If you could pick 7 themed weekends for your home faire, what would they be?
1.
2. Highland Fling
3. Pyrat Gathering
4. A Day in Spain
5. Roman Holiday
6. Oktoberfest (even is it is May)
7. French is Fun
I would say a 'Crusades' style weekend would be interesting. Lot's of years to cover on that format....
Perhaps a 'Beginning of Science' covering the many scientific strides made and thwarted. A lot was based on religious beliefs so it would be kinda educational to have acts that teach kids/adults about how doctors had theological backgrounds and medicinal practices were based on such. Then there is the whole other part about what we now call superstition, etc..... I'm sure someone else could come up with a better title lol.
My two cents would be that the Germans tend to get rather overlooked, which is a pity considering their contributions to the period (and by that I do not mean Oktoberfest.
Something Italian is always nice as well, for the same reason.
Personally, I'm partial to all things Scottish, but everyone has Highland stuff, it seems.
The Barbarian Invasion theme is quite fun with accompanying hordes of Vikings
(oooo, burly!) and maidens half-clad in skimpy armor or chain mail. Really gives a chance to
garb up in something completely different.
The Live Chess changes somewhat this weekend, too.
Germany would be a fun village to visit for sure, and an Italian for sure with a wine event and special wines available for the event in all the pubs.
Certainly all the usual events most faires have.
I'll probably take some hits for this one, but I'm not a huge fan of the typical Pyrate weekend. It's too Gasparilla for me. Certainly there are lot's of talented folks out there with their pyrate garb and feathers, but wouldn't it be fun to visit a true seaside village with all the comings and goings of a sixteenth century harbor town instead? Maybe combined with a seafood feast and good ales.
The Ontario Renaissance Festival used to have Romance weekend, where people could get numbers and send notes to other people with numbers. They also got a minister to come in and do marriage vow renewal ceremonies. We don't really have theme weekends anymore- when each faire is only one weekend, having themes doesn't really work :)
We already have Highland Fling, Italian and Pirate. They tried Latina/Spain and that didn't go over too well.
I also suggested German, since we have so many with German heritage, but so far, that has not happened.
I would like Fantasy/Fairy/Wizard or something along that theme.
I'd like something more with the art of the Renaissance times.
I don't know what you would do...but the d'Medicis would love it!
It hit me this morning, a theme for a weekend could be: "England Has Won the War!"
(or whatever country the faire is based in).
Soldiers throughout the ages came home to happy times, and an adoring public when they returned home from successful conquests.
I have never heard of this theme being tried, and I think it could be a lot of fun!
KCRF goes into mid-late October, and this year they're doing a weekend called (IIRC) "Hauntedly Ever After." So excited!!
The thing I would love to see is something based around the Venetian Carnival (think of the masks!!).
But what I really want Kansas City and other fairs (Florida, the East Coast, etc) is something that covers the actual location during the Renaissance. The Kansas site was occupied by the French and Spanish during the Renaissance, and both nations sent teams of explorers and missionaries to the area. And think about the permanent settlements in Florida, at Roanoke, etc!
PRF used to have a Mardi Gras weekend. Lots of beads and masks! I miss it.
Gina
Quote from: Butch on May 12, 2010, 08:44:50 PM
It hit me this morning, a theme for a weekend could be: "England Has Won the War!"
(or whatever country the faire is based in).
Soldiers throughout the ages came home to happy times, and an adoring public when they returned home from successful conquests.
I have never heard of this theme being tried, and I think it could be a lot of fun!
But wouldn't that exclude the French? ;D (oh, wait, it is fantasy :) )
(Butch, did you ever get my email?)
Quote from: Gauwyn of Bracknell on May 13, 2010, 12:03:36 PM
But wouldn't that exclude the French? ;D (oh, wait, it is fantasy :) )
As an aside, back during WWII when Germany was going through France like a hot knife through butter, Italy decided to get in on the spoils and invaded sourthern France. The French thrashed them and sent them running.
All you have to do is find someone more incompetent.
Now back to your regualrly scheduled thread...
ok....
back on Topic LOL
Week 1.?
Week 2.?
etc?
But Gauwyn, you silly Islander, I AM Anglais! Remember, I am from Calais, which is a British possession!
Hey, I did not receive an email from you. I sent a private msg to you with my home e-mail. I hope to hear from you!
How about a Trebuchet Weekend? Hang the liability lawsuits! Let's rope off large areas & bring back these wonderful war machines en masse! HUZZAH!
Quote from: Craigmeister on May 15, 2010, 01:02:14 AM
How about a Trebuchet Weekend? Hang the liability lawsuits! Let's rope off large areas & bring back these wonderful war machines en masse! HUZZAH!
I LIKE the trebuchet idea.
What about a "battle of the bands" - not with trebuchets, but music?
That sounds good too. Would they go on content or rowdiness of the music? I mostly like Celtic bands. If they were being judged on rowdiness, some of the pirate music & bawdy songs might get more animated responses from the crowds.
My suggestions, in no particular order, would be:
1. Love and Romance
2. Fairies and Mythical Beings
3. Wizards and Witches
4. Celtic
5. Pirates
6. Robin Hood
7. Barbarians and Vikings
Some are already standards, but the others would be fun as well.
I'm okay with most of the themes we have/had had.
Fantasy
Celtic
Wench weekend
Pirates
Romance (since our faire starts the weekend of Valentine's day, lotsa weddings and proposals and such)
This past year we had our first Pet's weekend, since pets aren't usually allowed, and a lot of people had adorable pets to match their garb, but I am not a fan of the risk of larger animals like great danes in such confined spaces like the crowded lanes, so maybe we could bring back wine and food weekend, or find something new...maybe a viking type thing would be interesting.
OOOOh... I bet there are not a lot of Faires that have a Scandanvian or Viking weekend.
Quote from: Craigmeister on May 15, 2010, 01:02:14 AM
I LIKE the trebuchet idea.
What about a "battle of the bands" - not with trebuchets, but music?
I like this idea!
I'm also very much in the favor of Viking Weekend.
Persian weekend would also be quite nifty, methinks.
Quote from: gem on May 12, 2010, 09:24:07 PM
KCRF goes into mid-late October, and this year they're doing a weekend called (IIRC) "Hauntedly Ever After." So excited!!
The thing I would love to see is something based around the Venetian Carnival (think of the masks!!).
But what I really want Kansas City and other fairs (Florida, the East Coast, etc) is something that covers the actual location during the Renaissance. The Kansas site was occupied by the French and Spanish during the Renaissance, and both nations sent teams of explorers and missionaries to the area. And think about the permanent settlements in Florida, at Roanoke, etc!
Yes! It's called Scarily Ever After and I am so looking forward to that weekend :D as well as the 3rd weekend, Dead Men Tell no Tales.
KC's first weekend is called Tales of the Scheherazade, and it's middle east themed. I'm excited to see how this turns out too. When I think of any renfest, it's not complete without some deep drum beats and the clinking of those little coins on a belly dancers hips.
I'd love to see an over the top Fantasy weekend, fairies and all that, as well as a celtic one and a romance one sounds adorable.
We've had theme weekends at TRF for about 5 years, getting ready to do the sixth... Some themes (like French and Spanish) have gone by the wayside, mainly because they didn't garner much audience participation. The ones we've settled on over the last few years really pull alot of participation from patrons, mainly in the form of patrons who wouldn't normally come in costume showing up in a costume appropriate for the theme.
The interesting thing is that the different themes attract distinctly different crowds. The Fantasy and Christmas themes are really the biggest weekends for families with small children. Pirate weekend tends to be more of a mixed crowd, but still a lot of children participating in it. Oktoberfest, Roman Bacchanal, and Highland Fling weekends really bring out your drinking crowds... Barbarian invasion brings out the biker crowd, and Halloween weekend... well, anything goes and the wierdos really come out of the woodwork. But we love our weirdos, don't we?
I like the Scandinavian idea too...
My thoughts on this:
Highland Fling
Love and Romance
Pirates
Scandinavian(would that go under barbarians and vikings or no?)
Fantasy
Roman Bacchanal
A weekend for Halloween, provided the faire is during that time or if not then, Wizards/witches...
Quote from: DonaCatalina on May 11, 2010, 02:50:36 PM
If you could pick 7 themed weekends for your home faire, what would they be?
1.
2. Highland Fling
3. Pyrat Gathering
4. A Day in Spain
5. Roman Holiday
6. Oktoberfest (even is it is May)
7. French is Fun (Love & Romance)
Ok- #1 is still open for me. Would a Polish weekend sound good to anyone?
That could be a lot of fun. The community I live in is adjacent to an old Polish community in central Arkansas called Marche (Mar-shay). Having grown up a Catholic, attending Catholic schools, I knew a lot of the folks there from the schools.
They like to party. Three day wedding celebrations weren't unusual. That could make for a really fun festival weekend!
My seven weekends would be:
1. Spanish
2. Celtic
3. Italian
4. German
5. French
6. Fae (Magik)
7. Pyrate