ren faire fans?

xiaotien · Post by **xiaotien** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 10:56 pm

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 · Post by **chuck** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 11:55 pm

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 · Post by **xiaotien** » Thu September 25th, 2008, 11:58 pm

no offense taken!

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

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

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 12:06 am

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 · Post by **xiaotien** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 12:08 am

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 · Post by **Leyland** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 12:36 am

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 · Post by **Divia** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 2:57 am

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 · Post by **Ash** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 3:12 am

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 · Post by **EC2** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 3:19 am

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 (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Fri September 26th, 2008, 3:20 am

I belong to a re-enactment group, Castlewood Guild. 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.)