ren faire fans?

[xiaotien]

hi everyone!

i was wondering if anyone here is
a renaissance faire fan?

i went every year during high school
for our latin club field trip. =D
ours is a huge one in the san bernardino
mountains (i think?) near los angeles.

it's fantastic fun. and it's been
over a decade since i've been to a ren
faire, which makes me sad.

anyone have stories to share?
i've also been to one up in sacramento,
but that was small compared to the LA one.

[chuck]

I've been to one and did not enjoy the experience.....Way too silly faux behavior for me....I don't mean to generalize all faire's....Just not for me...I rather watch reenactors do their military thing.....Much more realistic.....I would rather donate my money to more Shakespeare in the Street productions.....no offense intended, just my opinion

[xiaotien]

no offense taken!

i know some who think they
are too commercial, too.

i just have oodles of fun whenever
i go. =)

[Ash]

I love the one we have here - tho I pity those in costumes on those February days when we have a heat wave...But usually its nice out and everyone has a good time. My concern is the price; its gone way up over the years and the price of food doesn't help. So we don't go as often as we used to, but now and then. I would love to go to the one I heard about in Santa Rosa I think? Someplace up north California that is supposed to be dynamite.

[xiaotien]

ash, they have one in AZ? whereabouts?

and yes, i can imagine how HOT that can be.
yikes! as for expenses, i can only imagine...

[Leyland]

I went to the Celtic Fling this past June which is held annually at the Pennsylvania Renn Faire grounds, but haven't ever attended any Renn faires. I love Celtic music - especially Celtic rock/fusion bands. I go to a few Celtic festivals and Highland Games each year instead of Renn type events.

Here's a link to the PA Renn Faire in case you're ever Lancaster way - it's held over 12 weekends from Aug to Oct. The grounds are very nicely maintained all year round since it's a permanent site with a winery, etc.

http://www.parenfaire.com/

[Divia]

I go and I have always wanted to dress up but its so bloody expensive that I never do and then I always complain about it. We have one where I live and I typically go every other year because its the same shows year after year after year.

[Ash]

The faire here is in Apache Junction, south and east of Phoenix. Its pretty big; there is a very large contingent of SCA folk in the valley, so there are lots of reinactments and some great costumes. February is actually our mildest month, but sometimes the heat sneaks in...I have also wanted to dress up, but it is expensive if I wanted to do it right.

I just found one out in Yuma, close to the border of AZ and CA
http://www.tworiversfaire.com/

But this is the link I was looking for
http://royalfaires.com/arizona/

[EC2]

So what happens at a Ren Faire? How does it work? I've heard about them but only have a vague idea.

For my sins I am doing a living history event in Sherwood Forest all day Sunday. They're having the annual time-trail through the woods. Visitors walk along the forest paths and happen upon various camps, beginning with the stone age and working up through milennia and centuries to WWII. I'm with the Norman bunch and I've got cauldron duty. Nothing like a Ren Faire I'm sure - apart from the dressing up bit, but then we've to be as authentic as possible. No loose interpretation allowed.

[MLE]

I belong to a re-enactment group, Castlewood Guild (http://www.castlewoodguild.org). It actually is my daughter/son-in-law's group, altho they are easing out of being guildmasters. The son-in-law is the Henry VIII in the front picture, and my daughter is two photos below in the rose-and-green dress. Shel is also the woman in peasant garb on the right in the second picture. I have so far successfully avoided the camera!

They do five-six faires a year as part of the cast, but I usually only go to one or two. But I teach at the symposium, and my house is the place where everybody gets together to work on costumes. (I prefer to pay them to make mine right. There are some excellent seamstresses in the group who are broke college students in need of money.)

[Divia]

So what happens at a Ren Faire? How does it work? I've heard about them but only have a vague idea.



Well at the one I go to it takes place in Elizabethan England. The queen is there and some of her court. There are various activities or acts. There is a joust, glass making, skits and other things. People talk like the time and they also have activities that would take place then.

[Leyland]

So what happens at a Ren Faire? How does it work? I've heard about them but only have a vague idea.

Most Faires have entertainment, markets and competitions - all as authentic as possible. Here's a link to a better description regarding the experience: http://www.renaissance-faire.com/Fairexp.htm

For my sins I am doing a living history event in Sherwood Forest all day Sunday. They're having the annual time-trail through the woods. Visitors walk along the forest paths and happen upon various camps, beginning with the stone age and working up through milennia and centuries to WWII. I'm with the Norman bunch and I've got cauldron duty.

I haven't heard of a living history event like the one you're participating in, EC. It's sounds like a fun and interesting day and wish I could check it out! I'm partial to walks in the woods and would love to see history along the way.

[MLE]

One of my daughter's friends is a co-owner of six faires in Northern California, so I hear a lot about the business side of things. Essentially, the faire organizers pay to rent the venue, and for all the costs: porta-potties, security, professional acts, advertising, wages for those workers they must hire. Then they need to schedule enough vendors (who pay a fee based on their expectation of selling enough product), entertainment acts, and enough re-enactors to make the faire attractive and fun for the public.

They generally pick some specific time or incident in the renaissance period, such as 'Henry VIII meets Francis I at the field of the Cloth of Gold' (and expensive but showy choice requiring two courts) or the Golden Gate faire, which does one day of the reign of Jane Grey and the second day Mary I, complete with a faked trial. Elizabeth is popular also. Very few venture as far as James I, or as early as Henry VII. The court re-enactors have to be arranged; usually they get paid, or at least the queen/king do. And then a plan for each hour is laid out for them so that they will always be busy and 'on display'.

Then comes the part where the faire organizers sweat bullets. Is the 'gate' (the number of tickets sold) going to turn a profit, or will they lose their house? The weather has a lot to do with it. One faire got snowed on. A big loss. Or if it's 110 degrees out, people are going to hide in their air conditioning. But nice weather plus no competition for people's leisure can result in a whopping profit. As you can see, with this kind of pressure, the faire coordinators don't much care if the general public wants to come wearing Star Trek costumes or fairy wings, as long as they swell the crowd! (They are pretty picky about the actual re-enactor guilds, tho -- guilds whose members don't dress/act the part don't get invited back.)

[Ash]

Ive been to a few living history events in the UK. One was at Dover Castle which was great fun. There is one in Wales, its not just one event but is considered a living history museum (similar to our Williamsburg or Plimouth Colony, both excellent places to visit for learning about US history).

EC, Ren Faires might be considered living history events. They have vendors from all over the country who sell medieval type clothing, weapons and such, as well as more modern items such as wood carvings, glass products, jewlery. There are also roaming vendors selling food, and many roaming musicians and artists. There are demonstrations of weaving, glass blowing, blacksmithy, and other crafts, as well as a tournament, several parades of royalty, falconry, skits and dancing. (take a look at my link of the Az Faire, it gives a good description).

[Leyland]

I know some of the performers have challenges when needing to use modern electric acoustic equipment. A dance/comedy group at PA Renn Faire was allowed to use a small and quiet generator for the amps, etc. They had to keep it hidden and look as unplugged as possible.

[Alaric]

I've never even heard of there being a Ren Faire in Australia, although there probably is. There's plenty of reenactment groups around.

[EC2]

Thanks everyone for all the information on Ren Faires. Ash, I've looked at your link. We have very toned down smaller versions of these in the UK. In fact we've got one at the end of October where my group is providing the 'authentic' detail among the less authentic. It's Nottingham Castle's annual Robin Hood Pageant where there's a similar mingling of the historically accurate and the totally naff!
This is the websit for my lot. I'm in the brown dress on the far left on the home page and can be seen on one of the other pages (Tollerton Village fete) stirring a cauldron and swigging mead from a cow's horn!
http://livinghistory.co.uk/homepages/ConroiDeVey/

[diamondlil]

I've never even heard of there being a Ren Faire in Australia, although there probably is. There's plenty of reenactment groups around.


I don't recall having seen one either. Maybe they are just not very well publicised.

[Telynor]

I've done lots of SCA stuff over the decades, but I tend to avoid the Ren Fairs as some of it is a bit too out there for me, and it's getting harder to get around any more as my body falls apart. Still, I do enjoy the technical aspects of things, especially the recreation of household things.

[Julianne Douglas]

I went to the Northern CA Ren fair several years ago and had a great time, although we had our kids with us and you have to be careful about what you stop and watch/listen to (some of the acts can get rather bawdy). The jousting (on horseback with full armor) was superb and very entertaining to watch. It would have been more fun to have rented costumes, but again, with kids, it was too expensive. We'd hoped to go again this year, but it doesn't look like we'll make it. :(

The Scottish Games held in our town invites guilds to portray the court of Mary Queen of Scots. I don't know how the members survive in the 110 degree weather wearing long sleeved, long skirted woolen dresses! It looks like it would be a fun but very time consuming (and probably costly) hobby.

[Susan]

Here's a link to the PA Renn Faire in case you're ever Lancaster way - it's held over 12 weekends from Aug to Oct. The grounds are very nicely maintained all year round since it's a permanent site with a winery, etc.

http://www.parenfaire.com/

I went to the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire at the end of August. We had great fun and intend to return next summer and may even wear costumes ourselves!

[Ash]

The northern california faire is the one I've heard most about. Heard that its not running any more, but should check and see if it is; I'd like to make that a stop on my next trip in the area.

I bet someone could make a lot of money inventing portable air conditioning to put under those dresses. Our faire is in relatively mild February, so it only gets to 80 or so. But those ladies still look godawfully hot.

[Susan]

I bet someone could make a lot of money inventing portable air conditioning to put under those dresses. Our faire is in relatively mild February, so it only gets to 80 or so. But those ladies still look godawfully hot.

I thought about this when I was at the PA Ren Faire. The weekend we went was relatively comfortable, but I bet all in costumes (most men wore long sleeves and various pants/stockings which covered the entire legs) were still uncomfortable.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t81/sef127/PICT0030.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t81/sef127/PICT0038.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t81/sef127/PICT0006-1.jpg

[MLE]

The northern california faire is the one I've heard most about. Heard that its not running any more, but should check and see if it is; I'd like to make that a stop on my next trip in the area.

There are plenty of faires happening around the state. Castlewood guild alone gets invited to about fifteen, of various sizes. The Northern CA faire which ran longest was in Marin; they lost their lease and have since re-started at Casa de Fruta, a venue somewhat below Gilroy. That happens over several weeks in the fall, and being one of the more commercial faires, tends to be less insistent on the authenticy angle. The SF faire is new, about five years old, and it has been growing at a good rate. Weather in SF is more like England, so they hold it in August. There are two Celtic Faires competing in the Sonora area, one in the spring, one in the fall. Tahoe has a healthy faire that goes for two weeks in June -- it's held at a state park called Valhalla, very nice and tree-shady. Folsom has a faire coming up in October, there is one in Auburn this weekend, next weekend is Anderson Faire, up by Redding.

If you tell me your area, I'll ask my daughter and she'll list off whatever faires are happening nearby, as long as it is West of the Rockies!

[Margaret]

When my husband and I lived in Marin County, we used to really enjoy the Ren Faire there. I made costumes for us, and "Queen Elizabeth" particularly complimented my husband's. I discovered that the long, wide skirts on the women's costumes are actually not unpleasant in the heat. The skirts hang away from the body where they sway and generate a breeze, rather along the principle of the robes worn in the Arabian deserts. There was talk about developing a Ren Faire on the state fairgrounds in Washington County, Oregon, near where we live now, which we thought was a great idea, but so far, nothing seems to have come of it.

[Leyland]

I thought about this when I was at the PA Ren Faire. The weekend we went was relatively comfortable, but I bet all in costumes (most men wore long sleeves and various pants/stockings which covered the entire legs) were still uncomfortable.

I saw several people at the Celtic Fling at the PA Ren Faire grounds in Ren costumes and some of them were magnificantly detailed. Although I noticed some physically well endowed folks that I was sure were going to pop out of their gear. In other words, I saw many costumes that weren't flattering in the least. I really liked the pirates though!

I saw the Tartan Terrors perform at the Fling this past June. They've been part of the Renn Faire there for about ten years. Very funny and bawdy. I saw a band named Ceann perform on the stage in Susan's third picture and walked across the chess board a few times to get to the Globe Stage to see two Celtic rock bands perform on both days there. The whole set up there is like a theme park and was very clean. All in all, a nice place to be.

[MLE]

When my husband and I lived in Marin County, we used to really enjoy the Ren Faire there. I made costumes for us, and "Queen Elizabeth" particularly complimented my husband's. I discovered that the long, wide skirts on the women's costumes are actually not unpleasant in the heat. The skirts hang away from the body where they sway and generate a breeze, rather along the principle of the robes worn in the Arabian deserts. There was talk about developing a Ren Faire on the state fairgrounds in Washington County, Oregon, near where we live now, which we thought was a great idea, but so far, nothing seems to have come of it.
Margaret, you might enjoy Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire (http://shrewfaire.com/). It's held near Corvallis, my daughter's guild did it a couple times (this was before I gave in and joined), and they said it was a fantastic faire, but too long a drive for most of the members.

[Susan]

I saw a band named Ceann perform on the stage in Susan's third picture and walked across the chess board a few times to get to the Globe Stage to see two Celtic rock bands perform on both days there. The whole set up there is like a theme park and was very clean. All in all, a nice place to be.

The chess board was used for a human chess game with Queen Elizabeth presiding. Every time one piece moved to another piece's square, the board was cleared and the two had to duel. Lots of fun!!!
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t81/sef127/PICT0039.jpg

[xiaotien]

love the fotos, susan! thank you for sharing!

someone from another forum actually told me
she played queen elizabeth I in the past at ren
faire and she sweated away any calories gained
at all wearing 40# costumes. =O maybe the
queen is not allowed to swish too much for
air cooling? haha!

i wonder when i'll get the chance to go again?

and my hub is english and he's never seen the
like in england--which i find amusing. i guess
they already have a queen and all... ;*)

[Margaret]

Thanks for the tip about the Shrewsbury Ren Faire. It's just manageable for a day-trip - and I was born in Corvallis!

[pixiedust]

Me, Me, Me, I love the Ren Fest here in Louisiana.

It's almost time, too.
November through December.

Louisiana Ren Fest
http://www.la-renfest.org/

[Leyland]

The Texas Ren Faire looks like a lot of fun. Click on the website link and watch the video for awhile - lovely costumes. They've got all kinds of contests. Do any of you guys living in Louisiana, New Mexico or Arizona ever go? It looks to be held closer to the east side of the state.

http://www.texrenfest.com/themedweekends.html