Problems with the community fire

[MacLaren]

I just had a run-in with a group of people at the pit. They were blaring rap from a vehicle, and when I went over after going to bed and respectfully asked them to turn it down so I could sleep, I was told to do something most unpleasant to myself. After that, a flare up ensued, and I nearly got into a very bad situation. Granted, I'm more than capable of defending myself against two drunk idiots, but there were around ten and I'm not stupid.

I decided to break camp and come on home, since after I went back to the tent they were even more obnoxious. This is unacceptable!

I'm officially voting that the community fire be banned. There are drugs, as a young(she looked underage) woman told me just tonight that she was on acid the night before. There are drunks, as all know already. Being drunk is fine, but these morons aren't respectful of neighbors at all. They stay up all night keeping us from sleep with the drums and yelling and such.

How would a ban on the pit be done? I don't know the powers that be, and need support in this effort if is it to be done.

Thanks all for putting up with my rant. It's been a long night, so all apologies ahead of time.

[groomporter]

Isn't there a "curfew"? Most campgrounds have a rule that after "X" o'clock people have to keep noise to a minimum.

[Tanyor]

A petiton might help saying that you will not be going back to faire till something is done.

I'l be there all hallow's eve. And I will be glad to help.

[Clarendon]

What happened to the local Sheriff Dept. that kind of polices the area at night. Two maybe
three years ago I saw a similar incident and they were right there taking care of the guy that
was causing problems. They were also stopping people that looked under age and asking for ID.
If you had alcohol in hand and were under age or could not produce ID you were told to dump
the alcohol and move along.
As far as killing the community fire pit, probably not going to happen. For most that attend Faire and camp, the pit is just one of many reasons they go. I'm not sure what you can do to keep this kind of thing from happening again. I guess one thing is not to camp to close to the pit area. I usually
camp in the big open field down the way from the Pit area. Most people that camp in that area are considerate of others around them.
Did these people have a camp site set up or were they just there for the "Party"? If that's the case then there are things that the Faire owners could do to curb such people from being there and causing problems.

[SirRichardBear]

There is no curfew or quiet time in the general camping area.  However I know the police were around Friday night because some clueless drunk 20 something started trouble and they were fast around and took care of it very professionally.  Last couple of season I've avoided the pit area because its turn from a drum and dance circle to just a kiddie drunk party. 

[eldatari]

I think they need to go back to requiring that you show a ticket to get into the campgrounds.  I also think that they should increase the police presence.  I would not generally say something like that but the campgrounds have gotten outta control.  Over the past few years there have been incidents of increasing severity each year.  As far as the fire circle being one of the reasons people camp, I don't believe this to be true anymore.  My biggest suggestion for all that do not already camp with a clan is to camp near one and away from the fire circle.  I camped out next to the celtic rouges last year and had no trouble.

[MacLaren]

I was in the McLotofus area. Most of the drummers had left to their camps, and then loud, crappy rap came screaming into the air. Then some kind of country, then more rap.

I was polite, but was summarily told to go eff myself. I just wish I'd had two of my old friends with me from the old days; it would have been over quickly. There were no police to be seen, it was just me against ten or so, so I just bailed for home. Some sort of noise control after midnight would be nice, but unlikely. Some people need to get up early, ya know?

Showing a ticket needs to be required to get in for sure. I think these were there just for the party. I don't know if any of them had a camp; no campsites were close, so who knows.

[Lord Dragonspyre]

I think they need to go back to requiring that you show a ticket to get into the campgrounds.

They were asking people coming in on Thursday and Friday if they had tickets, and had already turned away a half-dozen vehicles on Thursday night.

I also think that they should increase the police presence.  I would not generally say something like that but the campgrounds have gotten outta control.

I fully agree with this. Temporarily assigning one or two police officers from the surrounding communities (on a volunteer basis, of course) to the Todd Mission PD and/or the Sherriff's Department would do wonders to curb the obnoxiousness. Doing that can increase the police presence from two or three to as many as fifteen or more. Perhaps even get them on in an off-duty security position, paid by Faire Management.

As far as the fire circle being one of the reasons people camp, I don't believe this to be true anymore.

It's not. The true fire circle enthusiasts that actually do go to the fire circle are eventually driven away by the hordes of drunken, high idiots grabbing at the dancers, stumbling about in a drunken stupor, backflipping off of the edges of the fire, and throwing glass bottles or kegs in and around the fire. Most of the true enthusiasts wind up sticking around smaller, more personal campfires just to avoid the crap.



My personal opinion is that stupid RV parked next to the fire circle with the sign that says "Show your hooters for Jello shooters" needs to go. It's obnoxious, it's wrong, and it sends out the wrong message regarding what goes on at the campgrounds, exacerbating the problem. If it wasn't for the fact that it's highly illegal, something rather untoward would have happened to that RV this past weekend.


Some people were suggesting that we, as Rennies, should go out in force and retake the fire pit, forcing the bad elements to leave. While I like the sentiment, it's a mound of trouble waiting to happen. People who are high and/or drunk are unpredictable and highly dangerous to deal with. Even trained police officers with years of service always have backup and are ready to draw a weapon if the situation warrants it. If we were to essentially force a confrontation, then we would have a crowd of people capable of doing things they wouldn't do otherwise (mob mentality and all that).


I would suggest an alternate form of dealing with this matter.

[SirRichardBear]

I agree it would be nice and cut down on the problem if they required tickets as well as camping fee to camp.  Two of our group couldn't make it and we offered the tickets to some kids camping near us and were told no thanks we're just here to party.  They turned out to be nice kids and caused no problem other than being a little clueless like not having a hammer for the tent spikes and not knowing how to set up a tent.  

[Capt. Bacardi]

Glad to hear nothing has changed in the 2 yrs I have been gone......

All I have to say is good luck on King George ever getting more security out there, it might take a few dollars out of all the money he makes every year. It would be great if they went back to showing tickets, it might cut down on some of the problems. Unfortunately it has gotten out the rennies had a great party going on out there, so all the local punks with nothing else to do have decided to join the party. So as you can see they have no respect for anyone out there, and also like stealing any booze they can get their hands on.

[Macintyre]

I think us rennies need to ban together and take it back from the danes if the local fuzz won't keep the idiots away.  I saw a bunch of morrons out there too.  stupid drunks crowding the fire and doing back flips off the fire.  I even saw on jackass (not Steve-o) try running across it and slipped and landed right in the middle of it.  he rolled out un scaved (unfortunately) but this is the type of crap that needs to stop.  that and the "show us your tits for a jello shot" signs.  what the hell is that all about.  there used to be a time when the ladies would do that on there own at the fire when the room was givin for them to dance around.  if you wanna see tits, then go to a strip club.

[LadyJessica]

Here's another thought / idea about how to control the camping / fire circle issue.  Put up a fence and a second check point between the parking and the campgrounds.  As much as I hate to say it becuase I do this myself when I just want to visit with McLotofus a lot of the danes come in on Saturday when there's no one at the gate to check for tickets or to take money then they set up camp and they're there for the party or they go into faire and then camp for that evening.  If there was a fence around the entire campgrounds with a "walking only" entry / exit point (to get to and from faire grounds) and "drive in" entry / exit point that was manned ALL hours of the day and night where you HAVE to show your ticket aand you HAVE to pay to get in it would stop a lot of the partiers.  Or at least that my opinion.

[Rani Zemirah]

Here's another thought / idea about how to control the camping / fire circle issue.  Put up a fence and a second check point between the parking and the campgrounds.  As much as I hate to say it becuase I do this myself when I just want to visit with McLotofus a lot of the danes come in on Saturday when there's no one at the gate to check for tickets or to take money then they set up camp and they're there for the party or they go into faire and then camp for that evening.  If there was a fence around the entire campgrounds with a "walking only" entry / exit point (to get to and from faire grounds) and "drive in" entry / exit point that was manned ALL hours of the day and night where you HAVE to show your ticket aand you HAVE to pay to get in it would stop a lot of the partiers.  Or at least that my opinion.

This sounds like it would work, but it might increase the camping fees a bit to cover the salary of the gate guards. Sounds like it might be worth another $2 or so per site to ensure a better time being had by all, though.

Perhaps a good way to start would be to draft a petition to the Faire management stating the grievances and suggesting some means of rectifying the situation, or at least asking that it be looked into.

tuppense...

[Sir Moostifer]

I think us rennies need to ban together and take it back from the danes if the local fuzz won't keep the idiots away. 

just get several on here to get black "SECURITY" T-shirts, camo paints, and large Mag-Lites. When someone becomes unruly, show up in force (4-5 of ya) and kindly ask them to comply with your demands or be escorted to the nearest exit. Most will not call your bluff!  

[Lord Dragonspyre]

I think us rennies need to ban together and take it back from the danes if the local fuzz won't keep the idiots away. 

just get several on here to get black "SECURITY" T-shirts, camo paints, and large Mag-Lites. When someone becomes unruly, show up in force (4-5 of ya) and kindly ask them to comply with your demands or be escorted to the nearest exit. Most will not call your bluff!  

Yes, but the ones who do can have you arrested and can successfully sue the Faire itself.