: Mason Jakob, Dobyns Bennett, Sr.; Colt Maughon, Cleveland, Sr.; Aiden Rowe, Clarksville, Jr.; Damian Aponte, Germantown Houston, Sr.

138 pounds: Reed Loeffel, Brentwood, Sr.; Tristan Collier, Green Hill, So.; Kendall Lewis, Science Hill, Fr.; Logan Woodard, Clarksville Northeast, Sr.

144 pounds: JD Longley, Ravenwood, Jr.; Landon McLean, Blackman, Sr.; Trapper Lippincott, Nolensville, Jr.; Kaden Clopton, Science Hill, Jr.

150 pounds: Kellen Sanders, Cleveland, So.; Ryan Dietrick, Ravenwood, Jr.; Brandon Harris, Bradley Central, Jr.; Eli Goodin, Blackman, So.

157 pounds: Zachery Little, Summit, Sr.; Luke Louzensky, Kirkwood, Jr.; Maddox Eskew, Ravenwood, Sr.; Trevor Sexton, Knox Halls, Sr.

165 pounds: Jonah Little, Germantown Houston, Sr.; Matthew Anderson, Ravenwood, Sr.; Gary High, Cleveland, So.; Leo Roberts, Independence, Jr.

175 pounds: Brodie Melzoni, Nolensville, Sr.; Barrett Whaley, Knox Halls, Sr.; Braylon Pulley, Cleveland, Fr.; Elijah Reams, Riverdale, Sr.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is the newest partner in University MNPS — the district’s initiative to connect Academies of Nashville high school seniors with scholarship opportunities at leading colleges and universities — for having last-dollar full-tuition scholarships available to qualified district graduates.

“The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is one of the many highly respected institutions in our state, and now it is within reach for deserving MNPS graduates,” said Dr. Adrienne Battle, Superintendent of Nashville Public Schools. “This partnership is about more than a scholarship — it is about removing every barrier that stands between our students and their futures. The Board of Education and I are proud to welcome UT Knoxville into the University MNPS family and remain committed to building a no-cost pathway to college for every eligible Nashville student.”

Full-Tuition Scholarships

The partnership, which was announced at Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s State of Metro Address, highlights scholarships that cover tuition and mandatory fees available to eligible MNPS graduates admitted to UT Knoxville as part of UT’s Tri-Star Scholarship program. Tri-Star Scholarships include UT Promise, available to admitted students with family incomes below $75,000; the Flagship Scholarship, covering tuition and mandatory fees for admitted students attending MNPS flagship high schools, including Antioch, Cane Ridge, Glencliff, Maplewood, Pearl-Cohn, Stratford, and Whites Creek; and the Pledge Scholarship, covering tuition, mandatory fees, room and board for admitted students with family incomes of less than $40,000.

“We want all Tennessee students, including those in the state’s largest Metro area, to have the opportunity to study at the state’s flagship, land-grant university,” said UT Knoxville Chancellor Donde Plowman. “That’s why we are thrilled to partner with Metro Nashville Public Schools through the University MNPS program to ensure students have access to pathways like our Tri-Star Scholarship Program. At UT, we are committed to serving the state and developing Tennessee’s future leaders.”

Additional Supports for Students

Beyond financial assistance, the partnership brings UT’s broader Flagship model to Nashville students, including targeted advising, college readiness programming, and ongoing student supports designed to help students succeed in finding a path to college that works for them, and preparing them for success once they get there.

As part of its continued commitment to making college truly no-cost, MNPS is working closely with UT Knoxville and its broader postsecondary partners to explore sustainable pathways to cover housing and other remaining expenses, further expanding access and opportunity for Nashville’s students.

About University MNPS

University MNPS launched as a signature initiative under Dr. Battle to develop, strengthen, and expand partnerships between MNPS and colleges and universities in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. UT Knoxville joins a growing roster of partners that includes Belmont University, Fisk University, Lipscomb University, Nashville State Community College, TCAT Nashville, Tennessee State University, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Vanderbilt University.

The district will be celebrating those students who received a scholarship through University MNPS at the Signing Day event on Saturday, May 2, at the Frist Art Museum starting at 9:30 a.m. Students and families can learn more about University MNPS scholarship opportunities on our website.