So yeah, I just got back from my second year of going to our annual Ren Faire here and I was wondering if you guys here like to go to them. I don't dress up, at least not yet (I figure by my forth year I'll have enough items to where I will dress up) but it's really fun to go and look at all the people who do. A very large number do actually and it's pretty cool. It's like a place that's filled with my kind of people, medieval, strange and not conforming to the norm. When I see people who are dressed normally there, I feel like they're the outsiders! Not to mention that's probably my favorite time period so it's fun seeing the basic reenactment of that period. There's a bunch of street performers, stage performers, jousting and things and a bunch of shops selling leather items (ranging from cups to pouches to satchels to clothes/hats/boots), chainmail items, medieval weaponry, jewellery of all sorts..staves etc. Just a number of things to buy and look at. Plus some good food as well! And everyone you meet is nice (obviously since it's their job, but still) even people not working there. It's just a really fun time and if you have one around you I suggest you go and check it out because a lot of the vendor's travel to all the Ren Faires across the country.

Last time I went I bought a 10 inch dagger with a scabbard and a 5 ft staff with my initials carved into them and a small pouch. This time I bought a leather hat with a feather, a Chinese dragon ring and a finger armor ring. So next time all I need to do is get an outfit and I'll be ready to dress up in it for the event!

The only real problem is the prices for certain things. Soda is what it would usually be at an event like this, same with a number of other drinks and food. (Although the steak on a stake was only $4.25 which is a good deal I think) And most of the items are very expensive, mostly because they are all hand crafted/made by the people selling them. Not everything is, but most of the stuff is. Some of the prices I agree with, my hat was $65 and for a full leather 3 musketeers meets cowboy type hat, I can see that. The weapons are all expensive too but have a good quality and the place I get mine if I get any, the weapons are all battle ready (IE sharp). So they tend to be in the $200 + range. There's glasses and mugs of all sorts ranging in price from $25-300. Full suits of leather armor, chainmail armor pieces, leather boots of all shapes and sizes..a number of clothes from that era (high prices, like $80+). Necklaces, rings, pendants, brooches etc with different sorts of jewels (a lot of amber) and so on and so forth. So if you do go bring some money with cause you'll wanna spend it!

But yeah, I might take pictures of some of my items and put them up, if you do go, feel free to post all the pictures you want of your experiences there and talk about them too!

Despite being giant money sinks, they are quite fun. My brother got one of those chainmail hats, and it has still passed the test of time. As for me, the only thing from there that I have left is a wooden broadsword that has survived so much abuse, it's insane.

Was told basic metallurgy, and why swords and armor were made the way they were from one to. Double checked the info years later, and that guy did seem to know his stuff.

I went once. One could do worse....

Just for the cleavage? No.

Heh, that reminds me of when I was being served mushroom soup. The serving lady had briasts that were practically popping out, and that was the first time my dad talked to me about boobs and why it's okay to stare at them

Yeah, they are a money sink but it's economic. We pay them money for the stuff they make, they buy things that we make (maybe not us literally but you get the drift), we get their money, give it back to them..repeat and so forth. I think it's worth it, the stuff I get at least.


Hahaha oh man yeah there's a lot of that going on. Watching the people is one of the fun things, seeing their dress styles..gazing upon the beauties walking the crowds...turning your head right before their men look at you..that kind of thing.

I love them! I go to the annual one in Maryland every year. And yes, I do dress up. It's great to go with friends, but my first couple years I didn't have any into that sort of thing. I met a lot of great people there from all over the country and even beyond.. it's a great experience

I go to one a couple hours from my home, but it's always with my family and I don't get any of the souvenirs I want because my mom hates "weapons" (It's just a wooden sword.). It's kind of fun, but I'll likely enjoy it much more when I go to a larger one, go with my own money, and go with whatever friends I may have rather than with my family.

Yeah, although it's not entirely fun going with your own money because then your own money goes away quite quickly haha. If you have someone there to joke around with (lots of that goes on) then yeah it'll be a lot more enjoyable.

Liitkiva what do you dress up as? If/when I dress up I'm gonna go for a "traveler" type look.

It is my dream to be a knight in one of those.

Doubt it will happen, but that's what dreams are for.

I love the renfaire. We don't usually do much of anything, but just wandering around and people watching is a lot of fun. I wore a kid's sized Peter Pan costume to the last one. Looked kinda medieval if you squinted.

[edit] All us MD/DC/VA/PA folks should do a TES meet at the faire this year