I remember seeing posts on these forums years ago about Ren Gatherings. What would happen at Ren Gatherings? Was it just like a day-long picnic for Rennies in a certain area to discuss Renfaires? Would some people break out guitars or drums and sing? Would jugglers or acrobats show up and have an impromptu performance?
Hi!
The gatherings I have been to were years ago, 2010 and 2011, and were called Winter Renstock, taking its name from Woodstock. This was in southwest Pennsylvania for people from the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, and some from the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. It would be held in February or March so all of us could be together without waiting for those two faires to open, which are in the months of July, August, and September.
These were weekend events, with people sleeping overnight, and were held at either a county park facility or a friend's place in the country who had lots of land.
Events were music, acts, magic, stories, games, door prizes, food, and I forget what else. Many were in garb. I won a large amount of green tartan fabric which I had made into a kilt.
Sadly, drama within the group tore it apart and there has not been another Winter Renstock since 2011.
There was another place we would gather. One of our group, Terry Griffith, had a monthly gig year round at Mullaney's Harp & Fiddle Irish Pub in Pittsburgh, and when we were still a close knit group, we would pack the place every time he played. Terry had been a professional musician for decades, playing Irish music, before he started playing at faire.
That's my experience of a ren gathering. I hope others will talk about their experiences.
Patrick
Thank you, Patrick. That is kind of what I thought these were. I guess that when I used to read about a RENdevous, that was a meet-up of Renfaire enthusiasts at a particular Renfaire, right?
The name certainly says so. I haven't been to any others than the two I mentioned, so I don't know what happens at those, but I would think it is like what happens at faire.
When we would gather at the Harp when Terry Griffith had a gig, he played "A Health to the Company". The belly dancers would get up and dance to various songs. If there was a Samhain celebration, Terry played, and some people would be in garb.