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Midwest => Wisconsin Renaissance Faire => Topic started by: Lady Renee Buchanan on November 14, 2008, 08:06:42 PM

Title: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lady Renee Buchanan on November 14, 2008, 08:06:42 PM
Hi, Everyone.  I found this letter on another board.  I've never been to this faire but have always heard great things about it.  Didn't see anything like it in this thread, so here it is:

Greetings Entertainers,

As you've probably heard by now, the WI Ren Faire has been threatened with the possibility of foreclosure.

As things now stand, everything is very much 'up in the air'. Various solutions are being proposed, and a whole range of possibilities are being entertained -- from finding a buyer(s) to rallying support from the shareholders and others to help the faire reach its next season.

At this point, we are still planning on a 2009 season. We also understand that this is your livelihood, and we wanted to inform you about the current situation so that you can book other venues if you need to.

We will keep you updated as we learn more. Because of the foreclosure action, time is short and a solution has to be found quickly. This means that we should be able to provide you with more concrete information regarding the 2009 season by the first of the year.

If any of you know someone who might be interested in purchasing the faire (the grounds are owned by the faire -- 120 acres riverfront), if you know people who might be interested in investing, or if you have other ideas, feel free to let us know.

We'll keep you abreast of the situation and hope that we get to see you in 2009!

Sweetwater,
Kenton and Rebecca Whitman
K & R Creative Enterprises, LLC
Directors of Entertainment
Wisconsin Renaissance Faire
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Marietta Graziella on November 18, 2008, 07:48:35 AM
Thanks for the update Lady Renee.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Toarmod on January 11, 2009, 04:27:14 PM
Anyone heard anything new with respect to this?
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on January 29, 2009, 12:17:36 AM
Hail all,

  After talking to the president of the faire this afternoon, I have been given the go ahead to post this information.

It is now official that the Upper Wisconsin Renaissance Faire will be on from July 4th/5th through July 18/19th Saturdays and Sundays for three weekends. So, plan on making the journey to Chippewa Falls and having a great time. If you would like more information just e-mail me. The Wisconsin Faire website is going to be updated to reflect these dates very soon.

Sir Clisto
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: DeadBishop on February 03, 2009, 11:38:14 PM
Hopefully this season goes well enough to warrant expanding the run back to it's full length.  I would hate to think that shortening it to three weeks would hurt the overall success of this faire.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on February 04, 2009, 04:39:19 AM
These are the biggest of the weekends and with the economy as it is, for this year at least it makes sense. Just an FYI, other things are being planned on the faire site as well such as concerts in the off season. So, keep tuned in for more info.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Noble Dreg on February 06, 2009, 05:12:29 PM
Yes!!!  My B-day is during the run!!!  I am sooooo there!

This is indeed great news for me...I need to keep my WIRF mug collection going, at least 20 more! (I missed last years, did they have 'em?)
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on February 07, 2009, 01:02:14 AM
Yes they did have them. It is also possible they may have some old ones around if asked.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Pizpor on February 08, 2009, 07:46:15 PM
This is great news.
Cuthbert and I will begin celebrating right now!
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on February 09, 2009, 01:44:53 PM
Oh god... You two will be really ripe for opening by then. LOL...
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on February 26, 2009, 04:27:28 PM
ATTENTION UPDATE!!! -

   I was just notified as of yesterday by the president of the faire, Wednesday 2/25/09, that due to economic reasons and the faire now looking for a buyer, the Upper Wisconsin (Medieval) Renaissance Faire has been canceled for this year. If something happens in the meantime, this could change, but we can not count on that at this time. This is a sad time in our economy and it is impacting everyone and every business including other faires, but we are looking ahead to opening again next season in 2010. Please keep a watch for further developments to come in the near future. E-mail me if you would like any more information:sirclisto1@sbcglobal.net

Lord Sir Clisto
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Sorcha on February 27, 2009, 07:33:51 AM
This is sad news indeed.  I do hope a buyer can be found!  :'(
Thanks for keeping us up to date Sir Clisto.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on February 27, 2009, 10:47:34 PM
Yes it is sad, Sorcha. We are hopeful that something can be done. Especially with us being an educational faire as well, which is not usually the norm. This economy sucks and it will be curious to see how it effects some of the big ones too. Especially like Bristol with season passes increased now to $100.00 from $85.00 and increases in other areas and at other faires too. People are not traveling as much and penny pintching since loosing their jobs and money and needing to pay their other needs. I got a feeling a lot of faires are going to be down in attendance as well. I know places need to turn a profit, but you just can't raise the price when money is loosing interest. It will be interesting this season for sure.

Lord Sir Clisto of York
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Toarmod on February 28, 2009, 10:47:16 AM
That is a bummer indeed. I was looking forward to repeating the fun we had there last year. Well I do hope they find a buyer, it is such a charming faire!
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Noble Dreg on March 01, 2009, 12:36:55 PM
rats... :(
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: MissBubu on March 02, 2009, 08:55:19 AM
Aw crap!
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Figaro on March 02, 2009, 04:15:38 PM
I think it was said best in WW2 when the Germans asked for the surrender of troops in Bastogne "NUTS"
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on March 02, 2009, 11:27:20 PM
Got that right.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Dinobabe on May 11, 2009, 01:23:56 PM
Quote from: Toarmod on February 28, 2009, 10:47:16 AM
That is a bummer indeed. I was looking forward to repeating the fun we had there last year. Well I do hope they find a buyer, it is such a charming faire!

It is very sad to hear, reminds me of the old VA RenFaire closing.

There are 2600 members on just this forum.  The Faire owes $872,000.  That's $335 each.  We could pool our money and everyone on the forum could own 3.8% (or something like that)!  Pretty cheap to say you own a Faire (and the free season tickets would be nice)! ;)
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 13, 2009, 12:37:18 AM
Wish that could happen, and yes, that is cheap per person even in this economy. And, thats to pay off all of the debt. To have a faire this season we would have only needed to get about 125.000 up. Thats per the main investor. Oh well, for now people there are fundraising through different means to get SOME money up. Still is more of shooting for next season. I am optimistic.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Dinobabe on May 13, 2009, 09:08:31 AM
Quote from: sir clisto on May 13, 2009, 12:37:18 AM
Wish that could happen, and yes, that is cheap per person even in this economy. And, thats to pay off all of the debt. To have a faire this season we would have only needed to get about 125.000 up. Thats per the main investor. Oh well, for now people there are fundraising through different means to get SOME money up. Still is more of shooting for next season. I am optimistic.

If they are fundraisers that can work long distance (those of us that don't live in WI) post it!  ;)
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 13, 2009, 11:29:54 PM
They are pretty much local Chippewa things, brat and hot dog stand, rummages etc...
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Pizpor on May 17, 2009, 09:16:42 PM
I've started a fund raiser too and am looking for sponsors that will donate $1 for every ale or mead that Cuthbert and me drink. We should have this paid off in no time. 
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: kcdcchef on May 17, 2009, 11:27:25 PM
pittsburgh took a year off due to crappy ownership and local apathy, and came back better than ever with better ownership, more patronage, better advertising revenues, etc.

not saying you guys have those types of issues up there, just sayin', hang in there, you may get your faire back.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 19, 2009, 03:09:24 AM
We are really trying to stick in.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: kcdcchef on May 19, 2009, 10:13:55 PM
Quote from: sir clisto on May 19, 2009, 03:09:24 AM
We are really trying to stick in.

i asked this in another thread, but let me ask you this, since i know nothing of this faire, nor have i ever even been, but, how much does it hurt it to have such an extrordinary faire so closeby? i have actually been to bristol, been about 10 years, but it is like my home faire, old, entrenched, huge loyal fanbase, etc. very similar to my home faire in kansas city. does that hurt, having a faire that strong within a few hours?

for real, hang in there. grass roots efforts are all that save these faires. i mentioned pittsburgh, which i live in pittsburgh. kansas city is my home faire as i mentioned, been going there 30 seasons. they had issues in 2003, and were ready to close up and move all over a dispute with the county over the lease on the land. i was so scared they were going to move. same animal, grass roots efforts from the vendors, patrons, actors, and local supporters of it that the county bowed to the pressure and renewed the lease for them. now again, different issues than you guys are having. just saying, hang in there. it is the people that make our faires go that keep them alive, even in times like these. i truly, TRULY, hope you guys get your faire back.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lady L on May 20, 2009, 12:04:07 AM
I just got my latest issue of Renaissance magazine, on page 88, the Wisconsin Ren faire is still listed, with dates of July 4-19. Is this cancelled or what? Someone should really update this, before people show up at the gate.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 20, 2009, 03:20:05 AM
Lady L,

I have posted to this a lot, not just here but many other places. I am part owner in having stock in that faire, that is why I have said what I have with no rumor involved and try my best to thwart what others are saying that only hear on the side. The faire is NOT happening at least this year. Some buildings are gone and the land is for sale. Articles in mags etc are put in way ahead of time and the print goes to print with their schedule. The dates listed in the mag were tenative earlier on when we thought we could get it up and running this year. But, it has been listed and mentioned about not opening elsewhere, as well as the website not being updated. So, for 2009 there isnt one.

kcdcchef,

   It isnt a hurt to have the WI faire where it was and Bristol in the state. It isnt as close as you think for one. The Upper WI Faire is over 4.5 hours from Bristol over 280 plus miles away. The WI faire started before Bristol in the season by 3 weekends. It is well closer to the Minn border then Bristol and many great people come from the twin cities and not Bristol. That was never a factor. This was all other issues which I can not go in to here. We are hoping that it can be a go for 2010 season. Hope this helps put things to rest for the moment. Thanks again for the support.

Sir Clisto
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lady L on May 20, 2009, 03:58:23 AM
Sorry Sir Clisto, (you sound stressed)
I know you are trying to get the word out. *I* understand that it isn't going to happen this year.
I also know that print is behind when it comes to news... internet is the fastest. But, what I meant was, I hope everyone finds out it is cancelled before they drive there.
I did see that the website is updated. There are still people without internet, though. (hard to believe maybe, but I know quite a few of them)

Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 21, 2009, 12:42:19 AM
I understand. Not stressed here, just keep posting to as many places as possible the same info I can in hopes most people do get it in time. Just gets old fast. LOl... But, there will probably be some that will still end up going. Not many, since most will usually post or ask about it to see if others they know are attending as wll. Sorry if it sounded like I came off differently. Didn't mean to. I do have future hopes since it was a good event.  (bows and kisses hand)
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: kcdcchef on May 21, 2009, 09:32:11 AM
her hand, and not mine, right? you didnt appear to be part of the fop court.
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lady L on May 21, 2009, 11:46:35 PM
Quote from: sir clisto on May 21, 2009, 12:42:19 AM
I do have future hopes since it was a good event.  (bows and kisses hand)

Aye, 'twas a most fyne event.  :)
Title: Re: WIRF Letter
Post by: Lord Clisto of York on May 22, 2009, 01:36:08 AM
Quote from: kcdcchef on May 21, 2009, 09:32:11 AM
her hand, and not mine, right? you didnt appear to be part of the fop court.

Indeed her hand. LOl... She was the last respondant.