So any advice for a first time TRF goer?
Shows, camping, anything? What weekend to go?
It's all welcome the planing has started!!!!!!!!!!!!Muahahahhah
Well I'm a TRF virgin too and I've been told I'm required to buy the beer for everyone and wear spiked-heel stripper shoes. ::)
So far I've been told to make sure to sample as much food as possible. Not miss the chainmail fashion show (of course I'm a dirty old man) and to see the Ded Bob show.
Hit these one at a time...
So any advice for a first time TRF goer? Books-worth, but some of the highlights are: feed the blacksmiths (they starve us), tip at shows, but don't break yourself (dollar coins are always a plus), "water" the blacksmiths (anything potent enough to start an engine for Mark or Stiofan, diet soda for me), wear comfortable shoes that you can walk ten miles in, because that's what it will feel like, love the blacksmiths (we're all cuddle-sluts), peace-tie any weapons, but as a lady make sure one dagger can be ripped free if necessary to defend yourself (rare that it's needed, but just in case), extinguish the blacksmiths (had to throw this one in after last year's incident), try not to overdo it, set aside part of the faire for Sat, part for Sun, and leave a little for next time, but above all, have fun. :)
Shows, camping, anything? See every show, but highlights will be Sound and Fury over by us, Tartanic anywhere they go, Ded Bob if you've never seen him before, Cast in Bronze, and other shows I don't know about because I am chained to a damned anvil :D Camping, depends on how rowdy or quiet you life it, but there's camps to suit all tastes.
What weekend to go? um... all of them? ;D Seriously, though, opening weekend and Halloween are the popular ones, but it's up to you as to which theme appeals to you most
Quote from: Breandan on August 03, 2009, 05:05:19 PMextinguish the blacksmiths (had to throw this one in after last year's incident)
Whoa...back up a sec'. Did you take up smoking involuntarily? Is this a new show you'll be performing each weekend? Wha'happuned?
And of course, you have come and see us, Booth #312
The fun starts after the fireworks ;D
Quote from: Hercules on August 03, 2009, 05:18:32 PMWhoa...back up a sec'. Did you take up smoking involuntarily? Is this a new show you'll be performing each weekend? Wha'happuned?
Had to extinguish a fellow smith who's dress- despite being under an ankle-length Ravenswood leather overdress- caught fire when a piece of clinker (slag) landed on the hem. No injuries, and she kept her cool, so no worries :D
Go see Wine and Alchemy. They rock.
One important suggestion. You had BETTER come say hey to your faire father!
Outside of that... don't make plans... there is way to much to see and do. Just stroll and enjoy!
*and bring me some rumcake too lol*
Quote from: *Teach* on August 03, 2009, 08:50:56 PM
One important suggestion. You had BETTER come say hey to your faire father!
Outside of that... don't make plans... there is way to much to see and do. Just stroll and enjoy!
*and bring me some rumcake too lol*
Best advice yet...just stroll ;)
Quote from: MacKee on August 03, 2009, 05:30:32 PM
The fun starts after the fireworks ;D
Um, I disagree. The fun starts WITH the fireworks.
biased :D
Of course, unless one happens to be unfortunate enough to look down a mortar tube at the wrong moment, setting off the boomage has got to be serious fun ;D ;D
Drac, give me a heads up whenever you plan on going and we'll see about dragging you around to introduce you to everyone. You can always hop around faire with me but no guarentees you'll catch a single show. To be honest, besides shooting (with my camera) the chainmaille show to catch Element of Air and few others dance, I don't think I caught more than few minutes of anything every time I've been so far.
A lil Iris n' Rose, a lil Wine and Alchemy, stop to chat with Calith, stop to chat with knarlyknots, a little bit of joust, stop to see Blue at the shop she's raising hell at (K'zar last season, Fellowship Foundries this coming), hear Tartanic and stop and enjoy the view of shirtless Scots in kilts, run amuck, raise hell, see as much as my faire-mily as possible and enjoy every damn bit I can.
I am adding stopping to meet/chat with Breandan to my list also. ;D
Like Teach said, don't plan anything, just go and enjoy. There is A LOT to see compared to your home faire though I love it dearly for its quaintness.
Okay so basically plan two weekends, one to see everything and one to talk to everyone! Gotcha!
I am planning now and as soon as I have this semester payed for (hopefully by the end of august mid Sept!) I get to start putting aside gas moneys, okay, admission/camping fees?
(and I WOULD NEVER NOT come and see my FAIRE FATHER! Oh and dear faire father I would like to point out that I turn 21 on Dec. 11 therefore very soon your ploys to not feed me rum will be null and void! :D )
And of course I need to come see KnarlyKnot....I still need a good mug, I have a James bottle, but I need a mug as well....so much excitement!
The only daunting thing is the drive.....sheesh.....I do not want to make that drive alone.....must find a partner!
Be sure to take a stroll down through the lesser travelled Pirates' Cove... it is filled with a lot of new and exciting shoppes and you should definitely stop by and see the Faeries from the Swamp, and The Salt Cellar...booths 509 and 510
yes, yes, I know, shameless self promotion... :)
Quote from: Dracconia on August 04, 2009, 08:52:43 AM
(and I WOULD NEVER NOT come and see my FAIRE FATHER! Oh and dear faire father I would like to point out that I turn 21 on Dec. 11 therefore very soon your ploys to not feed me rum will be null and void! :D )
Good Girl!
Who knows... you may catch me not paying attention to my flasks while we are out there...
*watching you figure out which one has rum in it will be fun in itself lol*
We have an informal meet and greet at the Prince of Wales pub for the parade! Do come and see me and other R/F ers there. I am all over the faire and rarely stay put long- but I am usually at the P.O.W around noon! Come and grovel before your Queen! LOL!
Quote from: Dracconia on August 04, 2009, 08:52:43 AM
Okay so basically plan two weekends, one to see everything and one to talk to everyone! Gotcha!
... Many good points removed for brevity.
There's no way you will see everything in two weekends, never mind trying to do it in just one. Do come at least two weekends, but recognize before you leave that you will NOT see everything. Just come join us in our celebrations and enjoy yourself! Don't plan, plans never work at TRF. Relax and let it flow over you. :D
Quote from: Dracconia on August 03, 2009, 04:33:21 PM
So any advice for a first time TRF goer?
Shows, camping, anything? What weekend to go?
It's all welcome the planing has started!!!!!!!!!!!!Muahahahhah
Too broad a question.
If you are just day tripping (driving up in the morning and driving back at the end of the day), it depends on when you will arrive/depart the faire. If you arrive after around noon on a popular weekend, you'll be parking around row 20 or so and have a nice long walk.
There are two mass exoduses at the end of the day. One occurs before the fireworks (dusk) and the final is after fireworks are over (about 45 minutes later). This one can be a real problem, especially if there is an accident on CR 1774. I think it was 3 years ago when there was an accident outside the exit, when traffic was stuck for around 2 hours.
If you stay at a local hotel/motel, then you can get to the faire early and leave late. You just can't leave in an intoxicated condition (hmm, none of us would do that).
Camping is the most popular solution, because:
We can fix breakfast and casually wander into faire at our own pace.
Rather than pay outragous prices for food and drink, we can wander back to camp for lunch and refreshments. However, the prime rib sandwich at the Prince of Wales pub is great, whatever the price.
We get to socalize with great folks.
We can watch the fireworks, watch the Tartanic show outside the gates, and then stagger up to camp, and then let the real partying commence.
Camp, whatever you do, camp! ;D
Oh Drac... All Hallows is when I will be there... and Grov will be there then, also!!! Not to mention lots of other friends from S&S...
just a little food for thought... ;)
Can anyone give me a price range of things?
Camping, (is it per car or per tent?)
admission....
And anything else you might feel like warning me of...
Camping just doubled this year. It is now $20 per carload.
That fee gives you the right to try and find a suitable camping spot. If you come in late Friday, most of the good spots are already taken. Some of us come out really early and squat for our normal locations.
If you want to sleep at night, don't camp near the fire circle (row 11). If you have children, you might want to camp in the quiet family camping area.
Faire admission is $21 (I think) at the gate, but you can purchase discount tickets either online or at many local stores. The TRF website has all the information.
If you're going opening weekend you can order your tickets on-line at https://trf.nodussolutions.com $12 a piece plus a $1 fee. Advanced tickets are $16 plus a fee (assuming $1 fee also).
Watch out for Scottish guys on windy days.
Camping is now 20 dollars per car for the weekend. Not so bad if traveling with other people, pretty suck if it's just you.
Tickets are 16 dollars if you purchase them before Sept 25th. 23 bucks at the gate. I believe there is also an online/local grocery store discount ticket, but I'm not sure about the details.
Camping is definitely the way to go. There were a lot of riffraff about last year, but that can be easily avoided or countered by finding any of a number of wonderful groups. In general, most campers are very friendly, talkative, and willing to share in a pint with ya. Due to $$ issues, my friends and I will often wander the camp on Saturday instead of visiting the faire. We go in both days if we can afford to, but we tend to go to a lot of weekends and it's actually very serene in the camp during the day and not a bad way to save some cash if you want.
Of course, there are way more things to do inside than you could possibly budget time for, so I'd recommend not trying to. I find that choosing shows with a 30 minute to hour space inbetween them (get a program and hang on to it for the season) was quite casual and still efficient in seeing alot of shows. This way you can 'stroll' towards the next destination as you interact with others and browse shops along the way. If you've been to other faires, much more comparable in size to Scarborough than to smaller faires like Four Winds or CTRF.
Bring flashlights. It can get COLD. Seriously. It can rain at a moments notice. Seriously. Having proper backup attire, extra clothes, and protection from the elements is key. So is knowing where a friendly covered shelter and warm campfire are. Most important, and hardest to find in the spur of the moment, is knowing a place where you can comfortably rest and recover.
If you would like a guide or a group to camp with, my group will be there Opening, Pirate, and Highland fling weekends. We are a group of 20 somethings, some releatively new to the faire experience and others (like myself) who have been attending for years. We will probably make it to 1 or 2 more weekends, but those aren't being planned out.
Quote from: Hercules on August 05, 2009, 10:03:43 AM
If you're going opening weekend you can order your tickets on-line at https://trf.nodussolutions.com $12 a piece plus a $1 fee. Advanced tickets are $16 plus a fee (assuming $1 fee also).
Watch out for Scottish guys on windy days.
Hey now!! Some of us don't go "commando"! :D
All Hallows Eve is the middle of the Big 3... all the freaks come out of the woodwork. The best for people watching.
Also, if camping, bring your own toilet paper.
The paper in the porta-cans gets damp overnight, that is when there is any there.
If wandering around after dark, watch out for tent stakes and ropes (drunk traps).
Do not wander through a group area unless someone is there and acknowledges you. Of course if you come bearing drinks, you get acknowledged fast.
Don't camp near the porta-johns. Don't park your vehicle such that it blocks access to the cans.
Somewhere down in the old threads are my camping hints. Maybe John will re-sticky them.
Well TRF is my home faire and my twin and I attend very religiously. Last yr we went all but one weekend and the yr before that we went all but 3 weekends. We were unofficial cast and hopefully this yr as well.... We have also been camping since the first time we went. So given this, I'd say I'm damn near an expert on what's fun at TRF...
Shows:
chainmaille show - for the hot nakedish people dancing
iris and rose - for bawdy humor and silly songs
Wine and alchemy - awesome music, my fav fair musical act!
sound and fury - wonderful bawdy shakespeare plays
arsene - silly juggling and magic act
titanic - awesome bagpipe music and hot scots without shirts
shunyata belly dance - really hot talented belly dancers
Food:
We don't eat much or often, but some of the food rocks
empanyata in beef or banana rocks
the fruit and cheese plate is awesome
the chocolate covered strawberries rock too
Drink:
We always bring in loki, but the tall strawberry daiquiri drinks rock, especially when you add some loki to it!! hehe I love loki!!!!
Camping/hotel:
- DEFINITELY camping!!!! if you're a total loser, i.e. don't like camping, don't like loud noises at night, or don't want to risk all the drunk folks... then you can hotel it.... but it's not recommended!! You will miss the full TRF experience if you don't camp.
- hit the main bonfire to begin the night to see all the silliness
- find a fun rennie and follow them around to all the fun local rennie campsites, like valhalla, brigadoon, safe haven, and so on...
- make sure to visit at least one campsite of people you don't know just to be more social and meet new people!
Other recommendations:
- Always wear very very comfy shoes
- Never make a plan that can't be changed some because going with the flow is part of TRF
- Always plan much longer times between things because TRF is absolutely HUGE and getting across it can take all day, especially if you run into people like you're bound to!!!
- try to hit up the Prince of Wales pub noon time for the R/F get together at least once in a weekend
Quote from: LadyElizabeth on August 05, 2009, 11:44:27 AMShows:
chainmaille show - for the hot nakedish people dancing
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/Hercules101/11.gif)
That's why I'm going.
Arsene! I forgot to mention Arsene! MUST SEE ARSENE!
Quote from: *Teach* on August 03, 2009, 08:50:56 PM
One important suggestion. You had BETTER come say hey to your faire father!
Outside of that... don't make plans... there is way to much to see and do. Just stroll and enjoy!
*and bring me some rumcake too lol*
Strolling is indeed good advice Teach. We can generally only make the long drive once a year. We stay the entire weekend (they have a 2-day ticket). Generally on Saturday we get there before opening cannon and try to see as many shows (especially those we can't see at Scarby) as possible (purchasing a program is a good idea) and stroll the gardens, eat foods we can't get anywhere else and stay for the fireworks, after fireworks sales that some of the vendors do, and the ghost walk. Sunday we usually do just stroll and shop as many shoppes as possible and try to meet and greet old friends. Then bundle our supplies and start the countdown to Scarby.
I do recommend Wine and Alchemy, the Joust, at least one of the shows in Greece, Iris and Rose, Washing Well Wenches, whoever is doing pipes and drums this year....never mind, try to see as many as you can, we have too many favorites. And bring TEach some rumcake.
Quote from: Queen Bonnie on August 04, 2009, 03:33:37 PM
We have an informal meet and greet at the Prince of Wales pub for the parade! Do come and see me and other R/F ers there. I am all over the faire and rarely stay put long- but I am usually at the P.O.W around noon! Come and grovel before your Queen! LOL!
The informal meet and greet at the Prince of Wales is where we first met Queen Bonnie, Sir Martin, and many others. It is a great place to meet everyone and watch the parade.
Quote from: Ryk Rakham on August 08, 2009, 01:52:55 PM
Quote from: Queen Bonnie on August 04, 2009, 03:33:37 PM
We have an informal meet and greet at the Prince of Wales pub for the parade! Do come and see me and other R/F ers there. I am all over the faire and rarely stay put long- but I am usually at the P.O.W around noon! Come and grovel before your Queen! LOL!
The informal meet and greet at the Prince of Wales is where we first met Queen Bonnie, Sir Martin, and many others. It is a great place to meet everyone and watch the parade.
Huzzah on the meet and greet at Prince Of Wales. Looks like there are lots of new folks to meet this year and I really look forward to it.
Many great shows have already been mentioned, and I'd like to add Gypsy Dance Theatre to the list. Lots of music, dancing, colorful costumes and loads of fun on the Agora Stage.
Gypsy Dance Theatre (http://"http://www.gdtlive.com/gdt01.htm)
i have a new question
who/ what exactly is "clan Mclotofus" ?
btw i find The Bilge Pumps (musical pirate comedy) to be entertaining :)
Quote from: Luna on August 10, 2009, 01:12:29 AM
who/ what exactly is "clan Mclotofus" ?
btw i find The Bilge Pumps (musical pirate comedy) to be entertaining :)
Hi Luna - From the McLotofus web site: "We are a group of Ren Faire enthusiasts that like to attend faires together and camp together! We have a love of faire and a love for each other." More info can be found at http://mclotofus.com/forums/index.php and also in other threads here in the TRF section, Scarborough and others.
And I heartily agree that The Bilge Pumps are a fine group. Their upcoming events can be found under the "Voyages" section of their web site: http://www.thebilgepumps.com
Here's a pic of them performing at one of the "unofficial" pub sings at TRF last season.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h306/RocketMP/TRF2008/5efdb16a.jpg)