Hatrack River Forum: I Just Got Back From My First Ren Faire

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Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

I loved it. I loved it more than I can express. I loved it on levels that should only be consummated within holy wedlock.

I drove two hours each way to get to the bleeding thing yesterday. And I loved it so much, I did it again today. I wore my chemise off my shoulders. I found out that made me a doxy. God, I loved it.

And sweet jebus, I spent a mint. I loved that, too. I loved giving those people my money. Sometimes I gave them my money just because I loved it.

I felt this sort of geek completeness. I knew something had been missing, I just couldn't pin-point it. I'd run over the geek list in my mind and never realized the glaring truth - dressing up in pseudo-authentic, period European garb and murdering olde english! This is what I have been missing THE WHOLE TIME!

My geekdom has moved beyond mere matter. I am now a swirling ball of geek energy. Ask me anything, and I will advise you that your puny geekdom is not ready to know at this time.

I am complete.

edit: My swirling ball of geek energy is using kinetic power to operate the keyboard with a pair of chopsticks I had used to eat Pad Thai earlier, but had not yet gotten around to taking it into the kitchen for a proper wash. It's not 100% yet.

[ September 13, 2004, 03:12 AM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]

Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :

Wow. Ralphie is a transcended geek.

[Smile]

Which Ren Faire?

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

Shrewsbury. I had this sweet little red number that was both a bodice and skirt to fit over my chemise. I also got a leather satchel and a leather dagger harness on my belt to hold my peace-tied dagger.

Mine bodice kept thine buzum whert belongs, with killer cleavage! I also bought this little pin that says, "Trophy Wench."

Good times, baby.

[ September 13, 2004, 02:39 AM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]

Posted by Pepek (Member # 3773) on :

Heheh.. I did alot of that last summer with the SCA and ren fairs and what now, they are a blast.. too bad college and girls got in the way this summer..

-Jack Montague

Posted by Suneun (Member # 3247) on :

Mmmm. Wonderful.

You should get in touch with the local SCA groups. They hold all sorts of events besides Ren Faires, which range from stitching groups to enormous battles lasting for days.

(For those of you not in the know, SCA is Society for Creative Anachronism. They tend to be interested in middle ages, medieval, and other awesome times of yore).

MmmmMMMmmm. Ren Faires are wonderful.

Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :

Ren Faires are not really my bag, but I went to one a few weeks ago. Here and here are some pictures mostly of Thomas at the Sterling Ren Fest.

Posted by the master (Member # 6788) on :

Bill's mother made the dress I wear to Ren Fests now. It's not as cool as yours sounds, but it serves it's purpose.

We have something here called Feast of the Hunter's Moon that is sort of the equivalent only set in the days of fur traders and early settlements in this part of the country. I was going to have Bill make me a nice sexy indian outfit, but I don't think we have time any more. Alas!

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

Rennaisance Fairs in Montana are a bit kitschy (a bit?) but we had a bit of fun at one this summer (a bit).

Here is my little brother in the stocks, and here is my Mom and sisters in medieval head garb.

Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :

My wife put Thomas in the stocks, but he looked very upset, so I didn't upload that picture. This is happy Thomas waiting for the jousting to start. He mostly wanted to see the horses, though.

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

Dood, Annie. That kid's shirt is stylin'.

And what's up with Princess Leia? Wrong Fair, kiddo. [Big Grin]

[ September 13, 2004, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: PSI Teleport ]

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

I'm surprised to hear you hadn't done this before.

There are two good Ren Faires in FL, and several that are not quite so good. Having seen examples of each, I find that it can make a difference.

My favorite performing troupe was a comedy/juggling trio called "The Flaming Idiots." I don't know how wide their travels go, but if you ever get to see them, you will truly be lucky.

[Smile]

Posted by Gryphonesse (Member # 6651) on :

aah, yes

the Ren Fest! We have the Texas Renaissance Festival here from Oct. 2nd through Nov14th (or thereabouts) every year, and it is an absolute MUST to attend, preferably in costume. The Flaming Idiots are spectacular, but my personal favorite is Ded Bob. I LOVE getting all gussied up, driving for an hour and a half, and spending the day people watching.

Glad you finaly got to go, Ralphie! You're hooked now...

Here's a LINK for the curious! (and yes, they have Guinness and they know how to pull a perfect pint!)

Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :

Ralphie! You go to the Ren Faire right outside my town and you don't tell me you're planning to go beforehand? My sister was there, but I was moving to Eugene instead.

Well, I can say I was within 20 miles of Ralphie yesterday. *glows* [Wink]

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

I love RenFest... I'm going again this Saturday! [Smile]

*brings out the sexy blue, crushed velvet tights*

Yes Yes... I'll get pictures soon.. [Wink]

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Jenni and I are intrested....are there any good ones near western Mass? I heard something about one in NY state, but....

Kwea

[ September 13, 2004, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: Kwea ]

Posted by dabbler (Member # 6443) on :

You could see how far away King Richard's Faire is. It's in Carver, Mass, and runs for at least Sept and part of October.

here is the site.

Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :

This is the Western NY one I went to, is that the one you've heard of?

Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :

Every Febuary i go to Estrella War in Arizona. That the kingdom of Atenveldt Puts on the weekend of presidents day. its five days of Tournements, Battles, and lots of parties in the night that the royals and other houses put on. I've had a lot of fun at the three I've been to. the people I stayed with made me feel welcome and at home.

[Group Hug]

Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :

I LOVE Ren Faires. My home Faire is in Gig Harbor. Did you get a picture Ralphie?

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Sadly, the Flaming Idiots no longer perform together. [Frown]

www.flamingidiots.com

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

I have fond memories of the Renaissance Festival in Larkspur, Colorado. Anyone else ever been to that one?

Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :

So, Toni, when will we be seeing pictures of this cleav... um, I mean fun and wholesome event?

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

"You could see how far away King Richard's Faire is. It's in Carver, Mass, and runs for at least Sept and part of October."

Kwea, my friend and I took our kids a few years ago and had a blast! We laughed so hard. And, as Ralphie mentioned, spent so much.

Carver is down 495 almost to the end, so I would say two hours to drive there. You should go!

There is definitely something sexy about the whole thing, too. What is up with that?

Posted by kyrie (Member # 6415) on :

Did you go to the one in Kansas?
I think it has like five more weeks to go.
A whole lot of my friends went to it and im going to try and go one of these weekends too!

Posted by Mabus (Member # 6320) on :

Dagnabbit....there are no Ren Faires around here.

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

They should have a Black Forest fair. I need an excuse to wear my dirndl.

Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :

Mabus, how about this one?

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Heaven to me would be a combination Renn Fair and Music Festival. But NOT just Renn music, all music.

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

Joe - I know! I can't believe I hadn't done it before, either. I think I was always hesitant because I couldn't find anything to wear. Silly me - the hawkers find you a booth and they give you something to wear! By "give" I mean "take all of your money in exchange for," of course.

Nathan - D'oh. You totally should have gone, you know.

romanylass - A friend from work was talking about the Gig Harbor one. I'm really sorry I missed it. Next year, tho. [Smile]

Mike - I went alone. Katie was out of town, and my other friend who was 'pose to go bagged on me. So, no pics.

HOWEVER, a local theatre is doing Pirate of the Carribean on October 23 Rocky Horror Picture Show style for charity. They are encouraging dressing up, and I'll be gutted before I show up to such an event without my doxy outfit! I'll get someone to snap a shot then.

[Speaking of the doxy outfit, it took me only a matter of minutes to have my chemise hanging half-way down my arms with serious shoulder exposed. Both Saturday and Sunday I wore it like that. I looked up Ren Faire stuff Sunday night to make sure my outfit was authentic only to be greeted with the words, "And never wear your chemise off your shoulders (unless you're a doxy.)" I exclaimed out loud at my computer screen, "The hell you say!"

I was surprisingly comfortable with the idea that I had paraded around in a doxy outfit for two days. Take three guesses how my chemise will be worn at the next Ren Faire.]

[ September 13, 2004, 10:02 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie ]

Posted by saxon75 (Member # 4589) on :

::sigh:: Girl, you're such a tease.

Posted by Jess N (Member # 6744) on :

Our Renn Fest here in GA is great! The only downside is that my ex is part of the royal court (he plays the king's priest usually--dresses like a huge tomato). Still, I love it! Especially the jousting, the food and the artists.

Can't wait till next spring! Huzzah!

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Guess 1,2, and 3....

Not for long?
[No No]

Posted by kyrie (Member # 6415) on :

Ralphie, where was the fair you went too?

I know people who went to one in kansas this week end and are going to be going to it for the next few weekends too, so im curious.

Posted by Ralphie (Member # 1565) on :

kyrie - Near Eugene, OR.

Prolly not the same one. [Smile]

Posted by Chris Kidd (Member # 2646) on :

hey ralphie your in the West Kingdom. Click on Find Your Local Group to find activities that are close to you.

This is the local grop cloest to you.
The Barony of Adiantum

[ September 15, 2004, 01:36 PM: Message edited by: Chris Kidd ]

Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :

Heh, I used to work the Puppets a long time ago in the Georgia Renn fest.

I gather the King's priest is new addition since I was there last.

-Trevor

Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :

Ralphie, is that a promise??? Please????

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

The Renaissance festivals around here seem to rely really heavily on the belly dancing, and that's not okay with me. Not that belly dancing's not OK, I adore it, but that they're passing it off as renaissance. Medieval Europe would have had gypsies, sure, but that style of dance is quite different from the Berber-inspired dance that most modern groups do. There would not have been many Arabs camping out in western Europe at the time.

By the way, I have a new friend from my French class who is a Berber. Her name is Laziza. I really think I'm much cooler now that I have a Berber friend. I hang out with her and another Moroccan girl named Houssna sometimes, and it's really fun to be spotted with a tall, model-like Arab girl who wears sparkly things from the juniors section and sings Beyoncé songs and another girl in long black robes and a head scarf. [Smile]