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Virginia Renaissance Faire

Started by Dirtfarmer, May 07, 2008, 04:23:32 PM

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Dirtfarmer

2008 Virginia Renaissance Faire

10:00am - 6:00pm  Saturdays, Sundays, & Memorial Day


May 17, 18 Pirate Weekend
Special Guest: Pyrates Royale

May 24, 25, 26 Military History Weekend 

May 31, June 1 Romance Weekend

June 7, 8 Midsummer Night's Dream

June 14, 15 Celtic Heritage
Special Guest: Keltish

Location: Lake Anna Winery
5621 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA

Website: www.VARF.org




aidenoffairfax

Sweet. Nothing specific to post, but I'll jump in the VARF raft too!
Please go ahead and clear your throats... the hack has arrived!

mellingera

#2
This year will be our (Lady Taylor and myself) first trip to VARF. We are definatly set for May 31 (it's my BDay!), but we might make it before then if we get our economic stimulus monies soon (It's a long trip down from Frederick, MD!). Either way, I can't wait to get my first faire 'fix' for the year... :)

Master James

Thanks for taking up the slack there Dirt!  I hadn't been on here in a couple of days so didn't realize we were migrating everything over. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone next weekend or whenever you can make it!
Why can't reality be more like faire?
Clan M'Crack
RenVet
Royal Order of Landsharks #59
FoMDRF
RFC #51

Tim T

Tim
aka Dark'n M'Crack of Clan M'Crack/Clan White

Lady_Glorianna

For starters, we are planing on being there on the 17th
Lady Elizabeth Poyntz
Ynez de Leon
Catherine of Austria, Queen consort of Portugal
Molly Blair

Secira

This would be first Ren. festival I've been to, and I'm really excited!  Is it okay for me to dress up, or is that "reserved" for more frequent/experienced faire-goers?  Also, what other advice is there for new-comers?

Lady_Glorianna

#7
Dressing up is not reserved at ANY faire but in terms of VARF I would especially encourage you to do so. It signals that you are willing to play along. Besides, in my experience, when you dress up you have an infinitely better time ;)

In terms of advice, be prepared to play and to have a good time. It can get pretty hot so pace yourself and drink lots of water :D
Lady Elizabeth Poyntz
Ynez de Leon
Catherine of Austria, Queen consort of Portugal
Molly Blair

GoldenGoose

By all means, dress up! Consider throwing comfy clothes in the car, though -- better you should be happy all day than have to cut your day short because you're too hot, too cold, whatever. (Although we've added quite a bit more shade to the site, so there are more opportunities to get out of the sun.)

If you're at all proud of your garb/rig/costume, consider entering the daily costume contest -- prizes for regular Elizabethan dress, as well as our special themes: Pirate, Military, Romance, Midsummer Night's Dream or Celtic -- each day.

Two things that tend to get forgotten: cash, since some merchants only take cash, as does the pub and we're still ATMless, (although we should have one by next season) and there are limited ATM facilities off-site, within an easy driving distance.

And sunscreen! Although the friendly folks at First Aid will be happy to give you a spray -- 'cause we don't want to see you sizzle.


aidenoffairfax

I second the thought on sunscreen! DON'T FORGET IT! Sunscreen is a beautiful thing!
Please go ahead and clear your throats... the hack has arrived!

Femme Falchion

This will be the first year that I make the journey North for VARF (closing weekend)....hopefully accompanied by several other like-minded goddesses  :D

Can anyone make recommendations for both camping and a moderately priced inn?


Domina Virago
Grand Mistress of the Order of the Hatchet
Mother Confessor
Sister of the Spring Fires

Dallan

Quote from: femme falchion on May 13, 2008, 12:37:31 PM
This will be the first year that I make the journey North for VARF (closing weekend)....hopefully accompanied by several other like-minded goddesses  :D

Can anyone make recommendations for both camping and a moderately priced inn?




Can't help you with camping but Fredericksburg is about 20 minutes away and you can find a hotel for under $100 per night at hotels.com. We'll be there closing weekend.
Fight'n

Femme Falchion

It will be good to see you and your family again.  This time I'll be without my Knight and regular adventuring group but am looking forward to a night away with the girls.....
Domina Virago
Grand Mistress of the Order of the Hatchet
Mother Confessor
Sister of the Spring Fires

stonethrow

Can anyone make recommendations for both camping and a moderately priced inn?


http://www.christopherruncampground.com/
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/lak.shtml

These are the closest to the Faire.

reese

#14
Quote from: Lady_Glorianna on May 11, 2008, 02:19:09 PM
Dressing up is not reserved at ANY faire but in terms of VARF I would especially encourage you to do so. It signals that you are willing to play along. Besides, in my experience, when you dress up you have an infinitely better time ;)

In terms of advice, be prepared to play and to have a good time. It can get pretty hot so pace yourself and drink lots of water :D


Oh I beg to differ, only because I don't dress up, and I swear I have more fun than anyone  ;D

Our Faire is interactive, so expect to be drawn into playing.  Just let yourself go and have a blast. 

Also, start hydrating  a day or 3 ahead, and continue to do so at faire, you don't want to go down in middle of  having fun.  Dress up as you like, whatever makes you comfortable, we're pretty easy going.  I don't get all dressed up, I dress as me and like it that way.  I'm cooler, and don't have to worry about tripping over some skirt, well my own at least.  OH, and wear comfortable shoes, we have some interesting terrain and even though we are small, you can still do an awful lot of walking. 

Reese

maddog00

About how big is the site? Are there any permanent buildings onsite? Just curious to know what to expect when going down this year. It'll be my first time. :)

Dirtfarmer

#16
The "inside of the wall" portion of the site is about 6ish to 7 acres.  Approximately 1/3 wooded 2/3 field or woodline area.  There are a few permanent buildings, but it is mostly a tent faire.  The stage acts vary from weekend to weekend so you can get a different show every week.  There is a heavy street actor presence.  There has become a pretty good "pub" atmosphere since there is almost always some entertainment going on in there.  There are 3 main stages that have pretty much continuous entertainment and a 4th smaller stage that will also be pretty much 100% booked.  If you like to interact with the cast, this is where you can do it and not get shot down and if you don't, well there is plenty of other entertainment to sit quietly and watch or shops to look through.

reese

ON top of playing interactively, there are plenty of hands on things you can do without feeling you have to pretend to be English, both for adults and children alike. 

We don't have a playground, but we do have a child's area (Poppets Glade) where children can learn and play hands on various things like leather work, weaving, spinning, paper making, dress up, fashion show, toy box, bubbles, small maze, puppet shows, story telling, and some other things I can't think of right now.  Even the big kids (adults) can enjoy these activities.  This is down in the Glade (think shade), a great place to stop and enjoy a rest out of the sun.

We also have a wonderful Archery setup, learning about archery through the ages, the equipment and even some hands on (for a small fee) time.  I'm not sure what sort of game venders we'll have, but last year we had some game venders and other hands on activities. 

There's always a place for someone to dance at the Maypole, or be introduced to Her Grace, coursing of the the hounds, and watch Jousting training. The militia also put on a mask sometime during the day. There is also the Court of Common Pleas and Court of Love as well as...well there is just too much.  Grab a pamphlet on the way in and read it, get an idea of what you reaaaaaaally want to see and just have fun. 

We're a soft faire, trying to grow hard,  small, intimate, family friendly faire. 

Reese

Lady Aldyth

Reese...

You WILL be dressed next year... if I myself have to give you my Apothecary garb (what I wore last year). If I can figure out where that damnable bodice went... you really should try it on, I think it would fit you decently.

I will see if I can't find and wash everything and bring it with me!

Dirtfarmer

I'll bet $1 on that.... 4:1 she won't!

Lady Aldyth

WHO won't?

I won't bring her garb? (probably not THIS weekend as I am frantically finishing this years and will need to drive from my sales meeting in NC to VARF Saturday evening)

She will not fit in garb? (tread softly my friend!)

She will not wear garb? (I will take that bet!)

Dirtfarmer

The bet being, she will not wear garb for more than 2 occasions (or over 8 hours total) for the entire run... Reese that is.

Lady_Glorianna

Quote from: reese on May 14, 2008, 07:07:46 AM
Quote from: Lady_Glorianna on May 11, 2008, 02:19:09 PM
Dressing up is not reserved at ANY faire but in terms of VARF I would especially encourage you to do so. It signals that you are willing to play along. Besides, in my experience, when you dress up you have an infinitely better time ;)


Oh I beg to differ, only because I don't dress up, and I swear I have more fun than anyone  ;D 

By all means. In my experience, I have done it both ways, danes and dressing up. I had a blast both ways but the experinces were totally different. I personally much prefer to dress but that is just me ;)
Lady Elizabeth Poyntz
Ynez de Leon
Catherine of Austria, Queen consort of Portugal
Molly Blair

reese

WOW, I had a huge reply this morning, and now it's gone...oh well, must not have been important enough.

Well, good luck Lady A.  I think DF has his money in the right pot.  Ya'll know me well enough to know...really, now think about it  ;) ;)  Me in garb?  Only if in dire straights will that happen again. 


Lady G.  I know, I know, most people seem to have more fun when dressed up, I'm just not one of them.  I live vicariously through my children, they make it a blast. 

I got my Little Lady Rachael's fan done, Sir Richards sword painted, hat feathers done, bling bought or made, now just need the clothing, which ought to be here tomorrow.  We're hydrating, and I put on Hither Dither and Yon to get me in the mood :D 


Reese


Secira

Hm, I see my other post was mysteriously deleted....  Could someone explain how the themes are tied into the experience? more particularly, "romance?"

Dirtfarmer

Yea, they were having issues with an update and it deleted some of the posts/threads.

will paisley

Quote from: Secira on May 22, 2008, 04:24:14 PM
Hm, I see my other post was mysteriously deleted....  Could someone explain how the themes are tied into the experience? more particularly, "romance?"

For romance weekend, each patron who wants one is given a favour (small pin) at the gate.   The gentlemen of the shire shall attempt to woo the ladies' pins from them, as the ladies will attempt to woo the men's.  Don't worry if you don't know how to woo, as there will be demonstrations onstage.   Feel free to withhold your favour until you've been sufficiently wooed.  Also, if your significant other fails to give up his pin, you are free to bring him or her up on charges at the Court of Courtly Love.
Minstrel, Interrupted, Bard #400 (CD)
Faire Name: "Flo's Husband"
Yeoman-Purser of the Frigate Up Royally