new at sherwood for 2011

[rengypsy]

This year we have added:
A) full contact joust
B) DedBob
C) Filthy Rotten Scoundrels
D) flush toilets
E) increased clan and general camping
F) additional parking with room for a limited number of rvs
G) additional seating at several stages
H) approx 20 new vendors
I) National Joust Tournament (april 9th)
J) fall Celtic Highland Games (sept 24-25th)

Your thoughts on the additions?

[Ronald the Bald]

The joust was awesome! Started a little slow, but the last half was worth the wait!

Flush toilets are very good, but need to have something blocking more of the mens room door near the gate. A privacy screen of some kind more than what you have. Just felt a little exposed.

As a whole the additions are quite impressive. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Bonny Pearl]

This year we have added:
A) full contact joust
B) DedBob
C) Filthy Rotten Scoundrels
D) flush toilets
E) increased clan and general camping
F) additional parking with room for a limited number of rvs
G) additional seating at several stages
H) approx 20 new vendors
I) National Joust Tournament (april 9th)
J) fall Celtic Highland Games (sept 24-25th)
Your thoughts on the additions?

We were glad we could bring our Castle on Wheels out to faire!   As word gets out, you might get overrun with these lol 

I know the Highland Games event is going to be marked on our calendars lol. 

[rengypsy]

addressing the men's toilet near the front gate today.  thanks. rengypsy

[Hercules]

Programs? You may have them and I missed them.

Themed weekends are always kinda fun.

Hooks in the men's flushers too. At the risk of sounding like a dawg...sometimes us guys need to hang our equipment to pee. 

[PollyPoPo]

RE:  Ladies permanent flush toilet, near Pub -That shelf in the first stall (made from a branched tree limb) is a great touch - I don't remember if the other stalls had something like that or not.  Personally, I'm going to look into getting/making one for my home.  Little things like that can make an impression (on me at least ).

Never seen DedBob before - nearly choked laughing.

Glad I have an FOF pass - way too much to see in a weekend (or 2 or 3).

Polly PoPo

[fireworks guy]

Don't forget "The Tournament of Sherwood"! New this year at Sherwood Forest Faire it features international fighting champions battling for Glory, wealth and fame!

For England - Guy of Gisborne
For Spain - Carlos Santana Eduardo Guerrero
For Africa - Mufah Sahaladin
For Germany - Oskar Hasselhoff

The Tournament of Sherwood takes place at 1:00, 3:00 and 5:30 at the Combat Arena next to Shakespeare's Olde Globe Stage

This Tournament is PG-13 for violence and adult humor. Please come see us! We need audience, take in our show before the pub sing! Each show is different by the audience's choices!

[PollyPoPo]

Heyyyy!

We were waiting for the Shakespeare show to start and saw a tournament fighting from across the barriers.  Great from that side, too!

Will definitely be adding to our list to see next visit.

Polly PoPo

[Lady Kett]

Praise:

While I didn't make a point of trying to hit all the ladies' privies, I do have to say THANK  YOU for having the stall doors open OUTWARD in all of those I did visit. It's a pet peeve of mine when they open inward. 

Love the new signage - our only visit last year was opening weekend and it was in seriously short supply then but great now.

Loved the vendors. Wish there were a few more leather workers, but that will come with time. Besides, I found plenty to buy! The gypsies with the stuffed rats is my favorite [OMG those little rats are adorable and made great gifts, even if my employees now think I'm certifiably mad!], followed closely by Rowan Wood (I think that's their name) with the books and crossbows.

Didn't have much time to visit many shows, but that's our fault not yours. Lots on the agenda, we just kept stopping at pubs and chatting. Even found our favorite beer wench so that was a bonus.

Loved the little wooden mushrooms all over the place. Even watched, and kibitzed, with one of the LEO's who sat down on one. I wish I'd taken a picture (his fellow LEO did!).

As a smoker (yes, yes, I know, flog me...) thank you for the ash-tray barrels. I try to be a respectful smoker and not throw butts on the ground, but rather put them out and throw them in the trash, but I do appreciate the barrels.


Greatest wishes:

More tables/seating in open areas, especially near the Greek food shop area. Places to sit and chat and watch people.

The Pub Sing could use some additional amplification. While a great party is happening at the pub, the Pub Sing part was quite drowned out by the festivities. I don't mind the party, I just like a good, participatory Pub Sing which was quite impossible.


I am just loving Sherwood. I wish it was a smidgeon closer to home so we could go every weekend, but I'll take whatever we can do, too!

[KiltedPrivateer]

For Leather works I would recommend Life Tree who are new to Sherwood this year.  They are tucked back just to the right as you pass through the main gate area.

[Tink]

I just read the Sherwood newsletter e-mail, and it mentioned a petting zoo for the wee ones.  I dont remember seeing this when I was out there last weekend.  Can anyone tell me where it is so that I can visit next time Im out? 

[PollyPoPo]

About the petting zoo, I ran across it Sunday while wandering.  I believe it is in the Once Upon a Time area, the part of the Faire dedicated to small ones, near Faery Queen's Story Circle and Pony Rides, though I cannot remember exactly where it was.  Check out the map on the Sherwood main web site, lower left area, between Pub and Archery range.  The Chess block is right in the center of that section on the map.  I think it's somewhere in there.

Polly PoPo

[Tink]

thanks, Polly! 

[DonaCatalina]

A) full contact joust - I did enjoy what I got to see which was the second half.
B) DedBob
C) Filthy Rotten Scoundrels
D) flush toilets - I have to say these were nice and roomy even though Hoops skirts were in the minority.
E) increased clan and general camping
F) additional parking with room for a limited number of rvs
G) additional seating at several stages - I never had a problem finding a seat, so was good!
H) approx 20 new vendors - 
I) National Joust Tournament (april 9th)
J) fall Celtic Highland Games (sept 24-25th)

I don't know if the dog doing tricks was new, but I enjoyed the show. She was so cute!

[Merlin the Elder]

It was all new to me, not having attended last year. ...and it was all good!

I'll second the mention of the sand buckets by Lady Kett.  I'm no longer a smoker, but having a convenient place to park butts is a superb idea, especially considering the setting...not that everyone is cognizant of where they drop their embers.

I regret that we didn't see more shows than we did. We were so busy walking around checking out the lay of the land, and we wore ourselves out both days. If we had stopped for more shows, we might have lasted longer! Next time...

Parking and the paths inside are real dusty. I would imagine that will change in time just from use. The areas that were mulched (inside the walls) were easier to walk on. If I were to complain about anything, it would be one of Mother Nature's little tools: the cockleburs. There are some real nasty ones out in the parking lot that hurt like hell to get stuck with. I have no clue how to get rid of them, or if it's even possible. The remnant vines out there also had a tendency to grab you by the ankles.

I cannot rave about this faire enough. If you haven't taken this one in, you need to.

[PollyPoPo]

After my 2nd weekend out there this year I wanted to express my appreciation for the mulched paths (as did Merlin the Elder) and also the seating tucked against trees, the ones with arms and back.  They make great places to rest a bit while deciding where to go/what to do next. 

Rengypsy, you were really listening and it shows.  Thanks. 

I am certain there will be more mentionables next week.

Polly PoPo