Off Season

[Kiss-me-Kate]

Is anyone else bummed because fest is over?  I kinda am.  This season flew by.  I have been at fest actively since 2003, and I still haven't seen some of the acts.   
So what are you doing in the off season so far?

I am slowly putting Festy related stuffs away.
Reading the TRF thread, since some of our Minnesota peeps head down that way for work and play.
I wear a little something every day to work.  Just not giving up the ghost, just yet.
I sip Celtic Crossing on the weekends out of my wee mug, since that is my favorite drink at fest, and it reminds me of fest.

Or am I the only one going crazy???   
 
For the record the Girl has a countdown going already.   So that doesn't help. 

[kcdcchef]

yeah Kate, i hear ya. I LOVE festival, ( go to KCRF, very similar to yours, same ownership and all ) and the withdrawl always sets in around January for me. I still have one more faire experience coming, I go to Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire on October 30th.

Anyways, for me, it is always when the festival is closing and I am not there. Yesterday KCRF closed, and I was 1000 miles away, and all I could think about ALL DAY was how many people were there seeing the last Jolly Rogers, the last joust, the last pub sing, all that. Then I put it down and forget it for a few months, the holidays carry you though, then around Januaryish, it is at that point where you realize there are 9 whole months til' ANYTHING faire related.

[DeadBishop]

I know I am Kate.  This season flew by so fast, I feel like I hardly did anything and missed out on visiting with so many people. 

[Sitara]

This season indeed passed by quite quickly, I think because I was having so much fun. The weather was beautiful, the crowds were there, much time was spent laughing, and I had very little drama. This past weekend was pretty lonely and boring for me since it was my first in over 2 months that I wasn't on site surrounded by friends. I filled my flask with private stock and sipped it while reading a book based in ren times. This weekend I shall be having some people over for a bonfire (and marshmallow war) then going to Village of Terror in Chippewa Falls on Saturday. I am going to make more of an effort to see people during the off season this year, though it's kind of hard when you are an hour or more away from the cities.

[Mairte]

It DID go by entirely too fast. At least I got up there most weekends this year, so that's  something.
Now to countdown for next year.

[William_MacKean]

Getting the winery up and running.

Fest season was stressful for me.  Seemed like there were lots of people trying to micromanage my contract.  It is simple:  My contract is to staff and operate 3 booths.  If they are running and not breaking major rules, who cares?  I grow tired of people who think their way is the only way to get somewhere, especially when I have 16 years experience at the show and they were in elementary school when I started.  For mess sake, I teach leadership development courses as a side business.

[Kiss-me-Kate]

Thank God we have pub nights etc. on the off season.   

[Kiss-me-Kate]

I put it down and forget it for a few months, the holidays carry you though, then around Januaryish, it is at that point where you realize there are 9 whole months til' ANYTHING faire related.

We usually do either the now defunct Twig OWRF or a run (or two) to Chippewa Valley Renaissance in Chippewa Falls in June.   That kinda helps.  Just a suggestion.  It is only an hour and half drive east of Minneapolis.

[kcdcchef]

I put it down and forget it for a few months, the holidays carry you though, then around Januaryish, it is at that point where you realize there are 9 whole months til' ANYTHING faire related.

We usually do either the now defunct Twig OWRF or a run (or two) to Chippewa Valley Renaissance in Chippewa Falls in June.   That kinda helps.  Just a suggestion.  It is only an hour and half drive east of Minneapolis.

yeah I live in PGH nowadays. If I really need a faire fix, I hit VARF in May.

[groomporter]

We start doing indoor living history trade fairs in February, but I try to show up at Merlin's Rest to sit in on the Tuesday night open music sessions. Going to Teslacon a steampunk convention in Madison in November.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

Though I skipped MNRF this year, I'm really looking forward to the Bay Area fest (my adoptive faire) in March, then VA in May.

[kcdcchef]

Though I skipped MNRF this year, I'm really looking forward to the Bay Area fest (my adoptive faire) in March, then VA in May.

Only been to VARF once since it moved to the new location, was obviously very unimpressed since the old grounds were SUPER FABULOUS, and that was in 2006. How is it nowadays? I have it on my 2012 list.

[Captain Jack Wolfe]

No idea.  This is my first trip there. 

[auntiegiggles]

yup the season flew by...but it always does when you are having fun!   
I might not make it to Chippewa this year because of the new job (and now possibly 2 new jobs) so my only fest time will be MNRF.  Keeping my fingers crossed that the job(S) don't interfere with that too.

[Charlotte Rowan]

I am going to make more of an effort to see people during the off season this year

Me too. The season flew by, and it was awesome. Need to make the effort to see my festies outside of Fest.