Thoughts on attending my first Ren Faire

[Achan hiArusa]

I usually go to two faires, my ex-girlfriend got me into them and I still escort her there now. The Norman faire is very touristy and generally all I do is watch acts and talk to the AOA performers. Its held in a park near OU. The Muskogee faire is out of the way (it was 2 hours from Fayetteville or Norman), but the faire grounds are an actual village and it charges admission. Its a bit more immersive and there is more to do including a dance every 2 hours. Scarbourough is about 2.5 hours south of here after Dallas, but I haven't been yet, maybe one of these days. And I plan to go to Kansas City one of these days.

As for homemade alcohol, I heard mentioned that there is a Chicago Renfaire that serves microbrewed mead.

 

[kenobi65]

As for homemade alcohol, I heard mentioned that there is a Chicago Renfaire that serves microbrewed mead.

Well, Bristol is the only Chicago-area Ren Faire, but I have no idea if they have microbrew mead.

 

[Gilladian]

Scarborough Faire (Waxahachie, TX) is FUN! It has a beautiful grounds that is always being improved. There are woods, and a creek, and a lot of nice meandering lanes. The shows are excellent - I always go see the falconer, and Don Juan and Miguel, and Hey Nunny Nunny, etc... They just built new jousting bleachers, or at least majorly improved the old ones.

The rennie folk must have private areas somewhere, but not visible to fairegoers. Many folk rent costumes or purchase them and wear their garb, so it can be hard to tell the regular fair-goers from the actual cast.

The food is pretty commercial, but tasty (and pricey!). No microbrews that I remember, but I rarely drink at faire because heat and alcohol are a bad combo for me.

The crafters are some of the most fun. Watching the glassblower, the bookbinder, and the smiths is always entertainment worth having. The shops are a range of fantasy medieval jewelry, hand-made art (some not so very medieval, but always attractive), pottery, posters and sketches, garb-sellers, etc...

As one other person said, the faire has a high ratio of "fantasy" and "fantasy-medieval" rather than pure renaissance themes.

The Renaissance Festival (TRF) is located in Magnolia (nearish to Houston) is older, smaller and I think a bit more pure-renaissance, though I've only been there once. They have a LOVELY rose garden and living chess board on the grounds.

 

[GlassJaw]

I've attended King Richards in Massachusetts

Jeez, I haven't been to King Richard's Faire in YEARS.

 

[kenobi65]

Jeez, I haven't been to King Richard's Faire in YEARS.

The Bristol Faire outside of Chicago also used to be a King Richard's Faire, but in the late 1980s, King Richard (Shapiro) got into tax trouble with the state of Wisconsin, and the faire got sold to the current ownership (which changed the name).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've been to the one down here near D/FW (TX) once or twice and had a good time. Tasty food, some nice acts (esp. the comedians and the hawk master), and some pretty nice costumes.

However, the biggest fun I got out of it was buying bopper weapons for my 2 (at the time, teenaged) younger cousins and watching them beat the bechupas out of each other all Summer over this slight or that insult. At some point, they thought it would be a good idea to challenge me.

School was definitely in session as I disarmed them (with a NERO longsword), then beat them with their own weapons.

Good times, good times.

 

[TerraDave]

The maryland faire is worthwile. And I can confirm the wide range of libations and opportunities for over-eating.

Personal highlights: winning the axe-throw (the key was using both arms and legs) and getting my wife to go. Sadly, these did not occur on the same year.

 

[Dire Bare]

Anybody know of any cool faires around Southern Idaho? When I lived in Colorado I'd go to the Larkspur RenFaire every year, and I miss that!