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South => Virginia Renaissance Faire => Topic started by: Master James on August 12, 2010, 02:18:12 PM

Title: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Master James on August 12, 2010, 02:18:12 PM
Hot off the presses!

Official dates for the Virginia Renaissance Faire 2011 season:

May 7-8
May 14-15
May 21-22
May 28-29
June 4-5

10am-5pm
Closed Memorial Day
Theme weekends to be announced at a later date.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: stonethrow on August 15, 2010, 02:12:30 PM
Countdown To VARF 2011 (http://www.7is7.com/otto/countdown.html?year=2011&month=5&date=7&hrs=10&ts=12&min=0&sec=0&tz=local&lang=en&show=MWdhms&mode=r&cdir=down&bgcolor=%23CCFFFF&fgcolor=%23000000&title=Countdown%20To%20VARF%202011)
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Benedict Browne on August 16, 2010, 12:23:44 PM
Why is it starting a week earlier than previous years?
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: will paisley on August 16, 2010, 01:06:09 PM
Quote from: Benedict Browne on August 16, 2010, 12:23:44 PM
Why is it starting a week earlier than previous years?

As the decision was explained to me, so it could end a week earlier than previous years. ;) The last weekend was running into too many conflicts with other Ren events, so the whole schedule was moved up a week.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: hitchhiker90 on August 20, 2010, 01:39:02 PM
I had a good time this year, looking forward to the one next year.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Professor M on September 01, 2010, 05:02:39 PM
I'm going to try to free-up as many of those weekends as I can.  I had such a good time last year, I'm eager to return.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Master James on September 07, 2010, 12:47:19 PM
Quote from: Professor M on September 01, 2010, 05:02:39 PM
I'm going to try to free-up as many of those weekends as I can.  I had such a good time last year, I'm eager to return.

Hope you can come on down when we have auditions and join us as a full member of cast!  It was fantastic having you with us as well!  I'll be up at Pittsburgh for closing weekend if you'll be there.  Take care my friend.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Dallan on September 22, 2010, 10:48:27 AM
Quote from: will paisley on August 16, 2010, 01:06:09 PM
Quote from: Benedict Browne on August 16, 2010, 12:23:44 PM
Why is it starting a week earlier than previous years?

As the decision was explained to me, so it could end a week earlier than previous years. ;) The last weekend was running into too many conflicts with other Ren events, so the whole schedule was moved up a week.

The problem for me is kid's lacrosse doesn't end until second week of June. Hopefully we can figure something out. I hated that I missed this year completely.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Feline Groovy on September 23, 2010, 07:10:15 AM
We hated that too.  Make them reschedule lacrosse.  This is FAIRE, dangnubbit!  It's IMPORTANT!      ;D
Title: Re:Thanks all.....
Post by: Captain Dungcaster on October 05, 2010, 08:27:45 PM
I am glad it has moved up a week. Perhaps it may be a bit cooler in 2011 than this past summer. Nancy and I had great fun seeing you all! Thanks for allowing us to play so freely. I know that a schedule is in place. By the way The Richmond Celtic Festival at Meadow Event Park is the weekend of 23-24 October. Hope to see you there!

Frank
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Dallan on January 24, 2011, 01:40:52 PM
Quote from: Feline Groovy on September 23, 2010, 07:10:15 AM
We hated that too.  Make them reschedule lacrosse.  This is FAIRE, dangnubbit!  It's IMPORTANT!      ;D

The worse part is the oldest who I used to coach plays on Saturday. The younger one who I am now coaching made the Div 1 team and they play on Sundays. I'm going to have to miss a game for each to try and get down.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: daniel paul on January 29, 2011, 11:30:17 AM
yup. i think my lovely wife and i will try to make it down there atleast once this year.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Feline Groovy on May 02, 2011, 09:47:34 AM
THIS WEEKEND!!!!!! LESS THAN A WEEK TO GO!!!!!

Oh, was I shouting? Sorry, I'm a wee bit excited!!

EEEEEE!!!!!!
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: ~pixie~ on May 03, 2011, 09:54:01 AM
Woot!  Excited is just not the word! 
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: hitchhiker90 on May 16, 2011, 11:57:58 AM
What is the address of the site? I'm planning to go this weekend for the pirate theme if it doesn't rain or the following weekend if it does. But I need to an address to plug into the GPS.  Had a great time last year, and it was a very nice drive there off the main highways, got to see a lot of country.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: lowlandscot on May 16, 2011, 03:04:27 PM
Quote from: hitchhiker90 on May 16, 2011, 11:57:58 AM
What is the address of the site? I'm planning to go this weekend for the pirate theme if it doesn't rain or the following weekend if it does. But I need to an address to plug into the GPS.  Had a great time last year, and it was a very nice drive there off the main highways, got to see a lot of country.

5621 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania VA

Depending upon how long it's been since you updated the maps for your GPS -- do a reality check against Google Maps or Mapquest. There has been a lot of road construction out that way the past couple of years and some GPSs do not, for instance, know about the Lake Anna Pkwy extension or the Courthouse Rd. bypass.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Feline Groovy on May 17, 2011, 06:39:49 AM
Neeeeeever mind.   :)
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: mross7 on May 17, 2011, 07:50:09 AM
Lake Anna Winery
5621 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551-6100
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: GoldenGoose on May 17, 2011, 09:35:23 AM
I recommend that you do not rely on your GPS under any circumstances. Follow the directions on the website: http://www.varf.org/directions.html
and use your GPS as back up.

If coming down 95 from Northern VA, just ignore GPS when it tells you to get off 95 earlier. When Lake Anna Parkway is finished, that may well cut time...until then, speaking as someone who's driven it hundreds of times in all variations, going all the way to exit 118 at Thornburg is fastest. Plus, you get a shot at the cheapest gas in the area at the Thornburg exit.

Mapquest will get you there from Northern VA, although I think it takes longer. Googlemaps agrees with me that exit 118 is the better option. For those coming from other directions -- all I can say is that we've had dozens of patrons complain about GPS leading them astray.

If you are coming from Northern VA/DC Beltway region -- I highly recommend that you get on the road EARLY. Start out at the crack of dawn and have a leisurely breakfast in Fredericksburg. 95 South through Virginia gets extremely congested -- if you think you're going to leave home late morning, and still have time to enjoy the faire before we close at 5pm...you may have an unhappy surprise!
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: hitchhiker90 on May 17, 2011, 11:53:43 AM
I'll be coming from NC, probably not going up 95.  Last year the GPS had us going on some back roads which made for a nice drive through the country. Looks like I got some planning to do.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: ataraxy on May 21, 2011, 07:57:27 PM
I had a great time at the faire today.  The weather was about perfect and everyone seemed so happy to be there.  This is the third year I've been down to VARF, and it's gotten better each time!  I only wish it was a little closer so I could go more frequently, but it's a 5 hour round trip for me.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: hitchhiker90 on May 21, 2011, 08:16:44 PM
I was there today too. Great weather. Great people.  Its about 4 hours for me if I didn't stop. Probably post pics tomorrow night once I get them loaded to the laptop and decide which site to upload to.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: remission on June 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM
Wow, people drive 4-5 hours for VARF?  I drive 2 and that seems pretty far to me, only because the Faire is so small. I can walk it in 20 minutes. Tis a nice little faire though. Do you guys that drive long distances camp out at faire all weekend though?
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Lady_Glorianna on June 04, 2011, 09:52:11 AM
Had hoped to go to VARF but my back has been giving me problems and I do not think I can handle a ~4 hour drive. Hope you guys have a glorious final weekend! Please give Cornelia my regards and assure her that I have not forgotten her or faire.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Feline Groovy on June 24, 2011, 10:09:55 AM
Quote from: remission on June 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM
Wow, people drive 4-5 hours for VARF?  I drive 2 and that seems pretty far to me, only because the Faire is so small. I can walk it in 20 minutes. Tis a nice little faire though. Do you guys that drive long distances camp out at faire all weekend though?

For me, one-way is two hours in perfect traffic with no stops, two and a half is what I plan on needing at a minimum to allow for stops and such.  When I was a patron/playtron and leaving at 'normal' times, the drive was often three hours thanks to Peninsula traffic, aka the I-64 Parking Lot.  And I still went every year, multiple times after the first couple of years.  (My first year was VARF's first year at the winery.)  And it was always up and back on the same day, no overnighters.  As a cast member, I still up-and-back on Saturday when I can't be there all day Sunday.  When I can do both days, I stay at a hotel in Fburg because I luuuurrve my flushies and my bottomless hot, running water.  But several cast members do camp out; I'll let those that do answer to that.

Sure you can walk the grounds in twenty minutes but you can't see or do anything.  We may be wee but we have a full day of things to experience and that's why folks to go faires, for the experience, not the walk, right?   :)
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: Master James on June 24, 2011, 01:48:26 PM
Quote from: Feline Groovy on June 24, 2011, 10:09:55 AM
Quote from: remission on June 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM
Wow, people drive 4-5 hours for VARF?  I drive 2 and that seems pretty far to me, only because the Faire is so small. I can walk it in 20 minutes. Tis a nice little faire though. Do you guys that drive long distances camp out at faire all weekend though?
For me, one-way is two hours in perfect traffic with no stops, two and a half is what I plan on needing at a minimum to allow for stops and such.  When I was a patron/playtron and leaving at 'normal' times, the drive was often three hours thanks to Peninsula traffic, aka the I-64 Parking Lot.  And I still went every year, multiple times after the first couple of years.  (My first year was VARF's first year at the winery.)  And it was always up and back on the same day, no overnighters.  As a cast member, I still up-and-back on Saturday when I can't be there all day Sunday.  When I can do both days, I stay at a hotel in Fburg because I luuuurrve my flushies and my bottomless hot, running water.  But several cast members do camp out; I'll let those that do answer to that.

Sure you can walk the grounds in twenty minutes but you can't see or do anything.  We may be wee but we have a full day of things to experience and that's why folks to go faires, for the experience, not the walk, right?   :)

Well I come from up north and it takes me 2 hours one way most times.  For rehearsals we simply drive both ways each day.  Have to be there by 8:30AM and there until at least 4PM both days on the weekends.  For the faire itself, being on cast, we are able to park our camper on site so that is what we do.  There are a number of nice campgrounds in the area that aren't too expensive for a couple of nights.  We have many cast that come from places like Lancaster, PA and Raliegh, NC so they have even further to go.
Title: Re: 2011 VARF Dates
Post by: hitchhiker90 on July 01, 2011, 09:17:25 AM
Quote from: remission on June 04, 2011, 09:41:18 AM
Wow, people drive 4-5 hours for VARF?  I drive 2 and that seems pretty far to me, only because the Faire is so small. I can walk it in 20 minutes. Tis a nice little faire though. Do you guys that drive long distances camp out at faire all weekend though?

Usually end up making a long weekend out of it.  Go to VARF on that Saturday, then get a hotel for the night and go elsewhere from Sunday through Tuesday.  Last year I went to Colonial Williamsburg after leaving VARF, this year I went to Kings Dominion after leaving VARF.  It makes the 4 hour drive worth it because I get to go to a ren faire and get a mini vacation.