Minnesota Ren Faire 09

[Radu the Gypsy]

well then, I guess the next step is figuring out when.  In the past, I have traditionally gone Labor day Weekend (Which is the 5th, 6th and 7th of September this year).  Generally we headed out at the buttcrack of dawn Friday morning, or sometimes even late Thursday night.  Depending on driving skill and insanity, its a 14-16 hour drive (mapquest says a little more than 13 hours, but it lies)

Its then 2-3 days of fun filled insanity at the festival.  Depending on peoples schedules, we left on either Monday morning, Monday night (after festival) or Tuesday morning.  Usually it was Tuesday morning.

The other weekend I recommend is closing weekend.  If nothing else, the final show of Vilification Tennis (also known as the "Lets see if we can get fired" show) makes the whole trip worth it.  For those not familiar with it, Vil Tennis is a game where pairs of people stand on either side of a net of peasants, starting at Hate-Hate and insult each other. Its rude, its raunchy, its something that would never fly at Colorado, and its fantastic.  Final show, the goal is to do at least 200 things that should result in getting fired.  They've been doing it for something like 6-10 years (I don't really know how long) and as far as I know, no one has been fired yet.  Not for lack of trying.

Final weekend is a Friday, Saturday Sunday show (Oct 2nd-4th).  There is actually some activity on site Monday (Leftovers Breakfast, and a few other things that can only be seen to be believed).  Final weekend would be my first choice this year personally, Heading out early Thursday or Friday morning (Festival Friday is really just about catching up with people, there's not a whole lot of activity that day) and leaving either Monday or Tuesday.

[Carpathian]

I am going opening weekend, MN is my home state and I miss that fair terribly.  Not that the CO one isn't great, but the MN one has trees, grass, shade and is quite a bit cooler!!  :-)  As you all know the CO can be a cooker!! 
It would be great to see some of you there too!!!

[Demetrius]

I went one year with Radu except he was in another car with some other people and I didn't see him at faire except when we were leaving, but the MN faire is quite beautiful.

[Radu the Gypsy]

Thats not really unusual Demetrius.  I have a tendency to vanish into the crowds on arrival.  You know, cause I'm so subtle and all that.

[DeadBishop]

I should mention that if you are thinking of coming over Labor Day weekend, that is the same weekend that a huge group from AZRF invades us too!  There would be a HUGE contingent of R/Fer's showing up that weekend if that were the case...

[Blushing]

I've been looking at airfares for one of the weekends after the long one ... flights are cheaper. =)

[DeadBishop]

I've been looking at airfares for one of the weekends after the long one ... flights are cheaper. =)

Very good point.  Another pointis that the last weekend is also a three day fest weekend (Fri-Sun).  "Fest Friday" is usually fairly dead, as it is intended as a field trip day for school children, but they all leave around 2PM and then the fest is nearly barren except for the most hardcore rennies who come out for it.

[Demetrius]

That's not really unusual Demetrius.  I have a tendency to vanish into the crowds on arrival.  You know, cause I'm so subtle and all that.

Ah, yes, subtle...

I do recall seeing you with a large wooden chest full of goodies for the Minnesota Gypsies now that I think of it.

Capt Spleen was there.

I also remember going to a "roast" of Carr, the entertainment director at the time (I believe). I remember Wilsome going on and on about, eh hm, "short" people (PC)- a theme to rival the much ado about hamstern. 

Yep, I long to return to the Minnesota Faire in spite of the fact I only saw three "lakes" and no one there speaks "Minnesotan" if they know you are from another State, don't ya know. 

p.s. one highlight in particular- (at least) nine seconds of harmony with none other than a group including the German bros.

   

[RenaissanceBarbie]

All of these descriptions are too great, now I'm dying to go!  I'm out of town on business Oct. 2-5 so I can't go that weekend but I think I'm up for Labor Day if anyone is!    I may even figure out some garb by then since our dresses aren't our dresses and all. 

Oh man....I can't wait!!

[Demetrius]

All of these descriptions are too great, now I'm dying to go!  I'm out of town on business Oct. 2-5 so I can't go that weekend but I think I'm up for Labor Day if anyone is!    I may even figure out some garb by then since our dresses aren't our dresses and all. 

Oh man....I can't wait!!

Okay, if you are going, then I am going to super glue myself to the back of your car! Don't believe me? Just ask Zoe!

[RenaissanceBarbie]

That will hinge on whether I have a car that can make the journey this fall or not, only time will tell.  Hopefully if enough people want to go we can all go in on a big rental or something.  A couple of the local car rental places down by me have great deals actually.  For road trips my philosophy is sort of a "why put the mileage on my own car?". 

[Radu the Gypsy]

Indeed.  the Sparklies were well received.

I beleive the quote in question from the roast was something to the tune of "You'll all seen Carr around the grounds, Catching rats, Harrassing Patrons, Humping Trees.  but let me tell you, you aught to see this guy fumble the bark of a midget!"

Or something to that effect (You kinda had to be there)

However, you give you an idea the level of dedication the Minnesota cast has.  The Midget comment was not exactly a planned one.  Kinda grew out of several other comments made by other roaster.  One of the attenders of the Roast called a friend that night who owned a print shop.  By opening canon the next day, about 1/3 of the cast had black t-shirts with white lettering saying "Midget fumbler" on it.  The backstage was filled with people wearing them by that night.

Ah, I do so miss 10 seconds of harmony.  Between other shows, a marriage, and two births, they decided they couldn't continue to do the show.

That's not really unusual Demetrius.  I have a tendency to vanish into the crowds on arrival.  You know, cause I'm so subtle and all that.

Ah, yes, subtle...

I do recall seeing you with a large wooden chest full of goodies for the Minnesota Gypsies now that I think of it.

Capt Spleen was there.

I also remember going to a "roast" of Carr, the entertainment director at the time (I believe). I remember Wilsome going on and on about, eh hm, "short" people (PC)- a theme to rival the much ado about hamstern. 

Yep, I long to return to the Minnesota Faire in spite of the fact I only saw three "lakes" and no one there speaks "Minnesotan" if they know you are from another State, don't ya know. 

p.s. one highlight in particular- (at least) nine seconds of harmony with none other than a group including the German bros.

   

[Zoë]

Okay, if you are going, then I am going to super glue myself to the back of your car! Don't believe me? Just ask Zoe!

Yep, it's true...he glued himself to the roof rack of our car when we drove to Santa Fe last year!  We passed him snacks through the sun roof every few hours.

[Charlotte Rowan]

I should mention that if you are thinking of coming over Labor Day weekend, that is the same weekend that a huge group from AZRF invades us too!  There would be a HUGE contingent of R/Fer's showing up that weekend if that were the case...

I think that would be grounds for a breakfast....

[RenaissanceBarbie]

Okay, if you are going, then I am going to super glue myself to the back of your car! Don't believe me? Just ask Zoe!

Yep, it's true...he glued himself to the roof rack of our car when we drove to Santa Fe last year!  We passed him snacks through the sun roof every few hours.

Hehe, very considerate of you Zoe!