So what brings you back to the faire?

[JJames]

I've been on this board for quit some time now, reading posts and gaining a wealth of information, IMO; this is by far a must have resource for faire goers and could even be priceless for newbies like myself. I know there are many things to gain or experience from going to Ren Faires, I was just curious as to what it is that draws many of you back every year (i.e.; the people, the atmosphere, the garb, the friends,..the food n ale). For myself and my family, it is a new experience, and its like exploring for us. It is something completely different than what we were exposed to as kids. I had never been to a ren faire until after the age 30! I am sure as time goes by we will start to favor many other aspects of the faire we haven't even experienced yet (together we've only been to four faires). My hope is to meet people, like myself, as I am sure if anything, meeting old friends and acquaintances is always an excellent reason for returning every year! My wife and I have always been fascinated w/ the history of the renaissance and medieval ages, I'm sure that that interest in it alone draws us in! And just a curious thought, maybe some of you would like to to share!

James~

[insidiousraven]

I have always liked browsing the unique vendors the most.  Also, getting to run around in garb and not look like a crazy person is nice.  You get to do cool things that not even the local carnival has such as wax hands and hair braiding.  I guess I'm trying to say that EVERYTHING keeps me coming back to faire for more!

[Dinobabe]

Definitely history, acting/pretending, the atmosphere, really all of it!

But I think the biggest draw for me is that I grew up at faire.  Every summer was spent at Grandma's shop.  So it is really nostalgic for me and allows me to visit a bit of my childhood and all of the wonderful memories.

[Dracconia]

I am a history/theater girl so that helps alot

But honestly...the people. I have the BEST fairemily and it's wonderful to see them!!!!

[Mairte]

I couldnt say any one particular thing draws me back, ALL of it appeals.

[Aniroaldawen]

More than anything else, it's the people.  I've made fantastic friends at faire and I wouldn't trade my fairemly for anything. I love how caring and welcoming the ren-fest community is. The entertainment, too...where else can you see nobles, pirates, wenches, fairies and fops in one place? ;-)  I also adore the whole atmosphere of play.  It really is another world when you walk through those gates...I love it all so much! But, like I said, my fairemly is what keeps me coming back...without the people, faires would just be buildings and tents.

[Rani Zemirah]

I love being able to let my inner child out to play, and having the chance to become whoever I envision myself to be in the moment...  It's very exciting to watch my daughter realize that almost all the grown-ups around her are actually playing in one way or another, and to realize that play doesn't have to stop just because you get older!  The sense of wonder is what draws me back... time after time.

The people are pretty amazing, also! 

[Merlin the Elder]

Being able to move out of the intense daily life and into a relaxed play life where there are no arguments about politics and religion, and phones are less of an irritant.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

To be able to strip away my mundane self and step into Fraser's kilt. To greet people that I've know for ages or just met the day before, with a "Hail and Well Met", in the lanes and watch mundane's heads turn.  The smile on a pretty lass's face when i throw her a wink.  The feeling of freedom from the toils of the day to day.  Stepping back in time for a taste of what my family experienced in that period.  The swirl of colors, sights, sounds and smells.  The feeling of belonging and the sense of coming home...  


Last but not the least, the friends i have made.  

[Queen Bonnie]

 Getting out of my Muggle costume and getting to be myself! Friends! The music, smells and the whole faire experience. I am hooked!

[Professor M]

Much like JJames, I discovered faires when I was in my 30s and took my kids for the first time.  I expected a few vendors, come people in "costume" and a few shows.  But the entire family fell in love with the place immediately.

What did it for me (us) was the street cast.  Our local faire had an amazing cast of professional actors who brought the place to life.  Each year when we returned it was like going back to a small town and catching up with old friends.  We'd wonder if the sheriff would still be grumpy?  Would the lovely young lady still be singing in the street for drinking money?  Could one of us beat the king in a game of chess (he used to play four people at a time!)?

So it was a total immersion into the false reality they were presenting.  Since then I have visited other faires and found mixed experiences with the cast.  Some casts hardly interact, and in larger faires the cast is unable to handle the volume of people.  But there are many faires with well-trained casts of characters that invite us into their world and make it a real experience.  That's what keeps me coming back.

[Ginette]

I'll have to aggress with everyone that with friends, food, getting away from the mundane world, the sights, sounds and smells of faire, dressing up in garb is just the beginning of why we love faire.  And getting out of my Muggle costume is pretty nice too.   

[Noble Dreg]

My 2009 Dodge Journey...

[Elennare]

I love having the chance to run around in a "costume."  I'll take any excuse I can get to wear fun, out of the ordinary clothes.  I also really enjoy the shows, and (browsing) the vendors, and the atmosphere in general (at a good faire, anyway.  I've been to a few that didn't have that, and it was really disapointing).

I started really going to faire as a gamer/performer.  As I go more as just a patron, I'm starting to realize that I also really LOVE the opportunity to interact with people in that capacity.  It is something I miss, now, to the point that my husband and I are now (semi-)seriously considering putting together a show so we can go back to performing at faire.  I hope we actually do it, because that's one of the things I really like, and keeps me coming back.

[Laird Fraser of Lovatt]

My 2009 Dodge Journey...

smart arse.