The Faire's the Thing...

[Orryn Emrys]

I'm uncertain what volume of roleplaying enthusiasts find Renaissance Faire's attractive, though I would suspect that quite a number of "Faire-goers" are roleplayers, of course... considering the obvious connection between the pursuits. I, for one, have been a regular patron of the Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kansas, for several years. And, as the fair has become more and more popular, I am beginning to find the experience gradually less enjoyable.

Don't get me wrong... I am overjoyed at the surge in popularity... but the throngs of tourists, as yet uninspired to dress appropriately and become a part of the experience, has begun to seriously diminish the "period" impact of the event.

As the Kansas City Ren Fest is a huge event, lasting nearly two months in September and October, I don't want to abandon the event entirely... but we drive nearly six hours to get there and I would prefer to feel confident that the experience will be a satisfactory one. So my question is this: Is this, to anybody's knowledge, a common problem in other areas...? And furthermore, does anyone know of any other sizable fairs out in the midwest (KS/CO/OK/NE/TX) that might be worth the drive from southwest Kansas?

On the other hand, if you live near enough to KC and have never visited the RenFest in Bonner Springs, you should really check it out. This weekend is the last weekend for 2003, but it runs annually from Labor Day weekend to Columbus Day. I took a couple of first time Faire-goers this past weekend... and they enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[kengar]

My wife is a "wench" at the Maryland RennFest (one of the bigger ones in the country, as I understand it) and enjoys gaming. I am an avid gamer and a "dane" (Mundane: a person who doesn't dress up, etc.). As to other faires around you, I understand that Texas has quite a Renn presence, but I'm not sure where their Faire(s) is held.

 

[Tewligan]

Are visitors to these things expected to dress up as well? I'm going to the Ohio festival this weekend, and I certainly have no intention of going in costume. Am I going to be out of place? I assumed that most visitors don't dress up.

 

[Orryn Emrys]

Are visitors to these things expected to dress up as well? I'm going to the Ohio festival this weekend, and I certainly have no intention of going in costume. Am I going to be out of place? I assumed that most visitors don't dress up.

Actually, no. Although I can easily attest to a time, several years past, when you'd feel a little funny walking into the KC RenFest without period attire, that is certainly no longer the case... And you can enjoy the Faires every bit as much without goin' "in drag." In fact, members of my group are frequently mistaken for "villagers," as there are numerous volunteers who spend each weekend wandering the festival in full costume and engaging the visitors in various conversations. It's a blast either way... I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I'm getting ready for the Ren Fest here starting the 1st weekend in Nov. It's going into it's 4th years and is supposed to be expanding quite a bit this year.

There is a big Ren Fest in Plantersville (spelling?) just to the north of Houston that seems to be very popular. In fact in '98 that was the 1st Ren Fest I went to. I need to plan to go to that one again.

 

[Nightchilde-2]

I live (literally) right down the street from Scarborough Faire. It's pretty cool, and a decent size. Not as large as the one that's held in Houston, I'm sure, but still. It's in Waxahachie, just a bit south of Dallas.

Don't try their mead, though. It's kinda watery.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

I live (literally) right down the street from Scarborough Faire. It's pretty cool, and a decent size. Not as large as the one that's held in Houston, I'm sure, but still. It's in Waxahachie, just a bit south of Dallas.

Don't try their mead, though. It's kinda watery.

Hey, I've heard of that one too and that it's pretty good. Isn't it held in the spring around April? That's another one I need to plan on going to.

 

[Theron]

To my mind, The Texas Renaissance Festival (the one going on now near Houston) has gotten too big, too commercial, and too "Disney-bethan". Then again, thanks to eighteen years in the SCA, I got plenty of exposure to bad costumes and accents out of Monty Python without having someone trying to force me to buy a seven dollar turkey leg every fifteen minutes.

So, color me a wee bit jaded.

 

[herald]

Well, as someone who has worked for Festivals Inc. for over 20 years, (I work the show in Tampa Bay area, and is owned by the same people who run the show in Bonner Springs.) I can tell you that as your show gets bigger, it's best that your Patrons DON'T dress in garb. I have a few experiances to backup my opinion.

1) Security. More than once has an innocent been accosted by "someone in a costume" and that must mean that it was a cast member. This is a huge headache. Most cast members know what boundries are and avoid issues. If a viking is draging someone off to the bushes no matter how someone is protesting, thier a patron.

2) Performance quality. There is nothing more disconserning to new patrons to see someone in a beautiful costume suddenly whip out a cell phone, or a cigarette. Image shattered, the rubber band that connects the patron to the modern world is stretched too thin and then thier catapulted back to watching TV.

I could go on, but you get my point.

And I'm sure that there are plenty of people who could come up with plenty of exceptions, what ifs and buts, but in the long run, it just doesn't work out. I'm not going to tell anyone not to dress up. Nothing gets the ladies attention like a well groomed guy in tights and nothing gets the guys attention like a low cut bodice. I just draw the line at encouraging it.

But that just me.

 

[JDragon]

Well I'm not anywhere near Kansas, but I have been attending the local Ren Faire here in the San Francisco Bay area almost every year for the last 10 plus years.

In the last 3 or 4 years I have started to put together a costume piece by piece, picking up some thing new each time. This years piece was a pair of leather boots and new pants. Now all I need is a sword to go with my dagger my wife & I recieved as a wedding gift and I'll be set.

The faire here has always been a combination of non-staff costumed and non-costumed attendies, and can't say if the % of one vs another has changed. I know due to loosing their orig location in Black Point forest 4 or 5 years ago and having to move twice prior to finding a new place has had a negitave impact on the faire. (the first place they tried when they moved, just sucked)

I was talking to one of the shop owners over the weekend that mentioned to me it seemed to him it had become much more of a tourist/sales event than a place for people to have fun. Not that people aren't having fun, you just don't see the "frolicking" (for lack of a better word) that you used to.