I'm curious because I haven't seen anyone mention much about Arkansas. We don't have a RenFest per se in Arkansas, although there has been a fairly significant Scottish festival in Batesville at Lyons (nee Arkansas) College since 1981.
Do we have any Arkies in the bunch, other than m'Lady Nimue and me?
Head over to Hollow Earth Swords in the Pecan Grove. They are from Arkansas, Near Yellville I think.
There has been a Ren Fest up in Fayetteville the last few years. Their web site hasn't been updated with any 2010 information yet.
Northwest Arkansas Renaissance Festival (http://www.nwarenfest.org/)
I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, but didn't discover Ren Faires until I was living in the Dallas/Ft Worth area during the 90's. I do know that some people I was in High School with (in the late 70's) drive down from Little Rock to attend Scarborough Faire at least once each year. I'm not sure if they make the drive all the way to TRF in the Fall, though.
Take Care,
David Baldock
I went to high school near Fort Smith Arkansas. Growing up the only Ren Faire I was aware of the Castel in Muskogee and I have never been to it.
It seems to be a relatively unknown phenomenon in this part of the real world. Other than the people we actually "dragged" down to Scarby, I've only met one other person that has been to a faire.
We went to TRF a couple of times many years ago when we still had family in Houston. I think the size of Scarby is a bit more comfortable for us. NWARRF may be too small for what we need out of faires.
OKRF looks like it might be fun and it's actually closer than Scarby by a couple hours drive. I wish their website provided some useful information.
You can probably get all the info you need from the OKRF forum.
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/forums/index.php?board=91.0
I'd like to visit that one someday.
I'm an Arkie and for some reason, ren fairs just can't seem to catch on here. Some one tried two years ago to get one started just south of Little Rock in Wrightsville, that went over like a ton of stone. Let's face it, this state is so far behind the times it's sad. I grow up shooting black powder and going to shooting matches all over the state, and that to now has all most become a thing of the past.
But if we were going to have a good one of any size, when would we have it? Summer is to hot, spring to rainy, Fall, well that's deer session, that leaves winter and who would come?
Blackthorne Village Renaissance Faire in Maynard, Arkansas Aug 21-22
http://blackthorn1.webs.com/
Not much on their site.right now.
QuoteDo we have any Arkies in the bunch, other than m'Lady Nimue and me?
I'm an Arkie in El Dorado (rhymes with tornado). Merlin, where do you hail from?
I've heard of the one in Fayetteville, looked at the website, heard it was terrible. I'm not even going to bother. I'm spoiled to Scarby.
I've heard of the Scottish fest in Lyons, but don't know much about it. Can you fill me in?
There is also a Scottish fest close to Homer, LA. I keep meaning to go, but haven't found the time yet. I'll try to get more info and let you know if you're interested.
Thanks, DonaCatalina. Info in the forum was pretty sketchy too, but OKRF website finally posted some additional information that gave me what I was looking for. It looks to be a nice, small, cozy faire. I'm going to introduce some friends with small children to faires next season by taking them up there.
Charlie, I didn't know about the one in Wrightsville until it had already died... I think it lasted a couple years is all.
RFP, I'd found the Blackthorne Village RF website a while back. They were supposed to have opened last year I think, but suffered enough damage in one of our infamous ice storms to keep them closed. I'm going to keep a watch to see how things progress this year with them, but August in Arkansas?!? If anything could kill it, that might. That part of the state might save them, but it's going to be iffy.
Evie, I've not actually been to the Scottish Festival in Batesville. I know a few people that go, and they have a good time. My interests, however, are not so much in festivals that don't get you out of the modern world. Plus, I spend every day on a college campus, and would not be on one on my days off! We live in central Arkansas, Maumelle specifically. It doesn't rhyme with tornado, but we do get them on a regular basis. ;D
they have a facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maynard-AR/Blackthorn-Renaissance-Faire/251064299892) which is more active than their site. Also a couple friends are going there with a dancing troupe.