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Renaissance Faire or Theme Park

Started by The Rabbi, October 21, 2012, 12:27:39 PM

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The Rabbi

A long long time ago back in the 19somethings Renaissance Faires existed for a weekend and most were what is now considered soft sites. Vendors sold hand made crafts and while there were food vendors it was not uncommon to bring a lunch and sit down with friends and share a meal. The people who ran these events were often called host not owners. Yes there was a cover charge to help pay for the entertainment but there were often several events that required participation that were just as entertaining. Oh yes and at this time we were not known as rennies and you think people look at you strange today as you dress in garb and head to faire. Today in order to be considered a Renaissance Fair you must have a hard site, run at least 4 weekend, with multiple stage acts, and buildings that represent the time period. Food vendors are a must because Gods forbid you pack a lunch and if so plan on returning to your car to eat. Unless you are in the know chances are you will not even know who the fair owner is let alone think of them as a host. Does anyone else wonder if we still have Renaissance faires or are they turning into month long theme parks. 
My sanity is not lost I sent it away
Proud member of FOKTOP

Hoowil

Aside from the Northern California Pleasure Faire (which runs nearly two months), most of the faires around here are one weekend, soft sites. There is one two weekend faire that I know of. I have to say, I do wish there were some more permanent sites. Even NorCal, or as people refer to it Casa de Fruta (cause that's the name of the site) is pretty much all temporary.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with catsup.

The Rabbi

Mine is just an observation of the area around me as I know there are an abundant amount of weekend fairs out there. On a personal note being a traveler it is my humble opinion that I like the gritty rough feel of a camp town growing up overnight and becoming a faire. I liked going to these faires to be entertained but enjoyed being brought into the event just as much. Even then these rough gritty campgrounds were indeed businesses they were much more social gatherings than commercialism. Where you have patron camping if you desired to be period appearing camping on the fringes was not only allowed but encouraged you created your space in such a way it was private ie roped off etc. but you were basicaly a part of the ambiance. Dont get me wrong I enjoy the larger commercialized faires with deep pockets that can create whole villages but to me they are becoming more like theme parks than fairs.
My sanity is not lost I sent it away
Proud member of FOKTOP

lys1022

I'm not sure what the problem with that is?  There are faires of every size and that suit every taste.  If someone prefers the small faires, they can still go there and skip the big ones.  If someone prefers the larger faires, they can go there and skip the small ones.  If someone likes them all, they can go to them all.
Lys
I am not an employee of Scarborough Faire and to not represent them in any way.

adamfifer

I get what you're saying Rabbi.

Though I do think the relationship is symbiotic. I think without the larger "corporate" Faires the small "localized" Faires would all but die. Without the money and attention the bigger faires bring the vendors and performers couldn't or wouldn't be able to survive to make a showing at some of the small town faires.

I feel at the heart of your conversation is a tone of longing for the close and personal aspect of the small town faire of the past. The
'family" or "clan" bonding where everyone played a part and at the end of the day, well there was no real end because it became less an event and more a community.

I'm in Florida and due to codes and what not big or small it's all soft. So to know the feel of a "real" villag is something I've yet to experience, though this year that will change as I get to make a few road trips! Nevertheless you can still find the "community" in the corp. faire, though YOU have to make the effort, unlike the past where all you had to do was show up. And lucky for us in FL there are still some great "community" faires left...

adam 
I live in 1 nation under God, but my heart will always be in 7 Nations!!!

Itish/Scotch or Scotch/Irish BEST of SEVEN

Hoowil

I do miss the old site for the NorCal faire, when it was at Black Point, where there were hard structures, and it was nestled against a hillside grove of old oaks. The small soft faires lose a little when the playground of the park they are in is in the middle of everything, and you can hear the traffic from the freeway or major road that is one of the borders, or when the faire shares its parking with a car show.

That said, I love the fact that at the small faires I can feel more a part of it, and recognize and be recognized by other playtrons and cast. When my daughter is invited to sit on the lap of one of the ladies of the court so she can see a knighting, or watching my kids grow and their garb evolve has inspired a local garb merchant to start carrying kid sizes, I feel like a real part of the faire, and of the community.
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with catsup.

Merlin the Elder

It's mostly all good. There are drawbacks to almost every faire, large and small, hard and soft. It's where I put myself mentally that makes it or breaks it for me. But, everyone has their own preferences, and to say one is right and the other wrong is simply illogical.

TRF is the largest faire in the country—extremely popular—but I seriously doubt that we'll return there... Too many people, and too big... but that's just us. I'm not knocking it—I'm just saying where it fits in our plans.
Living life in the slow lane
ROoL #116; the Jack of Daniels; AARP #7; SS# 000-00-0013
I've upped my standards. Now, up yours.
...and may all your babies be born naked...

dbaldock

Quote from: Merlin the Elder on November 26, 2012, 11:46:34 AM
It's mostly all good. There are drawbacks to almost every faire, large and small, hard and soft. It's where I put myself mentally that makes it or breaks it for me. But, everyone has their own preferences, and to say one is right and the other wrong is simply illogical.

TRF is the largest faire in the country—extremely popular—but I seriously doubt that we'll return there... Too many people, and too big... but that's just us. I'm not knocking it—I'm just saying where it fits in our plans.

TRF is pretty big -
Quote from: [u]TRF Beefeaters - Attendance Statistics[/u]

2012 Total Attendance:
Friday, 23-NOV-12 = 24,599
All Saturdays = 288,160
All Sundays = 253,310
Total Weekends = 566,069
School Days = 40,692
Grand Total = 606,761

I'm still partial to Scarborough Faire, since it was the first one I attended; and I like Sherwood Forest Faire, due to the Rennie community involvement with creating that faire.

Take Care,
David Baldock
Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people... -anonymous

Merlin the Elder

I had heard that it was crowded the previous Sunday when there were only 48,000+ visitors, but closing with 59,000+ ?!? Jeez Louise! That had to have been absolutely Nutz-O!
Living life in the slow lane
ROoL #116; the Jack of Daniels; AARP #7; SS# 000-00-0013
I've upped my standards. Now, up yours.
...and may all your babies be born naked...

Rowan MacD

 Bumping this...I was looking for the Disney dress codes for a bet with a friend, and it reminded me of a couple of discussions we have had here on the forum regarding what would be the defining thing/rules that would make the difference between a 'Reconnaissance Faire' and a "Renaissance Theme Park':

http://suite101.com/article/disneylands-dress-code-for-guests--rules--forbidden-clothing-a237397

Could you imagine a 'Renaissance Theme Park'  with these rules?


What doesn't kill me-had better run.
IWG wench #3139 
19.7% FaireFolk pure-80.3% FaireFolk corrupt

serenamoonsilver

Actually, I guess Disney has lightened up on the no costume rule (at least in enforcing it).  On our last trip we saw lots of goth lolita, steampunk, disney bound, etc.  One staff person told me that as long as you aren't actually dressed up as an "official" character (because of safety issues) then they will let you in.  The only reason they may say something is if someone else makes a complaint about your costume.

Aderin

I love the idea! Also, I enjoy the rides at my local (Carolina renn fest!! Love to ride / watch
"There is always hope." - Aragorn

Life is the School, Love is the Lesson.