Why Do You Love the Faire?

[Norfolk]

The Baroness and I were talking this morning about how anxious we are for a new festival season to begin, and that led us to a discussion of why we absolutely LOVE being at Faire.  But, before we tell you what we most enjoy, we want to hear from our fellow fanatics.  So:  Why do you LOVE the Faire?

[holierthanthou]

Faire is family, at least to those who work there or are dedicated attendees.  A chance to put on your best garb or dirtiest peasant gear and visit times gone by.  It is the age of chivalry.  Where every man has a chance to be a prince, a pirate or villain.  Every woman has a chance to be mysterious, to be a queen, a gypsy or a saucy wench. 

Where children can see story books come to life and get a sense of wonder.  To be able to help those who have fallen in love get their fairytale.

Where I can protect the elephant from people who are conditioned by television to not think that being around animals is dangerous and thus, get themselves in harms way.

To be able to work with my many puppets, enjoy comradory of friends and share the music of days past.

Of all the faires/festivals I have worked... CRF is special because...
While on my journey to Derbyshire, my car broke down and I landed in Larspurshire.  On a one chance meeting I met a kindred spirit, my soul mate, my liar of ill repute, my heart's song... my husband.

[Demetrius]

I have been going to the Colorado Renaissance Festival for almost 30 years and have "worked" (I do work my behind off, but nothing that fun can can seriously be called "work") there for almost 10.

My absolute favorite part of faire... the people who pay to get in- both mundane and those, like our own Baron & Baroness, who dress the part. Interacting with customers is one of the greatest pleasures in life and no amount of therapy can out perform it.
Being able to make stuff up and have fun is something one can't get away with outside of faire. Where else can you respond to people who have just asked- 'Do you serve haggis?" with "Yes, Milady, we serve everyone..." 
(BTW, the food at faire is awesome and more affordable than any other public venue I've been to.)

I love the royal court and the jousters and the street cast- what a blast to interact with such a fine & talented group of people.

I love many of the young people I work with in my booth, as well as many of the long time employees who work behind the scenes so everyone else can do what they do. Anna, from "Sarge & Anna's" is always a joy to talk to and I am one of the many fortunate ones to have known Sarge.

We have always had fantastic musicians and a fine group of crafters- all of whom are great to converse with as well.

The atmosphere: "Where would we be without this great land of ours..." I love the smell of the grass down by the jousting arena and hanging out in wood chip commons when I can.

Veracity: Oh, I love it I love it I love it! I particularly enjoy being deathly honest with Captain Spleen. Many aren't aware of the fact he invented "Post-its."

The hot weather- the hotter the better! Many people come up to my booth and feel the heat from the grill and say, "Wow, you must be hot back there!" To which I reply- "much thanks to thee!"

I love that people I don't know, and people I do know, can enjoy having an interaction with me without worrying about what my political background is, whether they agree with me or not- and I care about all of them just the same.

There are people I love to hang out with outside of faire, who I would have never met were it not for faire, like Monk and his beautiful wife and family. (And we share the same birthday!)

Hamsters- nah, I'm not much of one for hamsters. Gee, I wish that just one time someone would explain them to me. No, seriously, just one time.

I love that (Hey) one person (Aren't) can think he gets away with (You) leaving empty beer cans in strategic places- such as my personal belongings- (enormously cheap beer) and still can't hear me through the zone of silence even though the roof is gone.
     
I love that no matter how hard it rains Mistress Charlotte is always there.

I could keep going and going... but for the three people who read this far I thank thee!

Last but not least... I went to faire a single, un-attached person- with the last thing on my mind of looking for or finding the most wonderful person in the world. Then I saw her in her habit and here we are today- I love her more than ever. Yes, soul mates is the best way to put it.

Huzzah to Baron! Great thread!

[Hey- Arent You?]

I Hate the Faire.   

no,  not REALLY.

I love having a safe place to run and play with my son. a place that feeds his imagination as well as mine.
...watching my kids learn and grow and build their own friendships.
I love having that many people in one place that actually GET MY JOKES. seriously, the witty banter is severely lacking in the mundane world.  most people just can't keep up.
I love having a group of friends that are ALWAYS happy to see me, ALWAYS support me and NEVER judge me.  The ones I know just a little, and only hang with there- the ones I know very well, and hang out with sometimes in the outside world, The ones who I have come to love SO dearly, and could not imagine my life without (you know who you are)
I love the amazing & endless display of décolletage.       
...the wonderful variety of people that i get to meet.
.....watching managers having meltdowns. (sorry, it's funny)
...rennie camp, telling the stories of the day around the circle...... walking the site after dark...having a safe place to drink all night with no worry of getting arrested or having to drive, where the worst thing that could happen is that Rook tells you to shut up and go to bed..... or, you meet a bear.  ("hey Rich, should we go the other way?"  "NO, we should hold really still.)
....... MY elephant.  where else could you make a 5 ton friend?
.......watching the new people try to find their place in it all.... and the veterans who help them find it......
.... people who say "I love you" and actually mean it.
....seeing people i haven't see in a year, and feeling like i saw them yesterday.
....hearing the music for 1/2 way across site....
....walking and walking, also sitting and watching.
....the sound of laughter everywhere.
....eavesdropping on random conversations as i walk the site, and randomly inserting myself into them.
......screwing with people, friends and strangers alike, just to watch their faces.
.....the variety of food available, SOME of which you can't get anywhere else.   
.... the moments I have shared that have touched my soul and changed me forever. some of them with my closest friends, and some of them with people who I will never see again.
....ya, I'm kinda in the dark on the whole hamster thing too.  anyone? anyone?
...turning to the nearest patron at 9:59:50am & 05:59:50pm and saying "don't jump", hearing them say "huh?" and then watching them piss themself.   I NEVER get tired of that.
....closing gate sing!
.... people who want to hug you every time they see you.... and the contest of who stops hugging first.
.... did I mention décolletage?  I like that.....
... the joy of opening day, and the sorrow of closing day.
....the site, when no one is there yet, and when it's too packed to move. and the fact that I know it so well, I can walk it with my eyes closed.
...the way it's always the same AND always different.
but the thing I love the most, is being there.

[Zoë]

- I love getting the chance to dress up in awesome clothes AND get paid for it AND not look like a total freak.

- I love having an excuse to use a British, or a French, or a Russian accent at will....and not look like a total freak.

- I love the people, the family and friends whom I have gotten to know over the last years, growing with them and knowing that they will be there for me, and I will be there for them.  I love knowing that even when I am having a horrible day, I don't have to go very far for a hug or a beer or just someone to commiserate with.  That happened quite a few times this year and it was such a relief to know that I have so many people I can go to for support and a shoulder to cry on.

- I love sharing faire with my real family.  They've become total rennies in the last 2 years and it's amazing, and I'm so proud of them.  I look forward to our 15-hour one-way drive to Phoenix every year just to spend 2 days at the AZRF, turn around, and do the drive again.

- I love the idea of becoming someone else entirely for 2 days a week--the fact that more people know me there as Zoë than by my real name is kind of exciting.  It makes me feel special for some weird reason.

- I love the fact that even though it's a "job," I've had way more fun than I've ever had at any other job.  It doesn't feel like work to me.  Even though the days are long and usually pretty tiring, it's never a challenge to get up the next morning and do it all over again.  I sing and dance and have a grand time all day.  Even when it's raining. 

- I love the shameless flirting.  I never get an opportunity any other time to do it, so it feels pretty good to know that someone is looking, for once in my life.  Even if it's only momentary. 

- Kilts, pirates, tights, romanceteers, swashbucklers...need I go on? 

- Returning after a year off and seeing everyone again, and feeling like it hasn't been that long after all. 

- Spending my days listening and dancing to Celtic Legacy, and making fun of Ded Bob.  Quoting his show with better comedic timing than he has. 

- Flower delivery.  Where else does this happen?!

- Letting my imagination run wild.  I've gotten so much inspiration at faires - watch out, maybe some of you will pop up in my books some day. 

I feel like I could go on forever about why I love faire...

[Adriana Rose]

Gee this is a hard one Baron!

When I was 12 and walked through the gates on a " Hey lets go there trip" with my mom I felt like I was home no doubt about it. And now surprisingly it basically is for mom and I.
- All my friends are from faire, be it performers to site crew
- I can be as loud mouthed and annoying and strangly if its in an English accent people love it 0_o
- We all get to play dress up! I mean how many of us women ever grew out of dress up?
-The people I meet and play with are so funny it makes it worth it even more!
- Did i menton the friends? I may not know thier given names but they are some of the most genuine people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting!
- Rennies give KILLER HUGS 
- I love the fact that my son can play and build his imagination, I see it in him now even in the off season. And I cannot wait to see what he learns next season besides that horses say Moo


there are so many more!

I really do love you all in a strictly strange family sorta way lol

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

Why do I love faire? Just do plan and simple.

I have been going for over 20 years (not every year in those twenty years, but 20 years of adventure) Every year was in garb... except one and that year it rained or drizzled all day long and was miserably cold. I bought a half-moon jacket that year to stay warm. Toki owns it now lucky dog!

The outfits... need I say more. I love wearing as historically accurate of clothing as I can. The more regal the better.

Getting confused by faire visitors as being the QUEEN... I am Damit, I am the Queen I just let the other one pretend. Damn King Henry dumping me for her. I am the rightful Queen not Anne!

The awesome people I have meet and grown to care and love for, who either work at the faire or attend.

Seeing smiles on Children's faces.

All the wonderful garb

Items NOT made in China, India, Pakistan, Korea

The food and it's not so overly high price (try going to Highland fest, it costs 2 or 3X as much for less. or to Frontier Days $3.50 for a pop $10.00 for a burger you could get at McD's for $1.00

The mountains. While I have never been to any other faire besides Northern Colorado Medieval Festival, it is my belief that CoRF is by far the most beautiful. no other faire is in the mountains or even close to them.

The escape from mundane life

The fact that everyone I know is accepting of all the diversity each and everyone of us brings to CoRF.

The fact I get to practice an art form called Photography and get complimented for it while I learn more.

The smiles I get just thinking of going.

The Stories. OH the stories and I have never worked at faire.

The way mundanes react to you and believe you work at faire when don't

Did I mention the reaction of children

The fact I am NOT that hot in all that garb.

The compliments you get from woman about the clothing you wear.

The smiles young boys get seeing a Conquistador

Exercise need we say more.

Pirates... Everything is better with Pirates!

Free beer and Wine on selected weekends.

Introducing new people to faire like my sister who is now hooked.

[Tanda]

Because it is a place that men are Men, horses are Horses, and women are Plump! 

Where else can I have coffee and a pretzel for breakfast, a pickle for lunch, and chocolate covered strawberries for dinner?

I love the way it smells. Like all of outdoors came to one spot. With cinnamon almonds.

I love all the different types of people that I can watch.

[Blushing]

How do I love faire? Let me count the ways ... Well not really, 'cause that would take too long.

I never dreamed that something I literally fell into would become such a huge enjoyment, and a big part of who I am.  There are so very many many things I cherish about faire, including, but certainly not limited to (and in no particular order):

- finding and making new friends, me they ones I see often or those I see rarely

- the play and the history and the flirting

- the words and not just accents - although those are wonderful - but the wit and laughter and banter

- sounds of faire ... be it music or chimes or bells or people singing or people talking ...

- capturing moments with photos (or words)

- kilts ...

[Francisco Paula]

Gosh.....you all make it sound so great

[Zoë]

Gee, wonder why. 

[Demetrius]

How do I love faire? Let me count the ways ... Well not really, 'cause that would take too long.

I never dreamed that something I literally fell into would become such a huge enjoyment, and a big part of who I am.  There are so very many many things I cherish about faire, including, but certainly not limited to (and in no particular order):

- finding and making new friends, me they ones I see often or those I see rarely

- the play and the history and the flirting

- the words and not just accents - although those are wonderful - but the wit and laughter and banter

- sounds of faire ... be it music or chimes or bells or people singing or people talking ...

- capturing moments with photos (or words)

- kilts ...

Ah yes, the flirting- I see people do it all the time (except for Captain Spleen who is always so well behaved).

And the sounds! I mean, What was that?

Photos! True- we seem to get a lot of great ones at the end of day at wood chip commons.

[NelleMoorley]

The people. Because there is a strange and unexplainable bond that makes us all more like family than friends.

Ahh, yes, the flirting . . . all day, every day. It's fun.

Because who wouldn't enjoy living in their own fantasy world every weekend all summer?

Now I miss it. How long 'till opening weekend again?

[Norfolk]

"How long 'till opening weekend again?"

193 days.  But who is counting?

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

now it's 192, but true, who is counting