The dragon comes to Minnesota!

[Fireflicker]

Hello all!
So I was planning to come and visit your beautiful festival on the 20/21st and the possibly the next weekend as well and I was hoping for a little info.

What hotels in the area would you recommend?
What will the weather be like? I have checked the forecast, but in my home Colorado faire I learned that the actual forecast was irrelevant to the actual weather that we'd have (:
Any shows/ food that you'd in particular recommend?
How does the festival feel about masked costumes/ fantasy critters?
Would management be opposed to me handing out favors to some of the kids that I meet? Its part of my thing that I do at my home festival but I don't want to step on any toes.

I will be sending an email to/calling the festival off the number on the web page with photos and whatever else they want to see to just to make sure that they're ok with me, but usually the people on the board are quite knowledgeable on the subject 

Thanks so much and I hope to see all of you in a few weeks!
~Fireflicker

[Ms Trish]

I have no info for you since I'm fairly new to my own faire, but I'm so excited you're coming out! It'll be great to see you again!

[auntiegiggles]

I can't help with the hotels but I can help with a few of the other questions.

1)the weather changes every 10 minutes here so expect anything....its has been unusually hot and rainy this summer. I would expect that to continue during fest (hot being over 90 degrees)

2)Festival is open to fantasy critters (we even have a few on cast  )

3)Shows....Tortuga Twins are always good

4) Handing out favors not sure - as of this year only one cast member is allowed to hand out favors (Twig) - but I don't know if management will stop patrons form handing them out.

I look forward to meeting you!  I am Lady Inga (that's only if I decided to accept my contract and be on cast again....otherwise everyone else calls me Lady Giggles) 

[Norfolk]

Fireflicker,

The Baroness and I have visited MnRF many times, and it remains one of our favorites!  Both the site and the villagers are beautiful, especially the ones who frequent the forum.

Having traveled most of the US and stayed in hotels of all descriptions, I can tell you than one of the greatest lodging bargains to be found anywhere can be found at the Best Western in Chaska River.  It's less than ten minutes from the gate, very well maintained, and boasts nice amenities and a very friendly staff.  The prices are unbelievably reasonable for the quiet, spacious rooms.  You can't go wrong. 

P.S.:  You were splendid in CO this season!   

[Marietta Graziella]

Huzzah for Fireflicker!!  How wonderful that you're coming to visit! Can't wait to see you again.

[groomporter]

Would management be opposed to me handing out favors to some of the kids that I meet? Its part of my thing that I do at my home festival but I don't want to step on any toes.

I would suggest refraining from that since they seem to be currently limiting it to certain contracted performers.

[saphire_glade]

As a performer who does hand out things... I don't recommend it... the fights are epic... we are guessing on if I get fired before parade on that first day or if I could do better and maybe make it a whole day 

Otherwise fantasy creatures are oh so welcome. They don't seem to mind masks, though you may have to show your face at the front gate, then put it back on. Hopefully if we can manage it we have had a "fairy" tea most days of the festival at 4pm in the childrens realm. But I am not sure that will happen this year as we are down a gnome.

I can't help with places to stay. I either drive or stay with my husband on site, which is a performer only thing. But from being on site for the whole weekend, can I recommend bug spray? Not enough.... the grounds are very beautiful and unfortunately near a swamp/nature preserve.... help mosquitos that could probably fly away with you. And with the hot and rainy weather, we have such a bumper crop of them this year....

And then I like the kabobs... they are tasty to me. With the runner up being hot apple dumplings with ice cream  *yum*. I don't see many showes but my husband truely enjoys the DAnger Commitee. And I heard the Hypnotist was good... sorry I can't be of more help.

Hope to see you if my cute little winged self is still there

Saphire Glade
aka Jewel the Water Faerie *which is my street characters name*

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

I would concur with the Baron on the place in Chaska - we are staying there opening weekend (along with Labor Day weekend).  It is so close to faire.

Will be nice to see you, too.

[MissBubu]

If you can't get in to the Best Western, Oak Ridge is close by and has a shuttle to take you to and from the fest grounds. I've stayed there, they have a fabulous Sunday brunch.

As long as your costume doesn't include any weapons (or the weapons are peace-tied), you should have any issues getting in the front gate. We've had fairies, unicorns, ogres, rock monsters, picts, and other creatures I can only guess at what they are. You will have to have some sort of foot covering, Minnesota Department of Health doesn't allow us to let in bare feet.

I don't get to see many of the shows, but the ones I do recommend are: Danger Committee, Wacky Chickens, Zilch, Moonie, Merry Men, and any of the Dueling Grounds shows. I'm in the last group, we have (as per scheduling today) our first show in the Children's Realm at 11:00 (Fighting Fairy Tales), the second show at the Bear Stage at 3:00 (Shakespeare, Just the Fights), and the last show at the Bear Stage at 5:30 (Trial by Combat).

Check the food thread for recommendations on what to eat.

[Muffin]

Would management be opposed to me handing out favors to some of the kids that I meet? Its part of my thing that I do at my home festival but I don't want to step on any toes.

I would suggest refraining from that since they seem to be currently limiting it to certain contracted performers.

Really? I get that they (management) can tell the cast what to do and not do, but can they really stop a patron from handing out little favors? That just seems ridiculous to me!  Have the favors from cast gotten out of control? or was someone offended by what their child or they were given? It all just seems so very odd...

[Fireflicker]

Ms Trish and Marietta, it will wonderful to see you both again at your home faire! (of course the fact that MRF is flat had nothing to do with that...  )

Baron, thanks for the mind words and the recommendation. Will you be visiting MRF as well?

I don't know if it's so much limited to certain performers as it is not all performers wish to give stuff out (it can get expensive); in my home festival I was never told that I couldn't but rules might be different. I do it as bribery for the little ones (otherwise they wouldn't approach me and parents are very insistent on photos  ) and because I think that it makes the whole experience a little more magical for them - when I was a child getting something for a dragon would have made my day. I'll check with the festival before I get there.

I look forward to meeting all of you (:

[saphire_glade]

Would management be opposed to me handing out favors to some of the kids that I meet? Its part of my thing that I do at my home festival but I don't want to step on any toes.

I would suggest refraining from that since they seem to be currently limiting it to certain contracted performers.

Really? I get that they (management) can tell the cast what to do and not do, but can they really stop a patron from handing out little favors? That just seems ridiculous to me!  Have the favors from cast gotten out of control? or was someone offended by what their child or they were given? It all just seems so very odd...

I am aware of one time where they asked a patron to stop or leave. She was dressed very much like a different fairy though, and drunk if I remember it.

[tcindie]

Have the favors from cast gotten out of control? or was someone offended by what their child or they were given? It all just seems so very odd...

saphire_glade can correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that Twig made a big stink about others (other faeries in particular) handing out little favors.  Apparently claiming they were stealing part of her act?

I say the hell with them all. If you want to give away a little stone, or shell, or piece of glass.. anything that's not dangerous, and done in a respectable manner, as part of your 'act' or part of your character, or really for whatever innocent manner, you should do so.  This is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, and IMHO should be for patrons, playtrons, and staff.

[LadyFae]

Have the favors from cast gotten out of control? or was someone offended by what their child or they were given? It all just seems so very odd...

saphire_glade can correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding is that Twig made a big stink about others (other faeries in particular) handing out little favors.  Apparently claiming they were stealing part of her act?


I say the hell with them all. If you want to give away a little stone, or shell, or piece of glass.. anything that's not dangerous, and done in a respectable manner, as part of your 'act' or part of your character, or really for whatever innocent manner, you should do so.  This is supposed to be an enjoyable experience, and IMHO should be for patrons, playtrons, and staff.

Yep, that's that ongoing rumor!
I concur, to hell with them!  =D 
Come, enjoy and do what you do as part of your character's act.  =D

[Merlin the Elder]

...I concur, to hell with them!  =D  ...

I'm sure that's my final destination. You want me to take them along?

Twig made a stink (rumor) about it? Did she report it to Faeries Local #224? "Fascinating, Captain..."