Maryland Renaissance Festival’s new ticketing system avoids chaos of release days past

By The Banner Montgomery
July 31, 2026 | 8:59 AM

The Maryland Renaissance Festival’s ticket release day has been a frenzy in recent years, marked by long ticket queues and frustration. But not this year.

Organizers contracted a new ticket vendor, Big Tickets, that streamlined the process. It seems to be paying off, with many Ren Fest fans praising the system.

Jules Smith, president of the Maryland Renaissance Festival, said the ticketing process has initially gone well. Some users experienced glitches or temporary pauses while waiting.

This story continues. Read the rest at The Banner Montgomery.

Things to do in the DC area: ‘Yokai Parade,’ National Book Festival … and more!

By Michelle Goldchain
August 20, 2026 | 6:02 AM

In the United States, there are tales of cryptids like Bigfoot or the Mothman. Japanese folklore tells stories of yokai: supernatural monsters that range from shape-shifters to tricksters to comical creatures that have influenced popular culture. A new traveling exhibition celebrates yokai at the Japan Information & Culture Center of the Embassy of Japan Organized by The Japan Foundation, "Yokai Parade: Supernatural Monsters from Japan," is arranged in four chapters, exploring picture scrolls, woodblock prints, games, sculptures and other mediums. A video also details the history and influence of yokai. "We see from at the beginning of the exhibition, yokai were something truly to be feared," Gabrielle Headly, the center's exhibition coordinator, said. "But then you also see how they have very cartoon-like illustrative properties, or how they're very friendly."

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