Fondest Memories... that won't get us moved to The Inn :)

[Riot]

So we have a crazy story thread, how about some of the best or worst memories you have had at TRF?  I didn't see a thread for it so why not!

I'll start..

One of my best is also one of my least favorite memories.  I have been through great many floods of <insert year here> of TRF fame, but a few years ago I was camping with a group of mine and Sunday night a cold front pushed in. It literally went from decently warm and dry to wall of massive rain in seconds. Even with it pitch black you could see people running from the drum circle to our pavilion and the rain coming in behind them.  As we quickly put up the walls on the big tent and made sure there were chairs and blankets all around. I myself also rescued my goose down pillow from the tent in case the waterproofing didn't hold up as I had to take a bus from Houston to Austin the next day and yeah I'm not carrying that around on a bus.  I have no idea how many campsites we ended up housing people from in that pavilion that night, but it was quite a few.  We sat around trying to keep warm, and dry for the next several hours. We even rescued a tub of firewood that had left someones R.V. and was proceeding to ride the river towards the back of the campgrounds(luckily it belonged to the people next to use, which since it was Sunday was still a bit aways from us).  I ended up getting rather sick from that night, and miserably cold and wet for several hours, but it was one of the best nights out at the campgrounds at TRF.

Midnight, Lady Jessica, or even Lady Rochelle, correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't that the weekend McShuggenah met you guys and the weekend of "Miata Fame"?

[bellevivre]

my first time at faire- in (I know now) REALLY bad garb, about 17... came with my choir (we did a one weekend a performance of madrigals) and then went running around- caught the very last TRF Flaming Idiots show... lol and it turns out my future husband was there too- and it was also HIS first time to faire! we didnt meet, and if we had I was just 17 and he was 28- I had a LOT of growing up to do! But I still think it's the most fabulous thing ever...

My parents had gone to TRF since I was about 6... so I have memories of the old B&W Real Musgrave illustrated programs they'd bring home, and all the pictures! I had wanted to go from the very start! It was magic the first time and Ive been hooked ever since!

[Lady Rochelle]

Why yes Riot that was the weekend that we all met after all of us being on  RF.com, I still to this day cannot figure out how James can pack that miata so well, if ever I move I am calling him. Yes that was a rather damp weekend, naked people running around, it was funny , and all the while Ferret and Ambard slept thru it, lmao, that was a weekend to remember. My first weekend meeting alot of fine folks, you , Jessica, Ferret, Ambard, Calith & Vanduil. It was all worth it . I wouldnt trade it for anything

[Gwen aka Punstergal]

Ooohhh.. memories.. boy, are there a bunch of those!!

I remember the day my dad sold the Texas Renaissance Festival *MY* carousel. When I found out, I bawled my eyes out, even though it was being replaced at the park (Kiddie Wonderland, for anyone who remembers Houston that far back). The carousel was in HORRIBLE shape. The horses all needed to be painted, the floor was so creaky people got on horses as fast as possible just to get off the floor! When you sat on the benches, you came away with chips of paint on your butt.. but she had a good motor, and she was built sturdy, and the faire wanted one.

Somewhere in an album in my parents house is the little advertisement they printed and stuck in the Houston newspapers to announce the new carousel attraction at TRF. (I'd hazard to say this was in the late 80's.. 90 perhaps). We put a copy of it in a photo album right next to the bill of sale, and a picture of the carousel as it was the day we sold it (a "before" pic). The restoration/renovation was astonishing! Everything about it was beautiful, and I was proud to say that it was *MY* carousel (even though it wasn't anymore).

Sadly, it's long since been replaced (by some horribly childish monstrosity with frogs and whatnot in primary colors that no child over the age for 10 would dare touch, I imagine, but that's just my opinion).  I suppose the GORGEOUS benches took up too much space and the profit margin was probably more dependent on screaming kiddos than adults trying to engage their inner youths. I do kind of wonder what happened to it though.. <sigh>

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

WOW!  Now there is a pointant memory

[Riot]

Why yes Riot that was the weekend that we all met after all of us being on  RF.com, I still to this day cannot figure out how James can pack that miata so well, if ever I move I am calling him. Yes that was a rather damp weekend, naked people running around, it was funny , and all the while Ferret and Ambard slept thru it, lmao, that was a weekend to remember. My first weekend meeting alot of fine folks, you , Jessica, Ferret, Ambard, Calith & Vanduil. It was all worth it . I wouldnt trade it for anything

I still laugh my butt off thinking about him kicking that dang thing under the car.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

One of the nicest things that happened to us was at Bristol the summer of 2008.   Steve and I wore our noble garb for the first time.  Towards the end of the day, a woman and her 3 year old daughter came up to us.  The mother said her little girl thought we were the king and queen and wanted to give us a present.  We assured her we were not the king and queen and would be delighted to receive her present.

She then gave each of us a gold stone, like you can buy at Hobby Lobby or Michaels in a net bag.  Then the dad and the baby and the older sister, around 5 or 6, my memory is fading, can't remember exactly how old, came up to us.  The older girl was too shy to come up, but the 3 year old really wanted to, so her mom took her up to us.

We ended up giving each of the 3 little girls one of our favors.  They are on a pin, and we pinned them on each one.  Then the parents took pictures of the 3 of them with us, the little girls curtseyed and we all said goodbye and they left.

It is a moment I will always cherish.  And I have both stones in the basket I carry with me to faire.

[Blue66669]

Ooohhh.. memories.. boy, are there a bunch of those!!

I remember the day my dad sold the Texas Renaissance Festival *MY* carousel. When I found out, I bawled my eyes out, even though it was being replaced at the park (Kiddie Wonderland, for anyone who remembers Houston that far back). The carousel was in HORRIBLE shape. The horses all needed to be painted, the floor was so creaky people got on horses as fast as possible just to get off the floor! When you sat on the benches, you came away with chips of paint on your butt.. but she had a good motor, and she was built sturdy, and the faire wanted one.

Somewhere in an album in my parents house is the little advertisement they printed and stuck in the Houston newspapers to announce the new carousel attraction at TRF. (I'd hazard to say this was in the late 80's.. 90 perhaps). We put a copy of it in a photo album right next to the bill of sale, and a picture of the carousel as it was the day we sold it (a "before" pic). The restoration/renovation was astonishing! Everything about it was beautiful, and I was proud to say that it was *MY* carousel (even though it wasn't anymore).

Sadly, it's long since been replaced (by some horribly childish monstrosity with frogs and whatnot in primary colors that no child over the age for 10 would dare touch, I imagine, but that's just my opinion).  I suppose the GORGEOUS benches took up too much space and the profit margin was probably more dependent on screaming kiddos than adults trying to engage their inner youths. I do kind of wonder what happened to it though.. <sigh>

OMG I LOVED KIDDIE WONDERLAND!!! I used to go there all the time- that is, until I got thrown off a horse, then had the dem thing fall on top of me.

[ravic]

I too loved Kiddie Wonderland! I used to go there when I was a child & I later took my children there. Thanks for the memories.

[Lady Rochelle]

I dont know I went there when I was a wee one but I did take my son there when he was little but when I was young we went to a place called peppermint park .

[midnightferret]

Thank gods we don't have to pack the Miata anymore. Now we have the slightly larger Honda hatchback, and I don't have to ride the last 20 miles of the trip with my feet on top of the beer. Remember, kids, don't buy a cheap $12 canopy. You will end up kicking it under your Miata.

But, yeah, the first time we met you in person (via R/F.com, of course! Waaaay back in '03, I think it was.... heheh) was when River McShuggenah made its way through our camp. Oh, and Ambard came out to talk to y'all but I slept through most of it under the army blanket.

I was only awakened by the cries of "help" from a couple in a small pop tent that was free floating in the flood...