Last weekend there was a RenFaire nearby and I thought about going. I got sick and couldn’t go. They usually have several in this area or nearby and I was wondering if they are worth going to. What should I expect at one? Inquiring minds would like to know.
The one here in eastern Colorado is a kick in the pants.
They run it from June through end of August (I think) every weekend.
The one here, you need to take lots of money. Everything from arts and crafts, clothing, “rides”, beer, food, etc. it’s all good but not cheap.
There are performances, like Puke and Snot (not sure if they are still around), The Executioner, jugglers, kissing wenches and the King and Queen make their rounds too, jousting etc. If you like the Renaissance period, it’s a blast, even if you are just interested it’s fun.
I enjoy it and think it’s a great time, but only go every few years. I don’t want to become bored with it.
Well, depends on what you want. It’s often $25 or more to get in. There are shows and music, but basically the attraction is the chance to buy stuff that you don’t see often – armor, handwoven shawls and tartans, bobbin lace, etc. – from people with fake accents and funny costumes 
There’s also always a certain amount of souvenir-store stuff for sale – those little pewter dragons holding prisms, that sort of thing – that you can get, usually cheaper, elsewhere.
If you have lots of money to spend or can be happy going just to browse, it can be a kick.
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Hey, it’s my one chance a year to get into a wench outfit, lace the breastesses up to here, and go have fun. How could I pass it up?
Take money. If you like costumes, rent one at the door. Get the cinnamon almonds, try out the one person hammock, buy some pretty hair things. Watch the minstrels and other shows, give the performers some money. Buy overpriced turkey legs and beer. Flirt with the men wearing kilts.
Aaaah, I’ll be happy when Scarborough opens up again.
I went to a small one during a vacation. It was fun for a afternoon. I’d go again, if any were close by.
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Lo there do I see my mother, my sisters, and my brothers.
Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the begining.
Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take me place among them.
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My sister is getting married at a Renfair in a couple weeks. I think it is a brilliant idea–everyone is excited about the wedding, because it is something fun. We have a huge family, and weddings can get pretty boring after a while. This is one to look forward to, and it is ultimitly probably cheaper than a traditional wedding–I mean, Renfairs have outragously inflated prices, but they have not had the years of practice that the bridal industry has had. It takes a certain amount of gumption to charge $1000 for a low end dress–Renfair costumers only have the nerve to ask for a couiple hundred!
if you like Ren Faires, and would like to get into something more ‘full-time’, you can check out the SCA – Society for Creative Anachronism. huge medieval re-creation group, worldwide… their official site is www.sca.org
I’ve been in for almost a year and a half, and when I have a chance to go, it’s a blast… (work intrudes more often than not)
I don’t suffer from insanity…
I enjoy every minute of it!
Ren Faires are nice, but they vary in quality. The L.A. area Faire) which I am more familiar with, is big big big. Lots of stuff to do and see. Definitely worth going to.
However, I went to this other Ren Faire in the Midwest, and while it was nice (it really was) it was much smaller. (That’s why it’s not fair to compare a Ren Faire for a large area like L.A. to a smaller Faire somewhere less populated.) The thing I remember not liking about the smaller Faire was that they were not sticklers for costume authenticity. And to me, that’s a big part of the charm.
At the L.A. Faire, participants had to adhere to a strict dress code, to make sure they wore something historically accurate. However, there obviously were no such standards at the Midwestern Faire, since I saw vendors and other Faire participants wearing sweat pants, t-shirts, and other VERY historically innacurate costumes. It kind of bothered me.
So I guess I’m saying, Ren Faires are great, but quality varies. Ask some people in your area about what your local Ren Faire is like.
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I like them. Eat a turkey leg or three, drink some mead, watch a few shows. I went to one a few months ago, and enjoyed it. The shows are usually funny.
We are regulars at the Ren Faire near Chicago, haven’t missed it in years. It’s expensive–be sure to get a discount coupon, sometimes available on line. Also it tends to be cheaper earlier in the season. Plan to get there early and spend all day, especially if you want to shop and see the performances. We like the jousting and mud wrestling. I bring my kids and we get into it–wear costumes, have sword fights, talk using words like “methinks”.
We have found some very precious purchases, ranging from cheap wooden swords & shields which the kids painted and used the next year, to $200 gold puzzle rings, to one-of-a-kind dragon puppets.
Go forth and enjoy!
inconceivable? i don’t think that word means what you think it does
The ones in Maryland (fall) and Virginia (spring) are pretty fun. Some great food, entertainment, and crafts. (We almost bought a hand-carved bed for $2000.)
If you like dressing in medieval costumes, they’re the perfect place to prance about in your tights. 
They’re usually $12 to get in for the whole day. IIRC, they also have all-you-can-visit season passes.
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Renaissance Faires blow unless you’re into that DnD, SCA shit. If you’re into that stuff, you’ll probably have fun. If not, not. My sister was a performer for a couple of years so I went to a couple. I think they suck, but that’s just my opinion. Also, they’re damned expensive–in KC, like fifteen bucks to get in and then you pay for everything else on top. And those craftspeople are expecting you to buy something from them. Which, if you’re smart, you ain’t gonna do, since their stuff is massively overpriced compared to what you can get at your local independent jeweler’s or whatever. Support your home folks, not those who travel around the country sucking money out of whatever city they’re in.
I think they’re fun just to peoplewatch.
My husband and I invariably end up planting ourselves in a sunny location near the beer. We get sloshed and make up conversations between some of the more coloful attendees:
“Why, fair wench, thou hast the breasteths of an oxen!”
“The better to tempt you with, foul creature!”
Points given for the best butchering of words!
I buy handcrafted wooden toys for the kids in my life. He calls me “Wench” all day and checks out the breasts on display. Fun had by all!
That would be colorful, of course.
What area of NC are you in? I am interested in going to one but they never seem to have any good ones around my area.
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I used to go to the L.A. Faire when it was in the Agoura Hills area. It gave me a chance to wear my kilt. The one thing I hated about it was that it was always hot and dusty. I’d rather it be held earlier in the spring when it’s cool and there’s at least a possibility of it being damp (hey, I can dream!). It moved to San Bernardino several years ago, and I haven’t been SBO is hotter and drier than the previous location.
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You mentioned some here in Virginia in the spring…do you have any more info on that? I recently moved down here, and have no idea where it might be held. I loved going to the ones in Ohio though.
For me, the best part is listening to the musical performers. Sing the bawdy irish drinking songs, or listen quietly to some clasical guitar.
And checking out the breastesess of course
Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like I need to go just to see what it’s all about and it does sound fun.
Evilbeth - I live near Raleigh. The RenFaire was at the State Fairgrounds this past weekend :(. However, I heard that there was an even bigger RenFaire in Charlotte in the fall.
We lucked out twice while on vacation in Florida, we have friends who we stay with in the Sarasota area who are really into it. Went this year, as a wench. My friend made this Amazon outfit that was pretty amazing. I bought a rock with a hole in it, that leads to a resoviour. You fill the resoviour with lamp oil, insert wick and PRESTO: flaming rock. And I got a hand-made little girly bag for when I have to dress up pretty and need something to hold my money and lipstick.
I’ve heard that after the gates close, the staff parties down. I always thought THAT would be a lot of fun to go to.
I’ve started going to the yearly fair in Sterling Forest, New York-- last year I even shelled out over $200 for full wench regalia. It’s a great time, even if you don’t buy much-- it can get expensive, but in my case has become something I save for. Besides, where else can I get away with dressing like that? Lace me up, baby!
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