Searching For Renfaires Where I Can Shoot My Own Longbow

[Craigmeister]

Over the winter, I created the persona of an English longbowman.  In my travels around the south-central U.S., there has only been one Renfest I've attended where I could shoot my own longbow.  What other places besides the Four Winds Faire can I do this?  The archery range at KCRF is good by I haven't tried my own bow there.  Should I be looking for a certain vendor at Renfests?

[Bonny Pearl]

that is an interesting question.  it would be neat if there was a faire that had competitions for such a thing for patrons.

the only thing that comes to mind is perhaps SCA events?  i don't really know much about those though...

[Abbot Bubo]

I'm not an SCA member but I attend the 3 main wars on the west coast (Estrella, Portrero and Great Western).  The archery ranges have great set-ups, usually with moving and spinning targets.  I have not yet participated in the archery competitions though I am friends with Captain Nad of Fairebows and have worked with him in his vendor booth at Estrella.  You may want to contact him with any questions...www.fairebows.com
Tell him Abbot sent ya.

[madmanpsu]

If you ask politely, Master Will at PaRF may allow you to shoot your bow at his range.  He has a range at his shop to allow customers to try out bows before purchase, but I know that on occasion he has allowed other patrons to shoot bows they have brought in themselves.  Ussually they do this toward the end of the day when his shop is empty and that side of the shire is not very busy.

[dbaldock]

You might try contacting "rengypsy" (Eric Todd), the principle partner in owning/operating Sherwood Forest Faire near Austin, TX.  Since it's a "Robin Hood" themed Ren Faire, they may allow you to shoot your own longbow.


Take Care,
David Baldock

[Craigmeister]

Fortunately, Four Winds has a competition each day of their 7 week run.  Ribbons & medals are given out at the end of each afternoon's shoot.  There are patrons who attend several days just to compete at the archery range.  Siegework Creations brings a longbow shop & the archery range to this wonderful faire.

[insidiousraven]

the KCRF is having a midwest longbow competition that is free to enter this year on September 18 and 19.  You also get to go to the faire for free if you enter, and bring 4 guests for free as well.

[Hatter]

MNRF will be hosting the Minnesota Longbow competition again this year over Labor Day weekend.  I'm sure you could use your own bow at that range.

[VIII]

Well, I was waiting for someone who is more "In-The-Know" to answer, but they haven't.
Scarborough Faire outside Waxahachie, Texas, has a competition during the season for bow enthusiasts.  You can use your own bow, so long as it has is under a 75 lb draw (I believe) and you must use their arrows.

[Hibernian]

Check out Kentucky Highlands next year. Over the July 4th weekend they held an archery tournament. Prizes awarded in several different classes. It went well, I'm pretty sure they'll do it again.

[Craigmeister]

Grammercy to each of you.  I will be working too much in September to make it to KCRF for their tournament.  Scarby sounds tempting though.  I've been wanting to go back there for the last couple of springs.

[NefariousDrO]

I was at Mayfaire here in Michigan and they had an archery competition. I'm not positive, but it looked like the competitors were using their own bows.

[BLAKDUKE]

Craigmeister:

I know for a fact that at one time back in the day TNRF had an archery contest with prizes etc.  Many a local bowman
attended and brought their own bow.  You might contact Mike Freeman there and ask if they have any plans of having it again.

The BLAKDUKE

[Gwen]

We're not a RenFaire, but we will be having a longbow competition at the Tournament of the Phoenix October 22, 23, 24.

Gwen

[Craigmeister]

It's good to hear of these tournaments.  I'm afraid that my travels this fall will not take me out of Oklahoma, Arkansas or Kansas though.  Good luck to all of you who get to participate.  Huzzah to you for helping keep this ancient tradition alive.  Hip, hip, Huzzah!

[Frederic]

I know its a bit out of Bowman Craigmeister's range, but for others in the Northeast region, the Connecticut Ren Faire started a Robin Hood themed spring festival, with an archery competition that was definately BYOB (Bring your own Bow).  There was a host of restrictions on what was allowed (no compounds, no mechanical triggers, no sights, etc), but I'm sure a simple longbow would meet them.  The faire was held in Guilford (near New Haven), and I'm guessing that it was successful, because they are doing it again next year:

www.ctfaire.com/spring/

[Craigmeister]

Thanks for all of the referrals.  The East Coast is indeed out of my range.  I didn't even make it back to KC this year.  Tulsa's new Medfaire had a crossbow archery range put on by the SCA last month.  Since it's in a county park, they couldn't use sharp points though.  They had blunt ends on the bolts but we had live targets to shoot.  That was a fun change.

[SirRichardBear]

We do indeed have a acrhery tournament at Scarborough you can use your own bow as long as its under 50 pounds and is a period stright long bow and not a compound or recurve and you can shot your own arrows as long as they meet range rules.  We have tournament judge who can check out your bow and arrows and determine if they are legal for our tournamnet.