New York Renaissance Faire Sued Over Alleged Hidden Ticket Fees

Visitors to the New York Renaissance Faire may have paid more than they expected at checkout—and now, a proposed lawsuit claims the venue’s ticketing website concealed added charges until the final stages of online purchases.

According to court documents filed in a New York federal court, Renaissance Entertainment Productions has been accused of violating state law by failing to disclose the full ticket price—including fees—early in the online sale process. 

The complaint was filed by plaintiff Chantel Hammond, who seeks to represent anyone who bought tickets through the Faire’s official website, renfair.com/ny, dating back to August 2022.

Lawsuit Alleges Violation of New York Ticketing Disclosure Law

The complaint references New York Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 25.07(4), which requires venues to display the total ticket price—fees included—before a consumer selects a ticket. The law prohibits operators from increasing the price during the purchasing sequence.

Instead of complying, the lawsuit contends that Renaissance Entertainment Productions quoted early prices that excluded additional charges. According to the filing, consumers aren't informed about the full cost of admission until several steps into the checkout process, when “Service Fee” and “Order Fee” line items appear on a subsequent screen.

The complaint states that these fees are not optional and are added to every online transaction. The pricing breakdown becomes visible only in the “cart summary” stage, after consumers have already selected their tickets and navigated through several pages.

One line from the complaint reads:

“Whenever a consumer selects an admission ticket on the website https://renfair.com/ny/, she is quoted a fee-less price, only to be ambushed by a nondelineated ‘Service Fee’ and ‘Order Fee’ at checkout after clicking through the various screens required to make a purchase.”

Countdown Timer Adds Pressure to Pay Undisclosed Fees

Adding urgency to the transaction, the platform includes a countdown timer during checkout, indicating that the selected tickets may be lost if the purchase is not completed in time. This creates pressure on the buyer to finalize the transaction quickly, with limited time to review or question added charges.

The lawsuit asserts that this time-limited environment reduces the likelihood that buyers will notice the inclusion of extra fees. The complaint describes it as a tactic that allows the operator to collect undisclosed amounts from consumers who are focused on retaining their ticket reservation.

“With a countdown timer and multiple decisions to make on this screen, consumers are unlikely to notice [the company’s] sneaky fees,” the complaint says.

Hammond claims that she—and other eventgoers in a similar position—would not have purchased admission tickets or would have paid less had they known the full cost upfront. The lawsuit implies that visitors believed they were paying the listed price, only to have that number inflate in the final stages of purchase.

Entertainment Industry Faces Backlash Over Fee Practices

Allegations regarding hidden or delayed fee disclosures have led to multiple lawsuits across the event ticketing industry. Claims have also been filed against other venues and entertainment providers, including Event Ticket Center, See Tickets, and Seat Geek, concerning the timing and visibility of service charges during online sales.

Such filings reference the same New York statute for prepaid ticket pricing, emphasizing the growing attention on compliance with pricing transparency requirements for digital purchases.

In the New York Renaissance Faire hidden ticket fee lawsuit, Hammond seeks class certification, which would allow impacted individuals to join the case as a group. In addition, she is asking for restitution, monetary damages, and coverage of legal fees. 

The goal is to recoup funds allegedly collected in violation of New York law and to ensure future compliance regarding transparent ticket pricing for entertainment venues.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Hammond v. Renaissance Entertainment Productions, Inc.
• Case Number: 7:25-cv-02796 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Philip L. Fraietta and Eleanor R. Grasso (Bursor & Fisher, P.A.)

Did you purchase tickets to the New York Renaissance Faire online? Were you surprised by extra fees? Share your experience below.