Have you ever been to a renaissance festival?

[ToOn~g@l]

So have any of you been to one before? What did you think about it? Do all the states have one?
I have only been to the Colorado Renaissance festival and its a little pricey about fifteen dollars a person and then when you get inside, most of the things they sell are also kinda pricey, like eight dollars or so for a plastic sword. But it is still fun especially seeing everyone in costumes, watching the variety acts and watching the jousting tournament.
So what is everyones opinion on this kind of thing?

[Chris Wood]

I've been to the renaissance festival in Maryland once or twice. It was sort of cool as a kid, but I don't think I'd spend the money today.

[HumanoidTyphoon]

I soooooooooooooooooooooooo wanna go to one of these but they don't hold them anywhere close by. Even so I'd probably have no one to go with.:sad:

[AF$]

The Minnesota one was cool when I was like 8. I went again when I was 17 or so and it wasn't fun at all.

[Watagashi]

Ooh, we have it every fall in North Carolina. It's totally awesome! :D My friend once worked there as one of the towns people the year before last, too. :p And my Honors English 4 class is gonna take a trip over there this year for a day, so that should be really fun. ^^ Fwooosh!

[FredNash]

I go to the KC RenFest (http://www.kcrenfest.com/) with my family every year. I think this will be our 6th year in a row. Huge festival, goes on for 7 weeks, about 16 acres of permenant structures, and lots and lots of beer. I loves it. Axel the Sot is worth the price of admission alone ;)

[Boy Wonder]

Yes when I was in 6th grade. It was OK really, and the goodies were $6 or more! I remember having a bad headache and a stomach cramp afterwards for some reason (for some enlightenment).

[AkirQueen]

I've been to the one in Tuxedo, NY twice. Its fun, yet the heat gets to ya in the end of August/early September..

[sun]

Went about 6 years ago, an odd combination of arts, crafts, many renaissance displays, a joust..Some places where you bought were of high quality, and some were not..I would suggest you go, only if you have a high interest in those kinds of arts and crafts, and seeing a joust...It was a hot day, and some fun, I am not sure I would go again..perhaps..Question, they are all over the country, but is it just a few, that run a few weeks, and move on, or many that stay in one place.?

[purplehairedwonder]

I went to the one in Atlanta when I was in 5th grade. It was a lot of fun. I got my hair braided and still have one of those dried flower wreathes. I remember it being expensive, but it was fun, too.

[FredNash]

Question, they are all over the country, but is it just a few, that run a few weeks, and move on, or many that stay in one place.?Size and quality of Festivals varies wildly from location to location, but I get the impression that most of the better performers (music, theater and such) move around from one to another during most of the summer and fall seasons. Most of the major Festivals are in a permenant location with real buildings that don't move around.

There are less professional Festivals of course, most places will have a high school or grade school that decides to put one on for whatever reason and of course these will not be as well done as the ones that take in lots of money, but they can be fun too (if you know the people participating, heh).

[Elven Moon]

I go to the Michigan Ren Fest every year :) It's a lot of fun, especially when you're in costume. My friend worked there once, and every summer we plan our costumes and get ready like it's a grand event. Everything can be VERY pricey (which is why most of the time I only pay to get in and get water but rarely purchase merchandise from venders) but it's something to do and good if you like this sort of thing.

This year I have a new addition to my costume - a wooden creature puppet. I haven't named her yet and can't wait to use her.

[ToOn~g@l]

Wow I'm glad a few of you like it, I have one question I forgot to ask. Do any of you guys get the variety act called Puke and Snot, there are these two old guys in their fifties or so and tell jokes and spit carrots at you, they tell great jokes and are great to watch.
Also another variety act called Dedbob. He picks three people in the audience who will become his zombie. So do you have these two variety acts?

[FredNash]

I think I saw Puke and Snot in Kansas City last year, but not the other one. Were they make up like pirates?

[Barb Gordon]

Well like any speciality type of event, what they sell inside is going to be pricey...but still cool. I have yet to go to a Renn Faire. I have a few friends that go to them all the time...and there's a big one relatively nearby in Ojai, California. I had planned to go this year, but never had a free weekend. But like I said, my friends adore going to them. Some help run parts of them, others want to be part of the theater groups and such.

~Barb

[shogunthethird]

I've been to several, I've even whipped up an impromptu dark mage "costume" consisting of some black robes, a pair of riding boots, a hooded cape and a staff I made out of a five-foot tree branch, marble and some aluminum roofing tape that has "Made in Lothlorien" etched into it in Elven-font

[Westlander]

Oh yeah, I have been to a Renaissance fair in a real castle! I've even got a photo in a chainmail and with a bastard sword...I've stuck it somewhere, damnit.

[The Guitar Slayer]

Yup! Love 'em to death. This year, I'm going in full regalia...as what, I don't know, but I'm doing it.

[Nimbleness]

I went once in second grade on a class trip, but all I remember is playing with my friend's dinousaur action figure, and an unshaven blacksmith.

[SSJPabs]

I went once in 10th grade to my local one (my church youth group all made costumes and went) where my friend was playing her self-made harp (she's an SCA member). Then the next year I went to the Minneapolis ren faire in regular clothes. Interesting and maybe I'll go again if there is a local one, but overall not too special an experience for me.

[Elven Moon]

Also another variety act called Dedbob. He picks three people in the audience who will become his zombie. So do you have these two variety acts?
Yes, we have Dead Bob! He scares me, though, I'm always afraid he'll pick me :p

[FredNash]

I went once in second grade on a class trip, but all I remember is playing with my friend's dinousaur action figure, and an unshaven blacksmith.
McGuirk?

[Michael24]

I haven't been to a Renaissance festival since I was in probably second grade, about 1986 or so, maybe '85. Now that I've since developed an appreciation for a female in a corset, I'd love to go to another one now. :D