So, in our spare time, me and some friends were talking about making an Adults Only Faire (21+) Now, right now, it's just a lot of hot air and talk, but I figured I'd pop in here and see what advice you lot might have for such a thing. Anything at all is welcome, positive or negative.
I think that it depends on your intentions. Are you talking about an "Adults Only Faire" in the same connotation as an Adult Video Store? Or are you just looking at a Faire for that doesn't have kids running around?
I think you need to clarify your intent.
Hi there,
Here in Northern California, I remember attending faire before the movement to make things "family friendly" and I would welcome it again. Heck if my home faire would maybe set aside a couple of weekends for "adults only" for during the normal season I know quite a few people that would be thrilled! Ah well, I guess a fella can still dream. :)
well sealclubber i like the idea depending on the overall direction, ie: not a nudist colony running around. lol. but i have a friend in virgina area that has been contemplating that for a while and i remember all of my friends down there talking about that back at the end of 2003.
I'm gonna guess you're talking about turning the bawdiness of the acts and cast up a notch or two...or five? ("It goes up to 11")
If that's the case, then sure. I think an existing Faire with an adult weekend or two would do better financially than a completely adult Faire.
Someone else brought up an Adult Bookstore. I'm bettin' "Ankles" would be a pretty popular magazine at a Ren-themed version! :o ::) :P
Wicked Winter Renaissance Faire (http://www.wickedfaire.com/)
It's an interesting concept. Our kids love faire and we usually take them. We try and go once or twice a year without them because it frees us up to spend more time in the pub socializing and watching the more bawdy acts. All in all I probably wouldn't attend an "adult only" faire on a regular basis. Our kids love faire way too much and it is a great family event. There aren't too many other things that entertains the entire family equally for 8 hours.
Quote from: Dallan on September 08, 2008, 10:02:45 AM
It's an interesting concept. Our kids love faire and we usually take them. We try and go once or twice a year without them because it frees us up to spend more time in the pub socializing and watching the more bawdy acts. All in all I probably wouldn't attend an "adult only" faire on a regular basis. Our kids love faire way too much and it is a great family event. There aren't too many other things that entertains the entire family equally for 8 hours.
I have to agree with you there sir. Although i enjoy doing things with my husband, without my son along, we miss when he is not with us. He is part of the family, and my husband and I love seeing things though the eyes of a child. There is something magical and innoccent about it.
Plus it is true there are not too many places out there anymore that entertain a whole family for 8 hours unless you what to dish out a 100 bucks or so to go to an amusement park or Disneyland.
Plus the enviroment at the faire is one that you don't mine having kids around. It beats what they see on Tv, or playing video games etc. There is a sense of chivalry and respect, and well being which is good for a kid to see.
So i would say it would not be bad having a couple of " Adult" only weekends, but don't take away the family part all together.
Like Mad Jack Wolfe mentioned, there is The Wicked Winter Renaissance faire in New Jersey. It is an adult only faire. It takes places indoors .
of course, now as i reread this, there are the kids who run around faire out of control, and drive us patrons crazy. But in that case I blame the parents, not the kids, and wonder if it was an adult only weekend if they would act up like their kids or worse ! Not that adults are not suppose to have fun , but you know what i mean. I mean the unruley, loud, obnoxious type .
anyway i it is not a bad idea. Maybe have a weekend that is adult only, and then have a weekend that is kids or family weekend .
One weekend at an established faire designated as Adult Only would be great! Not that the bawdiness factor would go up, although it might, but more as a respite from the hordes of undisciplined rugrats running about unsupervised or barely better poorly supervised. It would be wonderful to have a weekend where I didn't have to deal with children trying to grab Nixie, or parents who call me rude because I won't let their children pet her. There are some children who are an absolute joy, and I do my best to tell the parents that I appreciate the way they are raising their kids, but having one weekend where I didn't have to deal with either would be lovely.
Dayna
I believe that Serendipity Haven in Texas is planning to have their final weekend (Pirate Weekend) as an "Adults Only" weekend.
As a vendor I kinda depend on the kids that come to fair, and I know that there is a bunch of other vendors that also need the little ones to make thier living,
But if you were to have a fair that is strictly for adults it would be fun.
Much simpler and better economy to create an "adults only" garden or wing of an existing fair. This is a common practice at many State Fairs with a gated "Beer Garden", I do not see why this would not work with a Renaissance Fair. TRF has an area of bars, add a few stages and you have a small "adults only" section.
I like the idea of having a section for adults only as opposed to no kids at all. Not that I'm a kid person, but as stated many vendors rely on parents to buy their kids stuff and the kids having fun.
Quote from: unilady on September 08, 2008, 10:42:33 AM
One weekend at an established faire designated as Adult Only would be great! Not that the bawdiness factor would go up, although it might, but more as a respite from the hordes of undisciplined rugrats running about unsupervised or barely better poorly supervised. It would be wonderful to have a weekend where I didn't have to deal with children trying to grab Nixie, or parents who call me rude because I won't let their children pet her. There are some children who are an absolute joy, and I do my best to tell the parents that I appreciate the way they are raising their kids, but having one weekend where I didn't have to deal with either would be lovely.
Dayna
me too.
I don't neccesarily need the bawdy kicked up a notch, but one weekend where you could actually listen to performers in the pub, instead of screaming kids and screaming parents, would be nice.
But I'm sure that the $$$$$ that the families bring in makes that just a dream.
I would attend an adult faire, simply because It sound like it would have more freedom in it. I can understand why people like family freindly faires, but I've noticed that several events that call themselves "family freindly" do so at the expence of more mature entertainment. (I'm not meaning mature only in the context of adult bookstore variety) but honestly, with the faire I work at, even innuendo and sudgestive themes are looked down on. Disney can get away with more then we can. christ sake, we cant even have wenches on cast any more! (these rules only apply to cast, not visiters, don't worry)
I would love an "adult" weekend where we have the rules relaxed.
The Twisted Thistle Pub at the Kentucky faire is 21 and older as it serves just alcohol. At the end of the day they have an adult, as in totally uncensored, pub sing. I've watched one of the owners stop kids and adults with kids from coming in.
I wouldn't mind a more Adult Faire! But you don'rt want to drive away the family eather. But adding a Adult only zone for 21 and over would be great there at TRF. Some place were Iris & Rose could really let there hair down along with others. Now that would be cool.
I recall seeing something a while ago about a "clothing optional" Renfaire that happened at some nudist/naturist camp a few years. Somehow not wearing clothes would seem to defeat one of the main draws of a Renfair
Maybe true, but think of all the money I'd save on garb! Of course pinning favors would kinda suck...
I love kids, I do, (well well behaved ones that belong to other people) but sometiems you just want to enjoy yourself without the screaming... I think there should be an adults only section, and perhaps someplace safe you can "check" your kids into while you go in.. and only for like an hour or two, something with some kind of craft or activity in an area with no beer, or anything like that. Perhaps make it educational and say it's only available for kids who are potty trained and up (people with kids younger than that, well guess your just not going to be able to go into that area) Like a day care, of course then you'd have to have a day care license and such.. but it could work.
That's part of the problem of owning a game business, even though we don't market them as children's games, so many people associate games with children's past times, whereas we like to portray ourselves as more of a gaming/gambling hall -especially when we're play acting with the cast of a fair. I'ld love to teach a few bawdy songs to the staff to sing when it's slow, but we don't want to drive off the money carrying parents...
I have to agree that it would have to be a section rather than the whole fair. MDRF has a "children's" weekend - I think they get in free and there's lots of more kiddie orientated things to do. Still, I think it would have to take advertising on a grand scale (moreso than I've ever seen the MDRF put out) to let the public know that XX weekend is "Adult only!" and I bet there would still be dozens of families with kids in tow that decided to drop by the fest that weekend. Would be horrible for buisness to say to them "Uh ya, can't bring your kids today".
i remember reading that the hawkwood faire (i think?) was more adult than other faires, but it's closed.
i'd entertain the idea of going to an adult weekend at a faire. it'd make sense for them to tie it into a certain weekend - like st. patrick's day or oktoberfest or something. *shrug*
Quote from: theChuck on September 09, 2008, 09:55:34 AM
i remember reading that the hawkwood faire (i think?) was more adult than other faires, but it's closed.
i'd entertain the idea of going to an adult weekend at a faire. it'd make sense for them to tie it into a certain weekend - like st. patrick's day or oktoberfest or something. *shrug*
Hawkwood was on unincorporated land when it was open. Unfortunately the land around it eventually became the Texas Motor Speedway. Bye bye Faire. But to be honest, the 'ultra-adult' stuff happened after closing hours so it wasn't available for public consumption.
Hawkwood wasn't closed because it was more adult than other Faires.
That would be the problem -some people getting out of hand and trying to turn it into a "wenches gone wild" kind of thing or a huge orgy that some people think happens after-hours.
I could see it maybe as an evening thing. Show your ID and get your hand stamped and you can stay after the normal closing, but at a big fair that would probably be a major head ache for the security crew. It's hard enough sometimes to weed the participants from the patrons at closing time.
Quote from: DonaCatalina on September 09, 2008, 10:13:07 AM
Hawkwood was on unincorporated land when it was open. Unfortunately the land around it eventually became the Texas Motor Speedway. Bye bye Faire. But to be honest, the 'ultra-adult' stuff happened after closing hours so it wasn't available for public consumption.
Hawkwood wasn't closed because it was more adult than other Faires.
sorry, i didn't mean to infer that it closed because it was more adult. i thought i had read that it closed due to financial woes.
Quote from: theChuck on September 09, 2008, 12:41:08 PM
sorry, i didn't mean to infer that it closed because it was more adult. i thought i had read that it closed due to financial woes.
Yeah, GREEDY LANDLORD.. Hawkwood was a great faire from what I have heard, (Sadly I never made it there before it was closed thanks to my useless ex-wife never wanting to take any decent length trips away from her precious internet).
Hawkwood also had an "adult area" where the Bilge Pumps could perform their more bawdy songs. I was there for the evening adult only parties; it did not turn into a rennies gone wild type of scenario any more than what we do at TRF camp ground! If you REALLY want to be sure people don't get too naked, hold this event in the winter. (There was snow on the ground at one of Hawkwood's parties! People were invited to booths for "group warmth.")
Mayhaps creative body painting can be an option for those who insist on being naked during the day? We could threaten to "paint" with paintball guns any who do not cooperate. :o
Quote from: Messyn McCleavage on September 09, 2008, 01:27:30 PM
Mayhaps creative body painting can be an option for those who insist on being naked during the day? We could threaten to "paint" with paintball guns any who do not cooperate. :o
paint them with.. welts? :/
Quote from: Messyn McCleavage on September 09, 2008, 01:27:30 PM
Hawkwood also had an "adult area" where the Bilge Pumps could perform their more bawdy songs. I was there for the evening adult only parties; it did not turn into a rennies gone wild type of scenario any more than what we do at TRF camp ground! If you REALLY want to be sure people don't get too naked, hold this event in the winter. (There was snow on the ground at one of Hawkwood's parties! People were invited to booths for "group warmth.")
Mayhaps creative body painting can be an option for those who insist on being naked during the day? We could threaten to "paint" with paintball guns any who do not cooperate. :o
For the lads perhaps in the color blue? ;D
Quote from: Messyn McCleavage on September 09, 2008, 01:27:30 PM
We could threaten to "paint" with paintball guns any who do not cooperate. :o
Don't TEASE ME WOMAN!!!!!!!! I haven't been on a field slinging paint in quite some time and my trigger finger is itching.
I don't think any amount of advertising by an established faire would keep families showing up at the gate, unaware of the adults only weekend. I'm not sure an adults only faire will stop people from trying to bring their kids in, either. Going adults only also limits the number of people able to attend (no sitter, no faire) and opportunities for vendors. I'm no fan of screaming kids, but I'm not staying home all day either.
I do like the idea of a faire having an area for adults to relax or play without worrying about kids. It's also good to have a play area (MDRF) for kids to use up some energy.
No matter what you tell people there is always that stupid parent that will bring thier kids.
Like the last time I was able to catch Iris and Rose's Speeding Trainwreck Show, there was a family with 2 kids about old enough to get the show parked in the front row. Iris and Rose warned them that the show can get wild but they stayed.
I wonder if a faire that advertises itself as "adults only" would have a problem with patrons bringing their kids, particularly if it is made plain that ID's will be checked. However, I also wonder if such a faire could generate enough revenue to stay in business. It may depend on location and how the show is presented and marketed.
Kids showing up at "adult only" shows within a faire is a problem. I've seen shows where preteens were in the front row while the performer was trying to do songs that (hopefully) the kids wouldn't comprehend. I'm sympathetic to parents who don't want their children to hear things that would need explaining later, but if a stage act has a PG-13 or Mature rating, it's best to take that seriously and keep your kids away.
The Four Kingdom's Faire is planning on having an evening show at their pub after regular hours for patrons 21 or above. It will be interesting to see how well that works.
After hours and open to the public should draw a nice crowd of faire regulars and probably some interested newcomers. Sounds like a nice time to meet performers, if they are also there.
Quote from: Whistler Fred on September 09, 2008, 04:19:00 PM
The Four Kingdom's Faire is planning on having an evening show at their pub after regular hours for patrons 21 or above. It will be interesting to see how well that works.
I'd noticed that the tavern was going to be opened until 10pm, but I didn't know about the evening show. My wife and I will be attending Saturday night, after we take our kids to grandma's house.
I suppose an established Faire could hold an extended night or few for the adult only thing. You could have it "reopen" half an hour or an hour after closing cannon and let the 18+ or 21+ crowd back in and let the party begin. Or, it could open for an extra Friday or weekend that is advertised in a different manner than the normal season so families don't show up.
If a show was *indoors*, only adults would be allowed in. A closed pub, if one is available. Of course we know how that goes. At least the people passing by with young kids wouldn't catch them *in the act*, if you know what I mean.
Quote from: Dustin on September 09, 2008, 10:05:29 PM
Quote from: Whistler Fred on September 09, 2008, 04:19:00 PM
The Four Kingdom's Faire is planning on having an evening show at their pub after regular hours for patrons 21 or above. It will be interesting to see how well that works.
I'd noticed that the tavern was going to be opened until 10pm, but I didn't know about the evening show. My wife and I will be attending Saturday night, after we take our kids to grandma's house.
Well, calling it a show might not have been totally correct. The Pub will be open until ten and there will be live music. Still, it should be fun!
I could see a large section closed of by gate. Something like Sherwood Forest of TRF would be nice.
Quote from: sealclubber on September 07, 2008, 11:44:51 PM
So, in our spare time, me and some friends were talking about making an Adults Only Faire (21+) Now, right now, it's just a lot of hot air and talk, but I figured I'd pop in here and see what advice you lot might have for such a thing. Anything at all is welcome, positive or negative.
I'd love a chance to go to something like this, even if it was just an adult-only section of a larger faire.
Obviously the crowds will be smaller. As a result the site would probably have to be much smaller (I'm not sure how big the actual grounds of say TRF are, if that 53 acres counts e.g. the parking and camping areas).
Another problem I see, is finding when the good acts are available. As much as I'd like to see Christophe the Insultor, Sound & Fury, Iris & Rose, and even Ded Bob (and other great mature-audience acts I have yet to see!) doing truly no-holds-barred, no-need-to-worry-about-kids-sneaking-in, turn-the-bawdiness-knob-all-the-way-up shows, it's entirely possible conflicts with other faires won't allow it.
I wouldn't mind paying twice what I usually do to get in ($30-40) if I knew the performers were getting a larger-than-normal cut of it.
I would prefer to see it 18+, or if laws permitted in the area 17+, I think 21+ is a bit too exclusive and unnecessary. The only reason I would see to keep it 21+ is for serving mixed drinks and personally I'm happy with beer and wine, when I'm in the mood to get tipsy to begin with.
sounds like a good idea, but ithink that it would be more affective to convince pre-existing faires to have an adult only weekend rather than to start and adults only faire. maybe iether at the beginning or at the end so that the shops that tend cater to youngsters can still make thier cash without the disruptiveness of an adults only weekend in the middle of a season.
I enjoy taking the kids to the faire, but must confess that the rare times that I can attend without them is much enjoyed. An afterhours event or a special area at the faire that would have some of the more risque acts would be wonderful. I for one would pay a reasonable premium to enjoy this. The next logical step is to communicate to the management of your local faire and express your thoughts on the matter.
An "adult" renfest would be interesting.
PRF has something close to an "adult" section of the faire - by the pub is where the bawdy acts (PG-13, a lot of innuendo and suggestion but fairly tame language) are and most of the drinking goes on, but it's not exclusive. I thought the pub was a 21+ area, but I found out it is apparently not.
Could include: vendors selling naughty novelties (handcuffs, whips, lotion candles, massage oil, tickling feather wands, naughty clothing, very extravagant codpieces), tasteful toplessness (eg. if it is part of your costume: bellydancer, courtesan, a very wenchy wench, pirates, barbarians, etc. No topless mundanes), games for couples, spanking booth, and extremely bawdy shows.
The challenge lies in being "adult" while still having class.
Can't resist: My class i Ranger, does that help? ;)
Quote from: Lord Duelist on October 14, 2008, 12:08:16 AMI would prefer to see it 18+, or if laws permitted in the area 17+, I think 21+ is a bit too exclusive and unnecessary. The only reason I would see to keep it 21+ is for serving mixed drinks and personally I'm happy with beer and wine, when I'm in the mood to get tipsy to begin with.
Sorry to inform you Lord Duelist, but the 21+ drinking laws include beer and wine. If you are drinking any alchohol and are under 21, you are drinking illegally. At least in the US.
Quote from: KeeperoftheBar on October 15, 2008, 07:01:09 AM
Quote from: Lord Duelist on October 14, 2008, 12:08:16 AMI would prefer to see it 18+, or if laws permitted in the area 17+, I think 21+ is a bit too exclusive and unnecessary. The only reason I would see to keep it 21+ is for serving mixed drinks and personally I'm happy with beer and wine, when I'm in the mood to get tipsy to begin with.
Sorry to inform you Lord Duelist, but the 21+ drinking laws include beer and wine. If you are drinking any alchohol and are under 21, you are drinking illegally. At least in the US.
Let me clarify... my understanding is if you're serving anything stronger than wine, you can't even have under 21 in the vicinity and/or the insurance/licensing requirements go way up into the financially impractical.
Let me also clarify, I've been over 21 for quite some time. (I still get ID checked once in a while...)
In some states I believe it doesn't matter as much if the establishment also serves food. In Minnesota if the bar is also a restaurant they may card you only if you order alcohol, but not when you come in the door.
I know in VA annd as far as I know MD I can't buy any alcohol but I can serve any drink I want at age 18, a lot of bars in my area have the rule that like you can have younger folks in until a certain time and then only 16 year olds, and then only 18 year olds, some will make the rule of 21+ just to keep the chance that they inadvertantly serve a minor down... (kid goes in with older friends who orders the drink, switches it... etc.)
In Texas anyone over 18 can enter a bar but you must be 21 to drink, but bars can put an age limit on what the minimum age is for people to enter. most places set it 21 to avoid TABC problems, but i've been to some clubs that are all ages and tag the 21+ yr olds with wrist bands.
Quote from: sealclubber on October 15, 2008, 12:48:06 AM
Can't resist: My class i Ranger, does that help? ;)
Sure.
I worry about the mundanes... :o
I probably wouldn't go because I think there would be more than a few people that would get the wrong idea about and "adult" ren fest and show up wearing coustumes that you wish you hadn't seen. For example: the last weekend I attended the MiRF I saw a 6' 2" transvestite complete with huge adam's apple and schoolgirl outfit and some young guy in bondage leather with most of his behind showing through his leather miniskirt. And this was at a regular ren faire!
Quote from: Lord Duelist on October 14, 2008, 12:08:16 AM
Obviously the crowds will be smaller. As a result the site would probably have to be much smaller (I'm not sure how big the actual grounds of say TRF are, if that 53 acres counts e.g. the parking and camping areas).
The 53 acres is just the "ticketed inside the gate" part. The whole complex is 250+ acres, which includes the parking, both camps, all the backstage & service areas and does not include the King's Orchard or the large permanent rennie residential subdivision.
Another thing to consider is that if you set aside a separate 21+ area for mom & dad, you are also going to have to set aside a "park your kid" area like the casinos do. Most faires are already crunched for real estate as it is. At TRF we own our booths & any attempt to displace us for a new area & still provide a place for us would result in a lotta heartburn for everyone concerned.
Hey! I am for sequestered, child only areas at restaurants (along the lines of ye olde smoking section). therefore my opinion tends to have a biased slant. Plus I do not have children...I have cats.
I think it would be nice, but I do not think it would be thesable in this "Family Values/Oriented" society.
Think about it? Vegas had to add more family things to do...and I even saw, much to my chagrin, some moron carying his four year son on his shoulders, at 10pm down Bourbon St. in New Orleans. "No son, mommies are not that big." Kid got an education that night. I mean come on!!!
There are times and places for everything. Day Faires for Families but maybe after hours for Adults might be more realistic.
No kids after 5pm??? Thats just my 2 cents.
In our restaurant, due to state laws, our servers under age 18 can take the liquor order, but can't make the drink (if our manager/bartender is seating someone or making other drinks) or deliver it. If they are under 18, then another server over 18 must carry the drink out to the table. This includes beer, wine, and hard liquor.
Quote from: Lady Renee Buchanan on October 27, 2008, 11:59:36 AM
In our restaurant, due to state laws, our servers under age 18 can take the liquor order, but can't make the drink (if our manager/bartender is seating someone or making other drinks) or deliver it. If they are under 18, then another server over 18 must carry the drink out to the table. This includes beer, wine, and hard liquor.
It is the not quite the Same in PA. 18 can serve Alchohol but can't mix it or drink it.
Quote from: DuCoeur on October 26, 2008, 12:09:21 AM
Hey! I am for sequestered, child only areas at restaurants (along the lines of ye olde smoking section). therefore my opinion tends to have a biased slant. Plus I do not have children...I have cats.
Not all children are bad! My children are quite behaved when we go out to eat, and if they start getting fussy I ask for the check, box up the food and leave promtply. I am embarassed by the mothers who just allow their kids to scream and go nuts the WHOLE TIME. (Sure my kids start getting ancy by the end, but my husband and I are ready for it and know when to head out). Some high end resturants should have "If your child is a crying whining screaming brat, please eat here --------> cause even I don't wanna hear that!)
MDRF is big enough they could fence off a corner and make it adult only....kinda like Pleasure Island? I don't think the 5pm cut off would work - I'm in the mindset where my kids are still little and I hold their hands and walk with them. I'm sure there'd be plenty of teenie boppers hiding in shops till security has gone away to get in on the action. One would hope they'd get carded when they try to buy booze....just thinking of the possible mature rated content. Then again, they've probably all seen and done worse in high school. :o
(sorry for reviving this so old, but i just love the idea I have to put in my opinion)
An adult faire is a great idea. I know very well where the faires make their real money, but as an avid rennie, I've always rather hated the fairegrounds swarming with these clueless mainstream suburban familes walking around in their old navy clothes and treating it like a goddamned carnival. This past season I overheard a mother saying to her small child, "Ok, we've seen everything. It's time to go." The thought running through my head was "What are we, a freaking sideshow? I thought this was a pleasant little village. Stay and relax a while. Maybe meet some people. ...losers."
But personal grudgery aside, It would be a wonderful idea, and I'm sure it would have a rather healthy turnout.
Plus, I'd love it if my faire started serving hard liquor rather than just beers and wines.
While an adult only faire, may seem fun to some people, I honestly cannot see it doing extremely well while being on scale with the bigger faires like TRF. Most people associate them with family atmospheres and you wouldnt draw in nearly as many people, and current faires most likely wouldn't do an adult only themed weekend, at least I wouldn't think, because they would loose alot of money on all the families they'd turn away. I'm not opposed to the idea at all, but I like the thought of a 21+ area within the faire, sectioned off from the rest, I can see this working. I know I'd be there :)
I think the best we could ever hope for is an adult's only area like Disney has on their cruise ships.
an adult area sounds more practical, till you really think about everything it would involve. to start with, you'd need to displace the merchants from the area, unless that would want to remain in the location. but I'm sure that not many would would want to be in an age restricted area, thats a big limitation on your available market to sell to. As others have already said, if you have an area for the adults, then you'd need something for the kids, how else will the parents go in there unless theres somewhere to drop the young ones, cant let them wander around the grounds unattended.
if its only a small section of the grounds, it kind of defeats the purpose of adult only if we're talking about garbing. I'm not saying obscene or "adult" in fashion, but some might want to be a little more provocative then they can normally get away with. who wants the change outfits going back and forth between areas?
there are more reasons I can think of, but these are just the basics.
I like the idea though of an after closing adult event. Close down the faire an hour early one day, everyone out, half and hour later, (time enough to mark of designated areas) readmit adults with the main areas of faire still open, (will be FAR fewer people now, don't need the full grounds.)
that's a great idea. I know, though, at KCRF, were they to do something like this, They would likely leave the whole grounds open despite the number of people. But I agree, an adult's only area defeats a lot of the purpose, though many faires do have areas to leave the tykes (like the enchanted realm at KCRF). I could imagine a major faire hosting something like this either after hours, or a weekend before or after main faire season.
While my last post was against an "adult area" of the faire, I just meant as a large, sub-area of the faire grounds.
On a small scale, I can see an adult only area working nicely. Such as a beer garden where alcohol is served, bawdy humor is shared and performers can sing their not-so-family-friendly songs. not a faire within the faire where anything is fair (;D try and say it 3 times aloud, I dare you!) more of the kid free stop to sit and have a good time before continuing to the rest of the grounds. (and then to return to later)
I think Scarborough has realized that the 'kiddie' crowd are not the ones who bring in the real money. They removed the kiddie rides that were right in the King's Pub area.
I know there's Wicked Faire in New Jersey? That one takes place around February. Other than that, there are no other adult faires. I do agree that either an adult area would be nice, or after a certain time, the faire closes for the family, then reopens for adults instead, until about maybe 9 or 10pm? During those hours, fire shows can take place, a bit more bawdy pub songs, and maybe the vendors could stay open as well. :)
Actually, the "kiddie" crowd brings in a TON of money for most faires. Kids want wooden swords and orange ices, they want princess hats, fairy wings and calzones. Families spend a lot of money at faire, which is no doubt part of why more and more faires are creating atmospheres where families are welcome.
Yes, the drinkers and pub-goers spend money as well, but both groups are important to the survival of a Festival.
They didn't remove the bungee, btw. It was over on the other side of the same set of kitchens, between King's Pub and Crown Stage.
As for extending faire hours, I don't know about anyone else but as someone who works faire I would absolutely HATE that idea. By the time cannon goes off (when I'm working, which hasn't been the last few years), I'm ready to be done. I've already been working around 11 hours and I'm usually exhausted, with every muscle hating me. I think that if someone suggested, "Hey! Let's tack on another 3 hours!" I would find a way to quietly garrote them in an alley somewhere (*note: SAID IN JEST! YEESH! I wouldn't REALLY garrote someone...I'm much more likely to use a sword *grin*).
Our Pirate Festival is a one weekend faire, and we offer an adults only "Captain's Keg Party" on the Saturday night. Gates are open 10am - 6pm, Keg starts at 7pm, between 6 and 7 we make several announcements, and those with kids tend to wander out - now, keep in mind that we are a small faire, so don't have extensive grounds, and it is only the tavern that officially stays open. Being piratical,we attract people of ALL ages throughout the day, but those who attend the party always seem to enjoy the opportunity to let their hair down. Merchants close up shop, some join for a while. As actors, it DOES make for a long night, but it also establishes our event as something that appeals to a wider range of people than just those who have young kids. Most "family oriented" events can tend to hold less appeal for those without kids, and this allows us to keep more people interested. The keg offers entertainments not availble during the day, and it CAN get bawdier.....pickle eating contests take on a whole new look, and the song choices are unmonitored. I enjoy it for a little while, but am also glad to be excused by 10 or so!