# Can someone explain Renaissance Faires? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 15, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565 "2006-07-15T01:17:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/1 "2006-07-15T01:17:32Z")
A number of members here have mentioned they’re into Renaissance Faires, which of course got me thinking about the whole thing a bit more as I saw a _Family Guy_ episode revolving around one as well. Perhaps someone can explain the whole concept? From what I gather, they’re fairs themed around the late medieval/renaissance period, in which participants dress in renaissance clothing, eat roast pigs from spits, drink mead, and there are archery competitions and mock tourneys and lots of craft stalls etc. The interesting thing is, from what I understand, that the Renaissance Faire movement has a substantial female movement behind it. I don’t know how true that is, but it seems women are far more likely to stand up and say “I enjoy Renaissance Faires and being part of them” than guys are. There’s a Society for Creative Anachronism at my University, but the whole idea of a Renaissance Faire as a semi-mainstream thing hasn’t really caught on around here (there’s still a vague feeling those involved are taking _The Lord Of The Rings_ a bit too seriously). Anyway, in an effort to understand the whole thing, perhaps the Renaissance Faire people on the SDMB can explain to me what the whole thing is about, what goes on, and what got you interested in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/2 "2006-07-15T01:21:35Z")
That’s it in a nutshell. For those of us who go to them but don’t _become_ them, they are a fun place to drink, wench, quaff, play, imbibe, stare at all the boobs (in more ways than two), and generally have a good time. Others get more _into_ their play, and devote more time and energy to it. Then there are those who take it way too far (IMO). Like any other pass-time, really. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/3 "2006-07-15T01:26:47Z")
One word: Mead. Another word: Boobs. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/4 "2006-07-15T01:27:54Z")
Don’t forget shop. There is a variety of craftspeople selling their wares. I’ve gotten some fabulous jewelry at the local RenFaire ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/5 "2006-07-15T01:29:39Z")
oh - and I got interested in it because I was a theatre major and it was a sort of acting job (I was never employed there, but a few of my classmates, both genders, were) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/6 "2006-07-15T01:31:22Z")
Cleavage! It’s a beautiful thing. ---
**Author:** ![Blanche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blanche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blanche)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/7 "2006-07-15T01:55:19Z")
They are a good place for people who are a little (or a lot) strange to socialize without standing out too much, somewhat like anime conventions and goth nightclubs. ---
**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/8 "2006-07-15T02:49:13Z")
Just went to the Colorado Renaissance Festival a couple of weeks ago. There is good food, good drink, great crafts (from jewelry to sword making and a lot in between). At the one here, I have also seen some amazingly talented performers. People you probably won’t see anywhere else (for example, the guy who juggles a running chainsaw, a bowling ball, and an apple at the same time…or the comic hypnotist, etc). The first year we went together, BF was a bit skeptical. As we walked to the parking lot he asked me, “Can we dress up next year?”. Not because he had previously been into that kind of thing, but because of all the really great costumes we saw. Myself, I dress as demoness. Horns, fangs, black wings (I am about to buy a really cool mororized set), a short dress with a corset, and black suede thigh-high boots. And yes…I do have the boobs for it 😉 It’s a lot of fun, and not a year goes by that people don’t stop us and ask to take our picture. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/9 "2006-07-15T02:56:15Z")
> [@Cherry2000](#): > > Myself, I dress as demoness. Horns, fangs, black wings (I am about to buy a really cool mororized set), a short dress with a corset, and black suede thigh-high boots. And yes…I do have the boobs for it 😉 Cite, please 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/10 "2006-07-15T04:11:18Z")
> [@Cherry2000](#): > > Myself, I dress as demoness. Horns, fangs, black wings (I am about to buy a really cool mororized set), a short dress with a corset, and black suede thigh-high boots. Certainly we all need to see a picture of this! ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/11 "2006-07-15T04:12:50Z")
MY first was in Larkspur Colorado in '98. I was garbed before I left that day. Haven’t looked back or regretted an instance of it. ---
**Author:** ![mamboman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@mamboman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mamboman)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/12 "2006-07-15T04:13:49Z")
> [@Martini Enfield](#): > > Perhaps someone can explain the whole concept? From what I gather, they’re fairs themed around the late medieval/renaissance period, in which participants dress in renaissance clothing, eat roast pigs from spits, drink mead, and there are archery competitions and mock tourneys and lots of craft stalls etc. Come down to the Abbey Festival at Caboolture next year - 2006’s was just last weekend. It’s great fun! Jousting, archery (who’dathunk I was a natural born archerer?), Knights bashing each other with big swords and getting into punch-ups, hot looking chicks in whimples, camel rides, semi naked men oil-wrestling, learn-to-fence seminars, lute recitals… My 8 year old was watching the melee combat, axes and swords a’ flying and a’ flailing and I leaned over to him to hear him mutter “This is the greatest day of my life…” great fun! mm ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/13 "2006-07-15T04:25:56Z")
The one in Tuxedo NY (USA) used to have the Robin Hood stories acted thoughout the faire - his meeting with Little John, confronting the Sheriff, etc - also a living chess game (completely pre-staged, but fun to watch - with wenches as the pawns). Also the food is good - honkin’ big barbecued turkey legs, juicy ribs, and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/14 "2006-07-15T04:40:40Z")
A friend of mine who works the Minnesota ren fair and is fairly authenticity-minded, given the opportunity, explains it this way: Imagine that there has been a summer/spring/fall/whenever festival set up. There are shops showing their wares, street performers ready to perform, royalty and lords and ladies all ready to go out into the faire and have a good time. Then there is a catastrophic fire just over the hill, and everybody goes running off to deal with that. Just as there is a massive escape from the insane asylum on the other side of town. All the escapees, mad as hatters all of them, wander into town and find the makings of a street faire, pick up where the not-insane townsfolk left off, and begin having their own street fair. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/15 "2006-07-15T04:46:10Z")
Jousting, archery, Robin Hood - these sound like _medieval_ faires to me. Why on earth are they called Renaissance? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/16 "2006-07-15T05:14:41Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Jousting, archery, Robin Hood - these sound like _medieval_ faires to me. > > Why on earth are they called Renaissance? Because generally you’ll have Good Queen Bess running around with her court, as well. I have to tell you, if you’re a stickler for historical accuracy a RenFaire is NOT for you… ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/17 "2006-07-15T05:48:59Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Jousting, archery, Robin Hood - these sound like _medieval_ faires to me. > > Why on earth are they called Renaissance? One reason is because idiot fundies have complained that the word “medieval” has the word “evil” in it. I’m not joking, unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/18 "2006-07-15T05:51:16Z")
I like the Ren Faire because it gives me a chance to wear a farthingale. For me, there’s definitely a Halloween-dress-up aspect to it that I really enjoy. Grownups often lose the art of pretending which is sad, 'cause putting on a costume and poking people with wooden swords is _fun._ Hubby and I go every year, though he declines the costume aspects. We always have a hell of a good time. The folks who participate are good-humored, good-natured people and there’s a sense of commradery among all of us who find ourselves dressing up to play knights and ladies. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/19 "2006-07-15T09:55:59Z")
> [@ExTank](#): > > MY first was in Larkspur Colorado in '98. **Cherry** and **ExTank** Did you ever see Puke and Snot? Those guys were pretty funny. Here they are, a bit greyer than I remember, but then I am too, looks like they are at Larkspur until the end of the month. Puke and Snot Only been to a couple of the fairs, and we’ve now moved far away. It was a bit of a drive and the husband loved to ogle the um, bodices, but he always began to feel a bit embarrassed by the very thing I loved: dressing up and pretending to be in another time and place. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2006, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565/20 "2006-07-15T12:00:13Z")
This is near the top of my list of Things I Have No Interest In Doing. The clothing looks hot and uncomfortable and I hate eating (what I consider) fork food with my hands. Not much of a fair person, I guess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-renaissance-faires/364565.md?page=2)