Hey all. I KNOW this topic exists somewhere else but I couldn't find it so here goes:
Next year we're going to pull the kids from school and go cross-country following faires. We're located in MD so probably we'd either have to start in Spring with VARF, or travel to FLA in late winter and drift west or north as the season progresses.
Could anyone suggest a good loop to follow? I already have in mind some hot spots that might (or might not) fit in- Scarby, KCRF, MNRF, and we don't want to miss our home faire, MDRF...
Thoughts?
No real thoughts, but I'm kind of really jealous. It sounds amazing!
Definitely check out Sterling, though - it's my favorite faire. I also highly recommend the OK Ren Faire in Muskogee in May.
I have a shop at MNRF, so I hear all kinds of comments by people that stop in, as well as other shopkeepers. I admit I am biased, but many patrons say MNRF is the BEST. It is one of the largest and longest running faires in the USA. I have been to a few smaller faires, but not too far, so I can't really compare.
For a small town faire to hit right before Scarby, Four Winds in Troup Texas.
IT's small but it is a GREAT place for family!
I'm not clear on your plans, here. Are you planning to vend at Faire, because that's vastly different than visiting, and recommendations would be much different, also.
If you plan to visit MN, then you should definitely tie it in with a trip to Bristol in Kenosha, WI. So many MN people come to visit Bristol and love it. Bristol runs from the second week in July and closing weekend is Labor Day. MN begins a week or 2 before Labor Day (the MN people could tell you exactly) and goes through the beginning of October, so there is an overlap of a couple of weeks, and you should be able to do both faires.
And, if you go in the late summer, you probably won't have to take the kids out of school.
Quote from: Rani Zemirah on November 16, 2009, 12:43:03 AM
I'm not clear on your plans, here. Are you planning to vend at Faire, because that's vastly different than visiting, and recommendations would be much different, also.
Point taken. Visiting, not vending.
There are so many out there its hard to say you should see this one or that one. Every faire is worth seeing at least once if not more and believe me, it would take you a couple of years to see them all!
http://www.renaissancefestival.com/festivals/map.php
Yeah, there are so many faires and so many loops to take. Here's a great tool to help with you planning. :)
Hey Steev, you might want to check with some of the shopkeepers or acts at your faire (LOVE MDRF, stole my wife from there) and ask what their circuit is like. They usually have it worked out to a science of departures and arrivals and who overlaps what Faire.
Congratulations, it's an adventure of a lifetime!
You could do the whole trip in California. They have 2 major faires that run 6-8 weeks and then somewhere around 25-30 smaller faires that run for a weekend. If you went from faire to faire you could probably do a faire per weekend for almost the entire season.
Steev
More or less along the east coast, the two main FL are Feb-Mar (Ft Lauderdale-FLARF) & Mar-Apr (Tampa-BARF)
Gergia is around May
SC has no faire
NC has two main faires one in April, the other is Oct-Nov
PARF runs concurrent with MDRF
NY has two main, Sterling (Jul-Aug) and NYRF (late Jul-Aug)
Ron and I visted all of these with the exception of two (GA & NYRF) simply because we could not swing the time off and some were visited multiple times. PM me for more details if you like.
As suggested you can check on the map and the get on the forum for those you would like to visit for more details.
Quote from: Lady_Glorianna on November 17, 2009, 02:51:42 PM
Steev
More or less along the east coast, the two main FL are Feb-Mar (Ft Lauderdale-FLARF) & Mar-Apr (Tampa-BARF)
Gergia is around May
SC has no faire
NC has two main faires one in April, the other is Oct-Nov
PARF runs concurrent with MDRF
NY has two main, Sterling (Jul-Aug) and NYRF (late Jul-Aug)
Ron and I visted all of these with the exception of two (GA & NYRF) simply because we could not swing the time off and some were visited multiple times. PM me for more details if you like.
As suggested you can check on the map and the get on the forum for those you would like to visit for more details.
Just to add to what Glorianna said:
VARF runs mid-May to mid-June
Pittsburgh runs concurrent with MDRF but ends much sooner.
Yep, there's a lot. I've been using the RenFest map and also the Google Earth map that was posted on the home page by (?David Baldock?). Some of the info is out of date and many faires haven't posted 2010 dates but here's my *just for fun* itinerary. Note that some of the MAJOR faires are not on this list tho I'd love to hit them, mostly because one of my aims is to have a more-or-less geographically and chronologically linear path through the faires. Also note that there is one break in my schedule where I couldn't find a good jumping point from VARF... :)
mid-January: Kiwanis in Ft. Myers, FL
late January- early February: Hoggetown, FL
mid-to-late-February: BARF, FLRF
early March: Gulf Coast RF, AL
mid-to-late March: 4 Winds, TX
early-to-mid April: Scarby, TX
mid-to-late April: GARF
early May: NCRF Rocky Mount
mid-May: TNRF
mid-May to mid June: full season VARF!
early July- weekend trip to Sterling (Thanks fer the suggestion, Will P.!), possibly loop to Southern CT RF on the return trip...
*Break (whew!) close to home in MD...*
late July: Eastern Shore MD Renstock (our home-grown event)
late July to early August: Souvigny, France
early August: PARF
mid-to-late August: MDRF
early September: OHRF
mid-to-late September: KCRF
early October: Pittsburgh and OH RF (again), possibly PARF (again)
mid-to-late October- home for MDRF until closing day.
So I know it's not perfect, f'rinstance no northern or west coast faires, but wouldn't it be a ride? I think we'll do an abbreviated version but I'd love to hear more thoughts!
Hello Steev,
I'm the one who created the Google Earth Placemark File, but I haven't updated it in quite a while. Glad it was helpful to you in its current state.
Creating it originally wasn't too hard (just a bit time consuming - lots of web and map searches!), but maintaining it has caused me to rethink how it's done. Mainly, the difficulty is that it requires manually editing (or copying/pasting) each entry separately in Google Earth for events that span multiple months ... as well as editing the Location entry.
I've been doing a bit of research on dumping all the info into something like a MySQL database, and then using SQL queries to retrieve & format the data to create a .KMZ file with the requested Faire/Festival Placemarks. That way, the database could be hosted on a web server and a web page with a set of drop-down boxes & radio buttons could be used to select what you're interested in, and then the .KMZ file would be created and downloaded to your PC to be opened in Google Earth --- or possibly your web browser could open the file on Google Maps.
Take Care,
David Baldock
You could go to the Kentucky Highland Renaissance Faire starts June 5 and goes to July 11, 2010.
www.kyrenfaire.com
Quote from: dbaldock on November 17, 2009, 05:31:59 PM
Hello Steev,
I'm the one who created the Google Earth Placemark File, but I haven't updated it in quite a while. Glad it was helpful to you in its current state.
Your .kmz file is awesome and has been a great help to me. Thanks for posting it and if you ever update or convert, please let me know!
(to all who haven't seen this file, it's on the main (non-forum) page of renaissancefestival.com, scroll down a bit. It's wonderful.)
How could I have missed VARF :o. Thanks Master James ;)
Quote from: Steev on November 17, 2009, 05:00:15 PM
Yep, there's a lot. I've been using the RenFest map and also the Google Earth map that was posted on the home page by (?David Baldock?). Some of the info is out of date and many faires haven't posted 2010 dates but here's my *just for fun* itinerary. Note that some of the MAJOR faires are not on this list tho I'd love to hit them, mostly because one of my aims is to have a more-or-less geographically and chronologically linear path through the faires. Also note that there is one break in my schedule where I couldn't find a good jumping point from VARF... :)
mid-January: Kiwanis in Ft. Myers, FL
late January- early February: Hoggetown, FL
mid-to-late-February: BARF, FLRF
early March: Gulf Coast RF, AL
mid-to-late March: 4 Winds, TX
early-to-mid April: Scarby, TX
mid-to-late April: GARF
early May: NCRF Rocky Mount
mid-May: TNRF
mid-May to mid June: full season VARF!
*Break (whew!) close to home in MD...*, possibly a trip to Southern CT RF...
late July: Eastern Shore MD Renstock (our home-grown event)
late July to early August: Souvigny, France
early August: PARF
mid-to-late August: MDRF
early September: OHRF
mid-to-late September: KCRF
early October: Pittsburgh and OH RF (again), possibly PARF (again)
mid-to-late October- home for MDRF until closing day.
So I know it's not perfect, f'rinstance no northern or west coast faires, but wouldn't it be a ride? I think we'll do an abbreviated version but I'd love to hear more thoughts!
1) Yep, the "no northern or west coast faires" is definitely a big hole. Although the Arizona and Carolina faires are owned by the same people and are therefore somewhat similar (at least in terms of architecture and stage acts), RPFS is a must-see if you're doing a grand tour of US faires.
2) You should be able to fit Sterling in during July. Hardly anything else competing with it, faire-wise, and it's a good show, with a trial and dunke in an actual pond, and the best mud show I've ever seen at faire.
3) Tux (NYRF), Bristol and Minnesota should be on the list, though they overlap with MDRF and PARF. I've heard good and bad things about KRF in MA (though most of the bad things have to do with management, not the faire as a show). I'd also give CRF a try, as it's a weekend trip from your location.
Quote from: will paisley on November 18, 2009, 10:22:22 AM
1) Yep, the "no northern or west coast faires" is definitely a big hole. Although the Arizona and Carolina faires are owned by the same people and are therefore somewhat similar (at least in terms of architecture and stage acts), RPFS is a must-see if you're doing a grand tour of US faires.
2) You should be able to fit Sterling in during July. Hardly anything else competing with it, faire-wise, and it's a good show, with a trial and dunke in an actual pond, and the best mud show I've ever seen at faire.
3) Tux (NYRF), Bristol and Minnesota should be on the list, though they overlap with MDRF and PARF. I've heard good and bad things about KRF in MA (though most of the bad things have to do with management, not the faire as a show). I'd also give CRF a try, as it's a weekend trip from your location.
Yeah. The CA faires look intriguing but I think that's a trip in itself for another time. I definitely want to hit MNRF but the problem is finding a faire at the right time, in the right area, that I can hit on the way so we won't be driving miles just to go to one faire...
I thought about Sterling and I'll probably take your advice and add a northern leg to the jaunt. I've also heard that Southern CT RF has a nighttime candle-lit component to their faire- if this is true I'd love to see it...
I think I'll start keeping a revised dream itinerary in this thread...
*** This after trying to fit in northeast and central north loops: Will P. is right, I could get Sterling, S. CT and NYRF (Tux) into my schedule but I've got my home-grown event falling in the middle of those schedules plus it's a loop with a whole lotta miles for those 3 faires... Maybe just a weekend trip to Sterling to see what that's about. The north central faires are also problematic- there's nothing that "leads" over to MNRF and Bristol so it would be a big ol' drive to get out there (and all this while PARF and MDRF are running here). I have the same problem with KCRF but at least I can bundle PARF and the OH faires in on the way out and back.
What is RPFS?
Personally I think you are really missing out if you skip all of the CA faires.
Quote from: Steev on November 18, 2009, 09:09:36 PM
*** This after trying to fit in northeast and central north loops: Will P. is right, I could get Sterling, S. CT and NYRF (Tux) into my schedule but I've got my home-grown event falling in the middle of those schedules plus it's a loop with a whole lotta miles for those 3 faires... Maybe just a weekend trip to Sterling to see what that's about. The north central faires are also problematic- there's nothing that "leads" over to MNRF and Bristol so it would be a big ol' drive to get out there (and all this while PARF and MDRF are running here). I have the same problem with KCRF but at least I can bundle PARF and the OH faires in on the way out and back.
What is RPFS?
1) Sterling reminds me of PARF without the asphalt. It's compact like PARF (lots of narrow paths and hills), and their street is active (lots of cast in the lanes). A lot of the circuit performers are there, though they seem to consider that faire "home". Their pub sing is on a stage, though in spirit it's closer to MDRF's than PARF's Finale In Song. There's much more emphasis on singalong, and it's pretty much straight singing, with none of the wildness of MDRF's (or even PARF's) end show.
2) RPFS - Renaissance Pleasure Faire South. The granddaddy of them all, the original renaissance faire, the first one ever in the US.
There's also a brand new Faire the last 3 weeks in January in Miami. It's run by the same people that do FlaRF, so should be good. If you've got a free weekend in Jan, you might add that one since you're gonna be here anyway
Quote from: Steev on November 18, 2009, 09:09:36 PM
The north central faires are also problematic- there's nothing that "leads" over to MNRF and Bristol so it would be a big ol' drive to get out there.
Yes, but it is SO WORTH IT!! We have people that *drive up* from Florida, every year, just for our faire. We have people that *FLY* from other countries, just for our faire! I know of people driving from CA and PA, just to see our faire, as well as many surrounding states. Anyway, that's what they say, it's worth the extra miles. :)
Bonjour!
For something different, drop by the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire May 15-June 6 and enjoy the French Renaissance in Petit Lyon. It's a smaller, nonprofit faire, but one of the friendliest festivals you can find -- and a beautiful, hilly wooded site!
And as long as you're planning to attend KCRF, put on your tricorn and visit us for the St. Louis Pirate Festival the last three weekends in September!
Like so many others...I too am jealous. At least someone is living the dream of visiting the faire circuit. Being from California, RPFS and NCRF (Northern California Renaissance Faire) are ones that shouldn't be missed but you should definitely check out the Colorado Renaissance Faire. Quite a good faire. If you can't hit all the California ones this time, do plan on it for 2012. It will be the RPFS's 50th Anniversary.
There is a schedule that I think would be a good run as in 4th July time frame you could hit the KYHRF and a week later be at the GLMF.....
Quote from: Bossmare on November 21, 2009, 09:22:14 PM
Bonjour!
For something different, drop by the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire May 15-June 6 and enjoy the French Renaissance in Petit Lyon. It's a smaller, nonprofit faire, but one of the friendliest festivals you can find -- and a beautiful, hilly wooded site!
And as long as you're planning to attend KCRF, put on your tricorn and visit us for the St. Louis Pirate Festival the last three weekends in September!
Small when compared to many of the older or cooperate faires or there, but 12 years in, here at the STLRF we're probably too large to truly call a small faire any more. But Bossmare is right, if your looking for something different STLRF has something to offer, our large cast goes out of its way to make each person's visit something special.
Quote from: jcbanner on December 07, 2009, 05:24:00 PM
Quote from: Bossmare on November 21, 2009, 09:22:14 PM
Bonjour!
For something different, drop by the Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire May 15-June 6 and enjoy the French Renaissance in Petit Lyon. It's a smaller, nonprofit faire, but one of the friendliest festivals you can find -- and a beautiful, hilly wooded site!
And as long as you're planning to attend KCRF, put on your tricorn and visit us for the St. Louis Pirate Festival the last three weekends in September!
Small when compared to many of the older or cooperate faires or there, but 12 years in, here at the STLRF we're probably too large to truly call a small faire any more. But Bossmare is right, if your looking for something different STLRF has something to offer, our large cast goes out of its way to make each person's visit something special.
We went over Memorial Day weekend this year and loved it! Even joined their Friends of Faire for the 2 days we were there. It is a remarkable small faire, and the RF members are friendly and wonderful and did so much to make us welcome and to make sure we had a great time. Steve and I hope to get back in the future, and we definitely recommend it!
Again, all good information. As I digest it seems like I've got three separate trips for consecutive years- a east coast south-to-north as the season progresses, a Texas to MNRF central trip, and a west coast trip for AZ, CO, CA, OR and hopefully up to BC. How I'm looking forward to some cold weather faires- an excuse to wear those cloaks and layers! Of course I'm also looking forward to seeing some of the Texas and California rennies- I suspect MD will seem pretty tame by comparison...
Looks like this year is East plus a jaunt to Souvigny, next year central, then CA.