I got asked a question at work yesterday by a coworker, to whom I was raving about faire. He asked me, "Why do you love this so much? I just do not get it."
First off, I am so thankful that he owned up to not getting it, and did not just make fun of faire, I might have gotten written up for that response, and secondly I had to think for a moment, because my first response was....um EVERYTHING! Duh!
The answer I finally gave can be summed up in one word, fairemly, or community for those non rennies that we speak to. I love the faire, I love the garb, the food, the loki, the music, the sights, the smells (ok, so most of them!), the stories....but none of that would be the same without the people. I am blessed to have the best fairemly a girl could ask for, and equally as blessed to be a part of a massive community that comes together for each other through thick, thin, the good, the bad, and the horrible.
So....same question to all of you? Why did you get started, what keeps you going, and what is something you could not go to faire without?
Once I have gotten hugs from my peoples I want the smell of a campfire to soak up into my clothes (love going home in a hoodie that smells like faire fire) and the taste of a scoth egg......no faire year is complete without it!
In my younger years I liked the excitement of the 'fantasy' side a bit more than I do now, and the persona and garb I have today is far different than what I started with.
I have always been interested in the history, so I naturally gravitated toward that aspect over the years, and eventually left the wenching and partying to the younger set.
My favorite faires now are the ones based on some sort of specific and identifiable historical era/situation/characters rather than a Disney or an SCA version. To me, attending faire is like participating in a movie or a documentary about a real era that I am fascinated with. I like to live and observe the history (to a certain extent), rather than just read about it. The hobby of making garb, and then getting the feel of wearing something close to what they would have worn in period, and adopting the mannerisms they would have used is interesting to me. It is an ongoing learning experience.
The 'after faire' activities hold little interest for me anymore. I don't go to renaissance festivals to get drunk or camp. I don't vend and very rarely volunteer as cast.
David has health issues that prevent him tolerating temperature extremes and prolonged walking or standing. If it's hot/cold/rainy we don't stick around.
The only thing I have to have, is Cheesecake on a stick. State Fair version is just not as good! I make better scotch eggs at home than I have ever tasted anywhere ^_^.
Well, I got exposed to it through Alex ( one of our first dates was to TRF ) so I kinda equate it with our "courting" period. If watching Netflix movies via phone and playing WoW for hours counts as courting...? Anyways, walking through the gates for the first time every season helps me remember how giddy/nervous/so completely head over heels I fell for Alex. I feel that giddiness every single time, no fail, with no drop off in feeling.
The fairemly is amazing, and is a huge reason I've decided to stick with it. I love that, unlike other "cultures/fandoms" who -say- they welcome all, Rennies truly do. Want to impeach Obama? Come on down! Want everyone to start wearing leaves and twigs again and chew on bamboo shoots? Come on down! Since we all love history, and history changes so very much, I think that as a culture/fandom we can appreciate our differences more.
The crafts! From wood, to leather, to clay, every single craftart/skill is represented. I rarely buy store bought soap now... I stock up at Sherwood ( yay Summerwood!) and the Celtic Fair. The quality of said soap is vastly ahead of anything I could buy at a store. I can buy beautiful armor, or clothes, usually all handmade/from a small business. The things I buy from many vendors can actually be used, and for the most part aren't too frivolous.
Let's see... personal memories, crafts, and fairemly... Yep, that sums it up for me!
My love of the era is what drew me to it. My ex-fiance is the one that got me there my first time.
My parents attended once several years ago. While they had a good time, they couldn't understand why wanted to go every year, much less multiple times a year. Then they got to meet my friends and fairemily. I think they stated to get it then. I don't go for the shows or shopping as much anymore. In fact, I was so bored last year that I offered to work this year. I don't go for the dressing up, even though I love it. I go to see and spend time with my friends, to play, to have fun.
My coworkers don't question "Why?" They just notice that when I come back after a faire weekend, I'm in a good mood.
We don't live near a faire, so day-trips are out of the question. The camaraderie is a part of it---now---but, for several years we just went because it was fun. Since joining R/F, our circle of faire friends has grown astronomically. We spend a lot of time now during pre-cannon with the visiting stuff, and once inside, we like to take in the faire itself, AND visit.
I'd considered going for a while, but was drawn in last year by coworkers at my (then) new job and stepsiblings. I went the first time as a patron and essentially said, "I have found my people." I love costuming as a hobby, and here it was in the form of garb--Crafting and making as well, I've seen some of the most beautifully skilled artisans at Faire. Everyone I met was cheerful and fun, and clearly enjoying themselves. Hugely shy as I am, the opportunity to walk through the gate and be someone else for a weekend, where it was allowed, encouraged, was magical.
Now, going as a playtron, where people interact with me in a completely different way, with no judgement or bias and are just there to have fun, and there's really no way to do it wrong...I think I'll be doing this for a long time.
Simply put I never grew up and have always aspired to live in some sort of fantasy realm and this is the closse I have ever been able to come to it. I get to be who I want to be not who I am.
30 odd years ago a gentleman friend took me to what was then King Richard's Faire, about an hour from Chicago, which, if I'm not mistaken, later became Bristol. It was so different than any place I had ever been beore. At the time I was working and raising kids, so it was about 5 years before I went again, with family to a small soft faire in central Texas. We went several times to various faires in the area.
Then 16 years ago my daughter was married at TRF, so for the first time I garbed. For several years I attended TRF as part of a family group.
Then came Sherwood Forest Faire. Polly was born the second year of Sherwood when I guest camped with a smaller clan. We still go to TRF and Scarby for the big faire experience with family, but Sherwood is Polly's playground.
I like the camping experience where I put up a tent and leave it up for the season, camping with people I know. Waking early to watch the fog lift from the forest and hear the birds calling out is an experience to be remembered. Strangers walking down the road to the privies, wave hello. I beckon and they often come quietly to my little parlor outside my tent for a cup of hot coffee, hardly a word spoken so as not to wake others.
We have a great time when family is there (adults or children), but the weekends when I am there alone are very special. A big draw for me is live entertainment, up close, not on a screen or in a big venue from half a mile away. I can sit by myself for hours people watching if I want to; or join others for company.
Nice question. My friend and her hubby took me to OKRF the spring after "Fellowship Of The Ring" came out. I was immediately entranced. I love history and soaked up everything around me, especially hammered dulcimers and trebuchets.
Now, I still go to faires for an escape from the rat race. I also go for pics and info on where and when Renfaires are coming up for my website.
I'd love to have a few hours listening to hammered dulcimer music but not all of the faires have that fyne instrument. I do need time to visit with the vendor and entertainer friends I've made. Although, I went to KCRF last year and felt like a newbie again as I wasn't setting my schedule by certain entertainers as my faves from olden days are no longer there. It was nice to not feel like I was working for my website all of the time I was there.
I went with a friend many years ago. We rented costumes and I was hooked. Later I took Don Juan, who in time became my husband. Although finances for many years kept our attendance to a minimum of once or twice a year. But we both love history and knowing how things worked. So along with a multi-decade stint in the SCA, we have been involved in most aspects of historical recreation. Now we have pared down to just faire for our entertainment.
The people are a large reason for why we keep going; Like Minded and Fun Loving friends.
I absolutley love reading how people got started in this! I got taken to Four Winds when I was 12 and I have been hooked every since. I took me 7 years to get to TRF for the first time, but I've been hooked there as well. I can now say that I have spent exactly half of my life in renaissance faires, and next season at Four Winds will be even more engraved in my heart since I will have joined both cast and management, and will be celebrating the first season to mark more years at fair than not in my life.
:)
Keep those stories coming!!!
I discovered faire thanks to my then middle-school-age son. He had heard about it and wanted to go with some friends. I volunteered to drive the group there and back but decided to spend the day there just for the heck of it. Well, I ended up having as much fun as any of them and I've been going to faires ever since!
I've always loved history and early music, and I like to laugh and have a good time so the shows and musical acts were the main draw for me in the beginning. I still enjoy them but over the years, I've made many friends and acquaintances and that's what keeps me coming back now. I spend more and more time enjoying their company and less and less time watching the shows. For me, there's nothing like laughing and chatting, or lifting a pint or two with like-minded friends in a beautiful, rustic, medieval/Renaissance setting.
Beats the heck out of the rest of the week!
Well, you all knew i was eventually going to chime in/open my big mouth. ;D I grew up surrounded by history. My family can trace it's lineage back a thousand years. I grew up spending summers at my family's estates outside of Inverness, Scotland and hearing stories about the great clan wars, William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie. I've always felt, down deep, that i was born about 700 years too late... those stories would always stir my blood, as does the sound of pipes.
I heard about TRF and finally went with my best friend (Laird Nasty) and my sister... got trashed and had a blast. Great time. ;) Real life stuck it's nose into my business for a few years and made it impossible to go. I lost my job back in 2007 and was given a big fat check to go away. I said to my wife, "Lets go to TRF this weekend.". That ended up being the Closing weekend known as the "Ice Storm of '07"... rain... freezing tempetures... general misery. I HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE. It seemed like we had the place to ourselves... with some hard core people i later found out were called "Rennies".
That day changed my life. I got my first kilt, as an adult, the next year and with some trepidation, went to faire. A whole new world opened up to me... People that i didn't know were suddenly kin folk and greeted me as such, the sights and sounds seemed different, and it felt like i belonged. I found my home.
The rest is history. ;)
Quote from: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 27, 2013, 03:17:24 PM
Well, you all knew i was eventually going to chime in/open my big mouth. ;D I grew up surrounded by history. My family can trace it's lineage back a thousand years. I grew up spending summers at my family's estates outside of Inverness, Scotland and hearing stories about the great clan wars, William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie. I've always felt, down deep, that i was born about 700 years too late... those stories would always stir my blood, as does the sound of pipes.
I heard about TRF and finally went with my best friend (Laird Nasty) and my sister... got trashed and had a blast. Great time. ;) Real life stuck it's nose into my business for a few years and made it impossible to go. I lost my job back in 2007 and was given a big fat check to go away. I said to my wife, "Lets go to TRF this weekend.". That ended up being the Closing weekend known as the "Ice Storm of '07"... rain... freezing tempetures... general misery. I HAD THE TIME OF MY LIFE. It seemed like we had the place to ourselves... with some hard core people i later found out were called "Rennies".
That day changed my life. I got my first kilt, as an adult, the next year and with some trepidation, went to faire. A whole new world opened up to me... People that i didn't know were suddenly kin folk and greeted me as such, the sights and sounds seemed different, and it felt like i belonged. I found my home.
The rest is history. ;)
And we wouldn't have it any other way! So glad you joined, my fairmly would be a little less happy if you weren't in it! (Oh and I always know you are going to chime in...now just waiting on B's big mouth lol!)
I first went to CoRF back in the late 80's and liked it, but mostly it was another reason to drink. Many years later a friend got me to go to Estes Park for the Highland Festival, I was hooked and bought a kilt and shirt, been going since to both. Oh and I've collected much more stuff for my outfit. I like the history, the music, the food, the friends I may not have seen since last year. What's not to like. Now that I've met Monica, we plan to travel and see more as often as possible. My wonderful darling makes the whole thing so much better.
Ian
My ex=boyfriend tool me back in 2001. I went in in jeans and a t-shirt and came out in a dress and bodice. After he moved away, I went by myself, met some great people and I'm still going. Not as often as before, but I enjoy the camaraderie and everything else about Faire.
When I was very young I read a story about a reluctant princess who would escape from the castle at night to go dance with the Gypsies who camped in the forest glade... and the first time I attended the Norman Medieval Festival I felt like I was IN that story! As soon as I walked in I realized that most of the things in my wardrobe would just about pass for garb... although not exactly H/A garb... and I never looked back! It wasn't until I actually performed there, probably almost 25 years later, that I bought my very first actual garb, though... and now my collection rivals some other's on here (although not anywhere near as fancy)!
It wasn't until I attended Scarby for the first time, though, that I really learned anything about Fairmily... I had heard of it on here for the year or so I was on before I got to go to a BIG Faire... but it wasn't until I experienced it for myself, meeting so very many of all of YOU, that I understood what I had been looking for the whole time. All of the wonderful things about Faire are pale in comparison to that, for me, anyway.
The camping is a huge part of that, because that's when we get to sit down and spend time with those people who are embedded in our hearts and minds forever, and make the memories that keep us warm during the times when we can't be with them... with all of YOU. My daughter and I love just about everything about Faire... but that is what we love the most.
Oh no!!!!! It's the thread pirate Fraser!!!!!! Everyone stay on topic!!! Repeat this is not a drill ..... everyone stay on topic!
Shouldn't that be the Thread Pirate Fraser? ;D LOL
It sounds like, even though we have many different ways of saying it... for most of us Faire is simply the place that feels most like Home. And what better reason to stay could there ever be? :)
I agree....most heartaly. It is the best place with the best people.
But why stop here? I'm sure there are plenty more awesome stories on how folks got started in the faire world!
The general theme seems to be we came because of a love of history, or some childhood medieval fantasy that we loved. And then we stayed because we found so many kindred souls.
Our first visit to a faire was in `89. One of my oldest friends was living the the Dallas area, and on a visit to him and his wife, we were taken to Scarborough. We found it to be great fun, despite (or because of) being attacked by the Kissing Wench. I suppose that because we told my Houston in-laws all about it, later that year, we were taken to TRF. It was big fun, but hotter than blue blazes.
Financial difficulties made it impossible for us to travel much at all, much less to attend a faire, but finally, in 2000, we had gotten back on our feet, and could spare some disposable income. We made a trip down to spend a day at the faire—as `danes. I bought a shirt at Dra's, and became cursed.
The following year—there were four of us from central Arkansas making the trip—my wife had gotten some garb, and to go with my shirt, she made me a kilt. Actually it was more like a skirt that a Catholic girl would wear to Academy, but that's inconsequential. Needless to say, I feel sure the entire Scottish Court of Scarborough had a good laugh over it.
The next season, my bride created a wizardly robe for me. She had always called me a wizard anyway, because of the work I did with computers (from the 70s forward). She had even called me Merlin that far back, so it was a natural progression for me to assume my rightful identity as Merlin.
We enjoyed being able to become something we weren't—or perhaps, wanted to be. It was all about letting go of the mundane world. We are both painfully shy, although those of you who we've met might find that hard to believe. I happened to stumble onto this forum a week after the RenDezvous at Scarborough. We weren't at Scarby that weekend. Typically, we were only making the long trip once or twice a season, even though we had become Friends of Faire by that time.
Still, leaving the mundane world behind is a prime motivator for attending faire, but after meeting so many from this forum, it has also become a place to be with friends. We're about to attend our third RenDezvous to enjoy the company of those friends, and to visit yet another new (to us) festival.
After joining R/F, our first trip to faire was Scarby the following year. There were a couple of faces we saw that we recognized from here, and we approached them, looking like deer in the headlights. As I said, we are painfully shy. We were warmly greeted by Doña Catalina and Lady Kett, who introduced us around. They remain two of our dearest friends.
Pardon...old people talk too much....
My mom has often said there were two times specifically that proved how much she loved me: the day she took my brothers and me to Wrigley Field, and the time she took me to my first visit to King Richard's Faire (which did become Bristol) when I was in high school. She was not an adventurous soul, so these were major things.
I'm guessing that all of us reading the delightful memories shared here have been nodding our heads, murmuring,"Me, too." Once through the gates, all bets are off. For however long we're there, it's as though we're nestling into a space that feels comfortable and natural. You start coming for one thing, and it all morphs into something else.The familiar faces, food, garb, interaction with casts, music, jousting, artisans--I think it's all that, plus that extra something that just can't really be defined. That final ribbon on a bodice, or buckle on a belt, with the food on a stick--the harmonics tune to something that matches something inside, and you're hooked.
Quote from: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 30, 2013, 05:00:51 AM
Quote from: Dracconia on September 28, 2013, 07:17:42 PM
Oh no!!!!! It's the thread pirate Fraser!!!!!! Everyone stay on topic!!! Repeat this is not a drill ..... everyone stay on topic!
Hey now! I very rarely venture outside of the Texas threads! >:( ;)
*waves cookies* Come on Fraser! Come see the rest of us! We lurves ya!
:P...
Me thinks i experienced a tech error over the weekend... or it could've been after a few brews and a touch of loki... :o
Quote from: Laird Fraser of Lovatt on September 30, 2013, 02:58:15 PM
:P...
Me thinks i experienced a tech error over the weekend... or it could've been after a few brews and a touch of loki... :o
Loki is a grand reason to love faire!!!
:D
*** damned Scots *** ;D
Why, Thank you! ;D
But we love this Scot!
BACK ON TOPIC! :D (The Thread Pirate Fulfilled His Mission!)
When was your first faire? What did you think? And why do you keep coming back?
My Fairemily and people watching. The drunken carousing and wenching are a plus too... ;D
Quote from: Dracconia on October 01, 2013, 08:40:51 AM
But we love this Scot!
BACK ON TOPIC! :D (The Thread Pirate Fulfilled His Mission!)
When was your first faire? What did you think? And why do you keep coming back?
1980 something - it was either the first or second season of Scarborough. We rented costumes and had a blast. By my standards today, the costumes were pretty so-so but we had our photos taken left and right.
We can put the blame (or credit) on my parents lol! They took me to TRF back in my high school days, in the 80's. I fell in love with it! Went as a 'dane' for many years at TRF and in California. Took the plunge and started 'garbing' in 2007. Not sure why it took me so long but I'm so glad I did!
Faire is like digging in that trunk looking for clothes to play dress up in, but with the bonus prize of booze. ;D I love being able to escape the everyday world and I want to do that as much as possible. The word 'fairemily' is one that rings true for me. I consider everyone I have gotten to know as kindred spirits and love them all.
I started when I was 11. My dad knew how much I loved playing pretend and fairytale style magic, and took me to the ren faire for our first time. It felt like one of my pretend games turned real.
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on October 03, 2013, 06:59:11 AM
Faire is like digging in that trunk looking for clothes to play dress up in, but with the bonus prize of booze. ;D
I'm pretty sure this is the most perfect statement ever uttered. For me, I had an ex take me to Scarborough for the first time in the early 2000s, and I was hooked from that point. My visits to the faire were infrequent, but every time I went I always had an amazing time and was fortunate enough to make some great friends.
I've always been into history but the one thing that drew me to fare was the swordplay. I always loved playing with swords and what better place to see it than at faire. Being from the D&D generation, what better way to indulge yourself further than dressing up and roaming through a village. I have digressed since the early beginnings and now as part of the cast portraying a historical character doing what I love, swordplay. What reason keeps me coming back? It is the same as everyone else....my faire family. There is nothing like the bond that is made in the magical place we call faire.
Quote from: SandrineDeLaTombe on October 08, 2013, 12:00:36 PM
Quote from: Bonny Pearl on October 03, 2013, 06:59:11 AM
Faire is like digging in that trunk looking for clothes to play dress up in, but with the bonus prize of booze. ;D
I'm pretty sure this is the most perfect statement ever uttered. For me, I had an ex take me to Scarborough for the first time in the early 2000s, and I was hooked from that point. My visits to the faire were infrequent, but every time I went I always had an amazing time and was fortunate enough to make some great friends.
;D
15 years ago, my Sweetie and I were visiting my Grandmother in Kansas City. She was tired and probably wanted to rest, so she told us about "This fair thing going on in Bonner Springs". We drove out and basically had our minds blown! We must have looked like codfish walking around with big eyes and our jaws hanging open the whole day! By the end of the day, I'd decided we were not only coming back the next year but we were doing it in GARB! I spent the rest of the year researching (stalking photo sites) garb and making our first set (ohhhhh, boy, looking back...shudder! :o ). Since then, we have not missed going at least one weekend to KCRF (since Bob and I fell in love with faire together there...and we'll be celebrating our Crystal Anniversary of KCRF visits this year!), and we are now regulars at our local faire in St. Louis (we're "The Rums" there). What keeps me coming back (and dreaming of expanding our faire list) is that I have never met a group of people who are more accepting and welcoming. We have our dramas and issues like any group...but we handle them without (for the most part) destroying friendships. We revel in each other's successes and comfort each other through our sorrows. You can be who you ARE or who you WANT TO BE...and you'll be accepted equally. In short, it's my FAIREMILY that keeps me coming back. The event of faire itself is for me basically like getting to climb into a fantasy/historical novel FOR REAL and escape a while. I love it when we "convert" a newbie and see them fall in love with faire for the first time!
I got reminded of why I stay this past weekend, had a tornado rip through camp at TRF and the way everyone pulled together and took care of each other on Sunday morning and Saturday night....that is why I stay. There is no other group I would willingly weather a tornado with. :)
I buried my head in books about history, fantasy and science fiction since I can remember. Finally went to a faire in my mid-twenties with some friends. (Sterling) Absolutely loved it. The closest I could get to my romanticized view of history. Went for six straight years and got to introduce my wife to it. We moved to Hawaii and had no faires for five years. Then we moved to Texas about an hour from Scarborough. We've gone every year since. Went to TRF for the first time this year and loved the faire and camping. Also dressed for the first time, myself as a Viking farmer/merchant and she as a lady. (we met on the road and I promised to protect her from highwaymen)
I have gotten to learn about history, have fun and look inside myself to figure out what kind of life I would choose to live (still working) because of the tantalizing glimpse into another world that faire presents.
Looking forward to another year including checking out Sherwood and getting to know more people. We have always attended as visitors before, I think I'd like to attend as friends. So I guess I should get to know some more people! :-)
Sent from my GT-P7510 using Tapatalk
I was in that tornado at TRF Halloween weekend. Crazy!
I went first time 3 years ago to TRF. I had always wanted to go but never had. I was brought by a friend and greeted warmly by the Celtic Rogues. I now consider them my fairmily, I've made most of my garb and my teenage kids are hooked too. I have friends of faire pass for Sherwood and consider that my home faire. I have always liked camping so the comaraderie around a fire I love.
I have enjoyed costuming for a long time, but it was typically confined to Halloween. I had heard of the big Ren Faire in our state, but did not have the means to go. I love to costume, I love to see the creativity of others, I love to see unusual items, especially handmade items for sale. However, at the time we could not afford the tickets.
About 4 years ago, we learned of a smaller, nearer faire with reasonably priced tickets. I badgered my family into dressing up and going with me, "just this once."
We loved it so much! Pretty much every single thing we saw there, we were absolutely tickled by, and the dressing up we found was a fun thing that all six of us enjoyed.
We have been going every year, and now I am a vendor. My husband and I have even gone to the big Faire a couple of times, which was also fun.
Also, I can't lie, I have always had a thing for piratey gear, frock coats, and the like. It's just plain fun. It's another excuse to costume up.
I enjoy playing somebody else for a bit, and I don't believe I've ever met a friendlier bunch of people than Rennies.