Feast, Smoker, Tea, Wine?? Are they worth the $$$

[Prince Thomas]

I was wondering if anyone has tried any of these special treats? My wife's birthday is Oct. 4 and on the 3rd, I was planning on doing some of these specialties it they have tickets left, but didn't know if they are really worth the cash.

From what I have heard, the Feast is $80 a person but is a 6 course meal, the Wine Tasting is $20, as is the Smoker, and I haven't found info on the Tea yet as I overheard her saying she doesn't like tea and wouldn't be too interested in it.

Just wanted to see if I'd be wasting my "hard earned" (lol) dinaro! Let me know! Thanks!

[William_MacKean]

I hear Feast is pretty good this year.  Food is better.  All new kitchen.

Smoker is always worth the $20.  Crazy stuff going on there.

Wine?  Meh.  It's cheap wine, not any good labels.  Nothing but advertising for the wine they have at the booths.

[LadyFae]

Feast of Fantasy- lets put it this way- my husband HATES Fest but actually ASKS if we can go back to Feast of Fantasy!  That is a HUGE selling point from my point of view!  We had a blast, enjoyed the food and entertainment so for us it was well worth the price.  =)

[Sorcha]

I've been to the Feast in previous years and the Smoker this year.  I would definitely recommend the Smoker. 
Much fun and it hardly ever stays "on script".  So it almost always runs over.  The night we went I think it went over by a good 45 minutes.
Food is meh, bar fare. But they do try to keep your glass full.  Don't wait to tip your waitstaff until the end. 
Oh, and this is how the blue underware ended up in the tree above the mead booth.   

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

We attended the feast again this year and thought it to be quite good.  We will be back at the end of the month and may attend again. 

[Ferret]

The Feast has great entertainment. The menu was way better years ago when they tried to have things you'd find in the King's fields.

Now that the yuppie food is the feature, you'll have plenty of room to try other food outside of Bad Manor.

A couple years ago the cold minestrone soup on a cold day was the worst.
Ferret

[LadyFae]

Must just depend on the day or time.  I know that we've gotten plenty full at the Feast.  Of course that may also have been the server being so awesome to keep our glasses filled, our portions large, and the extras headed our way...

[NugBlazer]

The smoker is DEFINITELY worth the money.  In fact, I would have to say I think it's the single best event at the entire Faire.

[Kiss-me-Kate]

I have only been to the smoker, and it was a blast.  Just make sure you have a DD for the drive home.  You will need it.  And tip your server well.  She will take good care of you then.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I have been to the Queen's Tea in the past several times and always enjoyed it.

However -- we went to MN this past weekend, and based on my past experiences, I recommended it highly to my friend.  She said it was awful.  The queen wasn't even there, and the show was hokey.

I sat outside for a while, waiting for her, and I remember saying to myself, "I don't remember this much laughter when I went to the Queen's Tea."  Afterwards, she told me that there were a lot of corny jokes and skits.

I felt bad recommending it to her, but she said as soon as the show started, she realized that what I had been to probably was much different than what there is now.

So I wouldn't recommend the Queen's Tea, based on my friend's experience this weekend.

[Lady Kett]

I will say that we went to the feast (our first such endeavor) during Labor Day weekend, and while we enjoyed ourselves immensely, I must be honest and say I'm not so convinced it was worth the extra $180 we paid for it (3 of us x $60, roughly I'm subtracting the "normal" price of admission and NOT including the tip left for the servers). Fun, yes. Pricey, yes. We will try out other feasts at other faires, but the sack we received and the MNRF cup were not things we would have purchased otherwise to offset that hefty fee. The cocktails were not so free-flowing to add significant value (hey, I am NOT the DD in the family!). Had we simply spent our time carousing and buying normal faire food and adult beverages, we would have spent a lot less in cash. The offset was some fine entertainment during the venue (which we would have tipped for had they been normal shows).

Will we try it again at other faires? Yes, we'll test it out. If we go to MNRF again will we do it again? Firm Maybe. A lot would depend on the perceived variety of the show (if it's the same gig, I probably wouldn't bother). But I will definitely say if you've never done it, you should try it.

[Sitara]

I hear that they have been limiting the libations this year at the feast...tis a far cry from when I stumbled out of there 2 years ago.

[groomporter]

A lot would depend on the perceived variety of the show (if it's the same gig, I probably wouldn't bother). But I will definitely say if you've never done it, you should try it.

My understanding is the make up of the Feast show can vary even on the same day since the street and stage acts who make appearances at the feast sometimes have other scheduled appearances on site that conflict with the Feast