The Year in Review 2011

[The Lady Mercedes]

So, it the end of faire season (and the year lol)...looking back, what was your favorite/best moment at faire this year? Or what was not so great? The good, the bad and the ugly, what was faire season 2011 like for you?
For me, the best was finally getting to see some of the shows. I loved Rogue's Reef & eating a turkey leg. I also enjoyed my first taste of mead. Then there was the ambience and just being there. Not so good? The walk to & from the bus stop, having to be on the road at 8 or 9 am to take an about 5 hour bus trip, not being able to buy anything, and not being able to stay longer!

[LadyFae]

This year I loved bringing my girls out in different garb each time we went out! Nobles, fairies and pirates! I very much disliked being scared to death seeing news of a fire on Festival grounds the Friday of final weekend! I'm so very glad that everyone was ok, but very sad that there was a fire at all.

[DonaCatalina]

At the end of Scarborough's run Michael O'Quinn and Hugh O'neill of Traveller Song presented me with an autographed copy of a song that they had learned and performed especially for His Lordship and I.
You just don't get loveable Irish rogues like that in the mundane world.

[Merlin the Elder]

I don't think we really had any downers (other than heat). The upside this year was making 4 different faires, 3 of which we had never visited: Scarby (home), Sherwood Forest, OkRF (The Castle), and CoRF (RenDezvous). The other upside was all the new people we met.  We are currently planning to do 4 faires (so far) again in 2012, replacing CoRF with CRF...just losing the 'o' I suppose. 

[Bob of the Lake]

I think the the weather was the most memorable thing about 2011 for me. Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm closed two of the faires I visit (NYRF and PARF) and damage was extensive. Things are still not cleaned up entirely around here.

Apart from that, this year is memorable in that I visited three other new faires for the first time: CTRF, The New Jersey Renaissance Faire, and the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire in CT. Enjoyed them all!

[Delireus]

Gah, the worst thing this whole year was hearing about the fires in Texas almost destroy my home faire, TRF. The fires in Bastrop burned down my cousin's house, and my family and I had to be evacuated out of ours further south (but the house was ok), but these were different fires than the one that destroyed hundreds of homes and nearly got the TRF grounds. Those were a bad few weeks.

The happiest moment was when I walked in the gate at TRF a few weeks ago! It was the renfest season that almost wasn't  . I also brought my boyfriend down from Kansas to go there for the first time. We had an absolute blast.

I also tried my first crepe at the Kansas City faire. We tried to go to a small faire in Wichita, but we got rained out, so while that wasn't much fun, this season started out looking like a terrible one, but ended up being completely awesome!

[dreamwalker]

Hearing about that death at Scarby this summer. the damage to Scarby and the near misses with TRF and Sherwood also...

[Curryfingersnik]

One of the major ups this year was the chance to wear some of my cold weather gear.  TRF is often so hot that we don't get the chance. 

Also, the last weekend I had the chance to meet some great people including R/F.com's own Brier Patch Charlie.  Here's to next season and many new friends.

[amy]

This year's ups were all about the people.  I got a chance to visit 6, count 'em, 6 faires this year and  a few of them for 2-4 weekends.  That adds up to a mind boggling number of new faces and friends and I didn't know my heart could stretch that far but am proud to know it can. So thank you all for every hug and hello. From Michigan to Texas and out to New York and Florida...  I love my Rennie Friends.

Down side would be the expense.  We do not have a cheap hobby folks.  No Siree.  So I will enjoy all my memories in case it takes me 6 years to do those faires all again.

[Merlin the Elder]

...
Down side would be the expense.  We do not have a cheap hobby folks.  No Siree.  ...

Hmmm.. You noticed that too, huh? 

[Lady Kett]

...
Down side would be the expense.  We do not have a cheap hobby folks.  No Siree.  ...

Hmmm.. You noticed that too, huh? 

Eh, you can't take it with you and I've warned the Prodigal Daughter many times not to expect an inheritance! 

We managed to go to FlaRF, Sherwood, Scarborough, Colorado and TRF this year. I am always amazed at the sheer number of people we see - vendors, workers, shows, but even patrons -  that we recognize from faire to faire - even across state lines! And the friendships are priceless!

Looking forward to whatever 2012 brings us. We haven't made any firm plans other than our Texas Faires and Rendezvous yet.

[Alexandra Johanna]

Best - Watching the hubby get pulled up on stage by Dirk and Guido, the swordsmen at Bristol for Bold & Stupid man lessons. He NEVER does things like that, and only consented to my volunteering him because it was my birthday. The video is priceless.

Worst - Broken ankle at the very start of summer, which meant we couldn't go to Bristol in garb until the very end of the season.

Twisted Upside - The broken ankle gave me an entire summer to create fairly decent garb pieces. LOL.

[Craigmeister]

For me, the worst part was missing so many Renfaires.  Four faires in or around Oklahoma were cancelled this year or shut down permanently (including one whose board I was on).  I missed the Great Bend Renfaire when in-laws came to town and stayed much longer than normal.  The good parts were attending the Cherokee Strip Renfest in late August while the temperature was in the 70's and finally getting to set my tent up at the Ren/Fantasy Faire of the Ozarks.

Next year looks to be much better around this part of the country! Two of our nearby Renfaires will be back, the Ozark Faire will add dates in April and a new one will start in Bristow, OK next November. 

[HunterRose13]

The worst is not being able to attend faire at all.  It was heartbreaking to be home Labor Day weekend and not at KCRF on Sunday morning to hear the cannon after staying up much to late at the KC Irish Fest the night before.  You see we deposited our eldest at college several states away and expended most all of our vacation, fund, and emotions setting her off on a new journey. 

We have vowed as a family to return to KCRF in 2012 for our traditional weekend.  Being apart and not at faire was simply much too hard on us all.

So there were no high points for me this year.  Instead I will look to the coming year and look forward to KCRF and with hope a trip to Colorado to visit a friend....and a faire.

[BubbleWright]

PARF in 2011

It was certainly a roller coaster year for PARF...

The good stuff- Arthur Rowan's proposal on stage to Kelly Morris. Arthur was on cast at the Faire and Kelly is much beloved for her 2 year stint as Queen Elizabeth at PARF. There were many enthusiastic new cast members. Outstanding was Scot "Scooter" Lutz as Luigi Burratino the Court Jester. Ye gad, that man has the moves! There were also many improvements to the grounds and buildings of the Shire.

The bad stuff- Lorraine Sullo, who portrayed the Duchess Sussex, passed away in her sleep after leaving Faire in the afternoon not feeling well. Her character as the Duchess was delightfully nasty to both Noble and Peasant alike. Besides being a long time acting fixture at Mt. Hope, Lorraine was also a talented artist who was largely responsible for the look of the Faire from signage, building design and coloration, and layout of the walkways. We miss her terribly. And then there was the weather. A number of days the Faire closed early or did not open due to violent rain storms. The closing weekend the Faire did not even open because of a 10 inch heavy snowfall, which damaged trees, sun screen tarps, and buildings.

[C Dragonworks]

HMMM At TRF that would be a couple of great things...one was winning with the new Barbarian Garb.... and two bringing out VIRGINS to play and getting them HOOKED!

At Sherwood....Not one thing just all of it... such a fun faire to just hang out at... Dancing with Circa Paleo(at both) and Wino Vino... Those are FUN times!!!!!

[Capt Robertsgrave Thighbiter]

2011 was The Brigands best year to date , and our 10th anniversary.

Highlights

1) Started doing hoity toity gigs in Mnhattan - one was a book signing for a writer who wrote a book on rum punches ( and had a great sampling of his recipes!).

2) July 4th at Sleepy Hollow Ny, home of the Headless Horseman. THose folk really know how to put on a Pirate Fistival. Sold out every day and 2012 will likely be a full week of events for us.

3) Hampton Blackbeard Festival - our 10th year there!  Blackbeard is home ground for so many pirate crews it is just silly.

4) St Augustine Pirate Festival - our second year there, the promoters, patrons and even vendors just loved us, and we sold out of CDs on the first day!

Low points

1) Away gigs where we have to fly. We need to pare down our equipment, the airlines KILL us with excess baggage fees! And 2012 looks like a record number of these , too.

2) Again, no pirate festivals in New England.  You'd think NE never heard of pirates up there.  Seems like a good opportunity for some promoter to make a mark!!

[Bob of the Lake]

2011 was The Brigands best year to date , and our 10th anniversary.

Highlights

2) July 4th at Sleepy Hollow Ny, home of the Headless Horseman. THose folk really know how to put on a Pirate Fistival. Sold out every day and 2012 will likely be a full week of events for us.

Glad you had a good year, Cap'n. Yeah, the Sleepy Hollow Pirate Festival was great event. Really enjoyed catching you guys and the Crimson Pirates there! Are they going to hold it again in 2012?

[Out_of_the_Ashes]

2011 marked the first year in several that the only faire I was planning on going to was Hoggetowne, since we'd be moving soon after and finances were limited. But, after I moved back to Massachusetts I got a call from a friend saying that he'd see me sooner than I thought since his friend, who was opening up a new faire in Western MA, had asked him to perform there. So, I guess there IS merit in "once a Rennie, always a Rennie" since the fates saw fit to drop such an opportunity that I couldn't possibly pass up in my lap. Now, after saying farewell to everyone at Hoggetowne and thinking I'd never see them again since I was taking a break from faire for a while, I've had several people express interest in this year's Mutton and Mead, which will likely bring many of my Florida faire friends north.  It's not everyday that you get to have your cake and eat it, too!

[scarletnyx]

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

1. First year of garbing! Kinda had to get into the swing of it, and over some personal security issues, but after I finally felt comfortable in my own skin and in the setting I had the best time ever.

2. Garbing with my husband. This year wouldn't have been the same without him in many aspects.

3. Did an ( almost ) full weekend at fair at TRF! We were in the parking lot every day either right at cannon or a little bit after, and we usually left at first sign of dusk. Every other time, we would get there later and leave earlier. I loved seeing how the day unwound for patrons, playtrons, and vendors alike!

Downsides of RenYear 2011 -

1. Stumbled over my way of acting at the Sherwood Celtic festival. It was our first time in garb, and I didn't really have a "handle" on how to act and speak yet, or rather what I felt comfortable, so kinda the entire day I felt awkward. This corrected itself by TRF though - I was just over thinking.

2. Husband broke a really awesome pipe bending over at TRF to get something he had placed on the ground. This kinda rattled him for awhile, but after a few shops and browsing he was better.

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

Other than those small things, and all of them were moreso internal, we had an awesome year and I know 2012 will top it!

[PollyPoPo]

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

...

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

...

Sweet Druid, I believe you will find Sherwood is a whole different experience. 

Particularly on opening weekend if you are in parking lot before cannon, you may recognize several people from their RF photos.  Once inside the village, find a comfortable spot to settle down a while and people watch.  Druids often pay respects to the Seven Sisters.  Pirates join crusaders at the Jerusalem Pub over a pint.  Nearby is a place for coffee and chai to take the chill off the morning.

If you spot me across the green, wave wildly and I will join you.  I look forward to seeing you again. 

[Merlin the Elder]

I certainly hope there's a chill in the morning this season.  Last season, opening day was actually hot, to me anyway. It was more comfortable on Sunday.

[scarletnyx]

I certainly hope there's a chill in the morning this season.  Last season, opening day was actually hot, to me anyway. It was more comfortable on Sunday.

I am finding that i like it a little bit on the cooler side if we are going to put in a full day at faire. Thats another thing I didn't like about this year - the weekend we went to the Sherwood Celtic festival was just plain -hot-. My husbands garb is barely there ( really thing linen with a thin tunic underneath, and linen pants ) and even he was sweating. However, when we went to TRF, it was very manageable. something to keep in mind this year to be sure!

Highlights of RenYear 2011-

...

3. Didn't interact as much as I would have liked with people - part of this is just how TRF is I think. It's just a crush of people, and after I threw a little fit for a few days I kinda realized that if you weren't with a huge group, you could easily get lost in the crowds even if you were in garb.

...

...

If you spot me across the green, wave wildly and I will join you.  I look forward to seeing you again. 

I will most definitely grab your attention Polly. Hopefully there will be a group of us RF folk just running about the village at any point during the day!