Though I have been very INactive this year due to some personal tragedies, I felt the wandering urge this past weekend and traveled to the 16th Annual Folsom Renaissance Faire in Folsom, Ca.
A faire of middle size, this was my first time at this particular faire. I saw some of the 'regular' (read: consistent, professional and ALWAYS fun) acts of the western faire circuit, as well as a few I had not seen before. Although some of the stages were awkwardly laid out, the performers more than compensated, putting some really great shows.
The guilds and groups were very interactive on this day, encouraging questions and 'gigging' to get patrons involved. I personally liked the group who had brought birds (Hawks, Owls, etc.) and had dispersed them between two groups camped by each other...giving additional 'color' to both camps. I should add that this was the second /last day of this faire, but you would have never known it by the energy everyone showed. This is why these groups are the lifeblood of faires.
Not as many vendors as I have seen at other faires, but I don't think it would be fair (pardon the pun) to say that it had to do with this faire as much as our current nationwide/worldwide economic situation. Overall, the vendors were varied enough, friendly enough and interacted well enough to overcome their smallish numbers (afterall...there were TWO sword vendors!).The only reason I did not purchase more than a gift for a family member is my current garb needs are still pending.
I gave this faire three out of five arrows >>>-------> and would recommend it to anyone in the area.
March 8th & 9th, 2008 is the Sonora Celtic Faire (formerly the Calavaras Celtic Faire), and I am going...again. Although it's billed as a "celtic" cultural themed event, I was lucky enough to see the viking group "Raiders of the North" there last year. From what I understand, the 'new' venue (in Sonora) has better accoutraments for the performers than the 'old' site at Calavaras (According to the Faire's web site, Sonora was the original site/venue up until eight years ago). I'm really psyched, as this is the first Faire of the year for me. Last year I visited/attended four faires, including this one, here in northern California. That's alot for someone who was lucky to attend one a year when I lived in the Las Vegas. If anyone reading this interested in more information regarding The Sonora Celtic Faire, please visit : http://www.sonoracelticfaire.com/ . I hope to see you there, Vivat! and Huzzah!
With the recent loss of my mother, the 'slow down' in the economy, my employer cutting my hours, the rising gas prices and other miscellaneous crap, I find myself in what is the most common of positions these days...deciding if I go to faire, and which one(s)?
At the beggining of this year I was really 'jazzed' at the prospect of attending multiple faires again, as I had done last year. Living in Las Vegas for twenty-three years, I was VERY limited in my options that didn't involve long drives to other states. In fact, one of the things I loved about returning to 'NorCal' after so long was all the faires that now exist. From Pirates, to Fantasy/Medieval, to the authentic ('hardcore') Renaissance Faires, there is some sort of event going on about just about every month of the year. But alas...
So far this year I have only had the chance to attend the 'Sonora Celtic Faire'. I will probably only attend one other this year, if I attend any, and then only if I get my tax return/'economic stimulis' in time. If I do decide to attend one, it's looking like either 'Valhalla' in June, or 'Golden Gate' in August. I have never been to the 'Golden Gate' event, but 'Valhalla' was so great last year... (decisions, decisions). Go to faire, and live 'skinny' for a few months... don't go and be bored to tears... damnit!! why couldn't I just be rich and retired??? :(
My ONLY real dissapointment was that there weren't MORE groups/guilds represented there. I understand from a person I talked to, that there weren't any over-night encampments INSIDE the faire. This, and the fact that the event runs every weekend for over a month, might have kept the number of groups and guilds I saw to a minimum. I am of the opinion that the guilds and groups are the life blood of an event. And the more diverse the better, some of the best events I have been to had everything from Viking era to Tudor era groups and everything in between.
But on a whole, I would give this faire FOUR out of FIVE ARROWS >>>----->, and only because I gave the Valhalla Faire in Lake Tahoe FIVE (the fifth for location and perfect weather).
