📜Be sure to leave a comment your tips, tricks, and Ren Faire secrets if you're a Ren Faire Goer! Let's make this comment section a place for exchanging wisdom with the community! 🥰

Something I've learned is the food near the front is always packed. Don't be afraid to venture further in to buy food because most of the permanent food structures are all the same. Don't try to haggle with vendors who have handmade goods, please respect the artists. Take your time and enjoy the live musicians! I always feel like they are often ignored if they aren't on a large stage.

Medic-in-training here with some heat-related emergency tips: - Dry heat tends to be more dangerous than wet heat bc people don't realize they need to hydrate as much - If someone feels ill (nauseous, faint, crampy, etc), cool them down in a shady or air-conditioned location. Cold packs can be applied to the neck, armpits, and abdomen. - If a person feels nauseous, have them hydrate with caution as it may induce nausea or choking - If someone passes out, call EMS, even if they become conscious shortly after-- they may have heat stroke and deteriorate - Alcohol and other substances (even diuretics like caffeine) might make a person more at risk for overheating, so watch out for each other :)

My hardest lesson I learned was I planned my outfit without checking the weather in the specific area of the Faire. I arrived as a half naked fairy to rain, 100% humidity, and about 45 degrees F. I was miserably drenched in 30 minutes and freezing to death. I had not brought a backup or any source of warmth. Great video! Planning is key!!

If you have disabilities be aware that seating is sparse and terrain is often rough and uneven. The last ren faire I went to was the MI ren fest and my friends cousin almost passed out from the heat. I also like to have a spare shirt or outfit in my car, it’s nice to have a comfy clean outfit at the end of the day.

strings of glass beads hanging off a parasol is great for a water fairy or a mermaid.

Following performers on social media is another great way to find new faires. They usually post about where they’re going and even if you haven’t been to any faires yet, you can usually find performer lineups on event websites

For Europe: most of the time there is a differentiation between historical re-enactment, larp, and fantasy festivals/faires. The latter (as a search term) is most likely to come close to ren faires (minus the Renaissance court thing, usually) in terms of vendors, food, music, entertainment. Where I'm from there's several events at actual castles ❤

⛰🏰For the Colorado Renaissance Festival: -wear comfortable shoes, there are a lot of hills and the parking lot is immense -bring a rain umbrella, i was hailed on this year -wear sunscreen, you are over a mile above sea level and closer to the sun -the website says no water bottles, but we haven't had our bag checked in three years -there are good bathrooms with flushing toilets and running water, just find them -avoid pirate and celtic weekends, they are the busiest of the year -get the map and catch the washer wenches, just trust me enjoy! ⚔

tip1 : It sounds counter intuitive but cover your skin-especially with a breathable fabric, exposing skin to sun will heat you up fast. Linen is the best at wicking moister and cooling/drying out quickly. I burn/sun poison easy so this is my go to. tip2: If you have an outfit meant to show some skin bring a cotton or linen scarf/large handkerchief (historically called kerchief or fichu). When you start to feel warm take the scarf/large handkerchief and pour on/dip in cold water then put it on the back of your neck, it will cool you down. You can make one from a scrap of the fabric real easy.. just a quick rectangle or square.. leave edges raw for a rough look or double fold and sew a small hem. Color/theme print coordinate with your outfit for bonus points. This is a huge help to cool down and takes up no space.

Sorry of the dad jokes.... I had to do it. The Jester hat compels me.

Tip for the Texas Ren Faire in Todd Mission (especially for those not from Texas): It seems obvious, but make sure to look at the weather for the day(s) you're going before you plan your outfit. This fair is in October-November, so some days it's chilly and layers are okay, and some days it's still pretty warm and layered clothing will take you out. Texas weather fluctuates wildly from day to day in that time of year. Oh, and wear comfy shoes since it's a really big space with lots to see. Have fun!

Put a couple menstrual pads and tampons in your bag, and a stain remover stick! Even if you dont personally need them, you might be a lifesaver to other people

Regarding the bag question, this last time I made historical style pockets (which tie on) to fit under my open-sided skirt and they worked really well to hold most of the small items. For any bigger purchases, I bring a large kerchief (which can also provide sun coverage for your neck/décolletage), and there’s a method for tying knots on a kerchief that turns it into a tote. I invested in the American Duchess Tudor shoes and while my feet were definitely tired after 10 hours of standing, they worked pretty well. I wore them with wool knee high compression socks, and I think that definitely helps with foot problems.

My vocal teacher mentioned off handedly that she worked in a renfaire, which got me thinking. Looked at what people wore (which blew me away lol) and wanted to know more about the fair’s content/what you actually do there This was VERY helpful, tysm

This was a very detailed and helpful video, thank you! 💞 And yeah, cash is really important, I learned it in the hard way, as I was born in a country where you can pay with card almost everywhere, but now I live in Germany, where you need cash to survive, especially at faires and medieval festivals, even the entrance fee has be payed in cash at some events if you buy it on the spot.

In terms of cold-weather, what I learned from LARPing in the woods of England during the winter was: 1) lots of under layers. Especially long underwear if you have it, but the natural fibres like wool and silk which not only retain heat but also keep you warm when you’re standing still (which synthetic fibres tend not to do) 2) keep your feet warm, especially if you’re sensitive to cold. I generally wore thermal tights with wool socks over them and then some sort of legging over that underneath my outfit but also on more bitter days could have added those hot hands foot things 3) keep your hands and face warm, especially if you’re sensitive to temperature changes. I’d bring along a couple of glove options, including fingerless wool mitts that I knitted which are great for still being able to interact while keeping your hands warm. For my head, my ears get freezing cold so I really embraced head covering. This could be hats, but one of my personal techniques was taking a regular fleece headband and then a hat over top of that, and then wrapping a wool scarf in all manner of styles for maximum warmth 4) large, long skirts if you’re so inclined are awesome for trapping in heat on your legs. I have a long 1890s style skirt in coating wool and made a Finnish iron-age inspired dress out of heavy wool/synthetic blend and both of them were like wearing a blanket outdoors, would recommend 5) make sure you keep drinking water. If you can’t handle ice cold make sure you have some warmer stuff in an insulated bottle. You’re still moving around and potentially sweating so it’s important to keep hydrated 6) take off layers if you get hot! This is obviously common sense cold weather knowledge but seriously, a great way to doom yourself is by not adapting to changing temperatures

currently making my renfaire outfits! going for the second time ever this year, 2 days in a row (i don't think i am going to survive this, send help please SOS) so this came in clutch! always look forward to ur vids

Glad you mentioned to carry a mini first aide kit. I always include/carry a bug bite pen and a blister care subset: band-aids and poly/cream, + leuko tape to pad-up spots before they go full blister.

i hate that they don't allow WATER. like i get it, you gotta make coins.. but like ONE bottle should be fine. also, one or two snakcs as well? like people most likely gonna buy food there anyways, might as well don't have anyone fainting.

Just a note that rayon is a very breathable, moisture wicking fabric. As synthetic fibers go, it's definitely not the worst!

those wings in the back turning you into an axolotl princess… new cosplay idea unlocked 🎉

Thank you so much for the video! I have been a casual cosplayer for an annual indoor convention for some time, but I recently got invited to a Ren faire and I feel waaay more prepared.... and excited!

Did not even finish the video yet but I have to say THANK YOU for mentioning the room-temperature water!!! As a massage therapist it is ALWAYS fun to explain why I suggest room temp water over iced. And if you're after a safe-ish way to lower your temperature, wrap an ice cube in a handkerchief and rest it against your inner wrist or elbow for a few seconds at a time, remove it for long enough for your skin to start to warm up, then repeat until the ice melts. If you don't have ice you can also dip your handkerchief in some cooled or room temp water and use it directly on either the base of your skull or against your temples. Basically anywhere there's particularly thin skin that's going to be an easy place to adjust your temp. Another option for electrolyte replacements is Biolyte - that's the one that I go for ever since one of my ex-military exercising fiend clients suggested them to me. It's one of the few instances of drinking something cool that I will suggest if someone's not used to the salty 'joy' that is an electrolyte replacement (i, personally have hit the point where I can guzzle that stuff without any trouble at room temp but it took some acclimating). They've definitely made it so that I can do three back to back ninety minute deep tissue massages and not feel like total garbage afterwards, and I was amused to discover that many liquor stores actually sell them now because of how useful they are for hangovers. I definitely suggest keeping a few bottles in an empty cooler or something to keep them from getting super hot in the car. One thing that I'm going to make sure to do next time we get to hit up a RenFaire is bring a walking stick/staff. My balance is... questionable at best and I can trip over air on a bad day, and the faire that we've gone to multiple times has very uneven terrain in some areas. I've never needed a first aid kit, but I definitely think that's going to be a thing that I add to my bag. And another thing might be to have a small sewing kit if it's allowed, or just safety pins in case of unexpected wardrobe malfunctions. Also maybe have your most comfortable shoes in the car for afterwards - we do so love to walk ourselves to death at festivals.

Liquid IV is amazing with how many flavors they have. Bristol in Wisconsin lets you bring one bottle (any size), medically necessary foods,baby food. Cover your skin! I use silk scarves to cover my shoulders,neck,torso. It helps a lot. The mornings are chilly and the evenings are hot. Layer up and take them off as needed through the day!Some places if you buy a pickle will fill your cup/tankard with pickle juice which can help stop muscle spasms! I absolutely recommend having a walking stick for rough terrain especially if you have a harder time walking or disabilities. My walking stick has been a lifesaver and i dont need as many breaks with it. The mud show and washing well wenches are great fun and I recommend them if they're at your faire.

Wow I’m preparing for my first Ren Faire next week and I really appreciated this run down!! Need to make some trinkets 💖

Hello! We just got into this ourselves this year! Glad for all the help we can get for going into this!

Huzzah! Thanks for all the tips, bringing my family to the Washington Renn in a few weeks! 😊

Glad I found this video. I've been wanting to go to my first ren fair this fall and I alway appreciate a good packing list

so excited to watch, i've been waiting for this one!! 💖

Thanks for covering my question! I’m going to search up some foam or wooden daggers and maybe a cool sheath to make it look believable 😅 Lots of good info, appreciate the breakdown of everything. 😊

I just recently learned that in addition to the renn faires here we also have a pirate and Viking summer festival!

If you are sensitive to the sun, as I am, I would recommend a straw hat or loose-fitting cotton hat. They can be embellished with moss, flowers, leaves, etc. Really helps with overheating.

The final slow mo sunflower meme SENT me 😂 I can attest to the natural fabrics, comfortable shoes, and investing in items for sure because I’ll use them for plenty more faires

I’ve been doing fair since the 80s. And they probably been around for another 10 or 20 years beyond that. Seek, and you shall find.

this video was definitely worth the wait! you covered everything very thoroughly 👍🏻

this was so helpful! i really want to go to one and hopefully will soon

thank you! this was super informative :)

Love this! In a newb with only 2 small ren faires under my belt. I'd love a video on the language and traditions of renfaire.

I actually have my first ren faire tomorrow so this was very helpful to keep in mind!

I was at the Angels Camp Celtic Faire with the tornado warning! That was wild! Fun faire, love that it's in early spring and cooler - a chance to wear the wool and cloaks! Shoes - I've been a victim of various thrifted shoes and boots, some good, some not so good for comfort, tread, etc. Just this year at NorCal I finally took the plunge for some legit 5 button boots with the vibram sole and I LOVE them (thank you Nativearth!). Super comfy and I decided that after 6 or so years of ren-fairing, attending at least 6 ren faires every year (and I wore them for Halloween, pirate costume!), it's totally worth it. As for local faires - I agree if you think there aren't any in your area, you should dig deeper, ask around and look again - after attending our first, very local ren faire one lovely November weekend, we discovered through social media and word of mouth that there are many within decent driving distance that we had totally missed. Dress up, enjoy, get creative and start with thrifted stuff and build to what you want for your ren faire experience and look, but beware - it's addicting. Thanks for the videos - maybe I'll see you at a California faire one of these days! Huzzah!

going for the first time in 3 days & i am NOT ready 😅 but watching videos like yours (and binge watching your channel) has been helpful so far ☺️🍄 im going to a south florida faire

My dad is taking me to my first renfaire next spring and I’m super excited. I’m probably going to dress in an outfit inspired by the outfit the dwarves put on Mallory in the Spiderwick chronicles series

Thank you so much! I've wanted to go to a Ren Faire ever since I was a kid but was paralyzed about what to do. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this!

Thanks for the video. You're really groovy

I just went to my first renn faire today and had an absolute blast, got to meet Solaire from Dark Souls which I was incredibly stoked about and i had tons of mead. Definitely gonna go back tomorrow and spend more than I should haha

Omg, I never thought to look for Celtic/Scottish fairs, I just found like 4 more events I wanna go to now!

Love how this was posted a week before my first faire

Thanks for all this! I am also highly sensitive to extreme temperature changes. Sun protection and hydration are SO important. For me personally, snacks are also essential! I haven't been to a Ren Faire (yet), but I have been to amusement parks, fairs, and mountain man rendezvous. I LOVE your bag choices. The leaf bags are so cute, and disguising a backpack as a shield is brilliant!

I'm very happy my renaissance faire in PA has very good bathrooms! Oh and the advil.. is clutch when your out.

Even though you don't have expierinces with colder renfaires would you consider making a video with some styling tips for the colder renfaires? :)

It's always a big green flag for me if a vendor is currently working on creating something :) But obviously this is not always possible with things like leather working or jewelry or machine embroidery.

This is great info, thanks. As a child in Southern California my mom took us to several RFs bc they were free bc they were mostly labeled for nerds/outcasts. I loved them and now that I’m grown I miss that. I live in rural, middle of no where, Texas, now but I just found out there is going to be an RF here!! I am so excited!! Can you please tell us where to find RF costume attire?! I am a plus size woman and have no idea where to buy period-specific clothes.

I have never felt so seen in my life with the sunburn thing lmao! I am Italian and Irish, and burn to the color of a lobster if I'm not in SPF 70. Great video! Working on my costume now!

This is great. Have you been to the fair in Redding CA? Ive used to go to that one alot. Watching from the mid west niw about to take my family to their first ren fair! Thankyou so much for the tips!!

Fairs in Europe . . . I have basically never heard of a Renn Faire in Britain or Scandinavia. However! We have loads of Medieval Fairs, Viking markets, SCA events, LARP or COSPLAY festivals. So those search terms will give you hits! And Fantasy, Fairy Core etc. As you said.

Thinking of starting doing faires this year

The room temp water thing is actually true. Your body heats all liquids you intake before it absorbs it. Also cold water on a hot day can cause nausea and stomach cramps. When we gave our cadets the survival chat we told them to drink cool water and suck on ice to cool down. Sometimes we'd hose them down too. Apparently if you let water evap off of you it can help with the heat, so we often sprayed them down while doing field work. It could get muddy pretty quick 😅

this is perfect, I'm going to my first one in August and have had mild anxiety about it

Ah that's so cool! I'm in Canada and we don't have ren fair. I would love to see one, one day. We have week-end larp event and once a year, a week long event and it ressemble a ren fair but you sleep there and we can go fight with mouse sword. Thanks for the video! ❤

Hahaha I laughed so hard at the Waterboy clip

I went to a Roman faire in Hungary, it was awesome!

Wait What!?!?!?! Raised by hippies!!!!!! I LOVE you even more 😻 Great video Thx 😉

I also recommend nose spray if you're going in the Springtime.

Another tip to consider is follow the accounts of those who are local ren faire/generally into fantasy event goers. There is always a handful of people in your state who are into that stuff. Also don’t be afraid to ask larpers or cosplayers on forums for the deets to local events.

I live 30 minute away from the Texas Renaissance Festival and never gone maybe this year I go.😅

Very important on the room temp water and not ice cold!!! 👏👏👏 Also if you or someone is starting to overheat find rags or cloths and drench them in water and place them on ankles, wrists, and back of neck 💦💦

My local fair advertises in the newspaper, don’t know how often people pick them up, but something to look out for I suppose

In europe: Netherlands, Germany are especially great. Im dutch and we have a few huge and smaller ones here. Elfia, Castlefest, middeleeuws winschoten en fantasy festival! All great

15:12 In regards to this subject, linen and Cotton will be your best friend fibers, and in history people knew this which is why undergarments were almost always made out of linen or cotton (things, such as shifts, combinations, drawers, shirts, petticoats, etc. were very commonly made out of cotton or linen) also linen is great at keeping you clean because of how airy it is and also because it’s a plant fiber it kind of exfoliates your skin and sucks up the oils that your skin makes

don't worry, i also forgot to wear sunscreen at the co ren fest this year and also walked away with a nice burn 🥴

The tip about body temp water is true. I used to work landscaping and our waters were always room or body temp. Cold water could send your body into a mild shock. Especially if you're dumping it on your neck or head.

I wouldn't probably even know these exist but my small city (here in the northern Europe) has pretty big ren faire every year. just bought viking clothes for the next one.

Unfortunate that every event I can find through Google even within my own state is upwards of an hour and a half away minus one. There's a Highland games for one weekend in October in the next town over, and I'll probably be out of state during that time this year. Maybe I could go next year though. Hopefully the clan I'm more closely connected to is present next year too lol.

Im going to the santa fe ren faire this year.

My first faire was cold, so I bought a cloak. It’s like a fuzzy blanket. May be a little inconvenient and bulky but I was warm. I spent $90 on it and I don’t think it was handmade.

For hydration, always go for the pedialyte. Can be expensive but it'll get you hydrated quick. Lots of other electrolyte packets have added sugars that chock up the price a bit and don't do much for you when it comes to hydrating 👍

As a fellow Sac fairegoer, I’d say that the northern cal ren faire is really fun! Folsom is okay but not the greatest

I'm showing up to one of these as a time traveling YoRHa android or some other type of anachronistic/fictional character so I can both be in character while being enamored by everything and not having to speak in an accent. Plus, it'll lead to some funny interactions, I think. And the YoRHa gear doesn't look entirely out of place either.

Another thing, Gatorade has a line of electrolyte waters called Propel. They have grape, berry, watermelon, kiwi strawberry, and strawberry lemonade. There isn’t any sugar and is great for a replacement to Gatorade. Also, compliment our costume. We spend a lot of time, money, and effort on them. It would make our day.

Drink more than water, take a tiny container of powder gatoraid or the like. You lose more than just water. Most fairs ignore small snacks. When you eat, do NOT overindulge. Keep your meals small. Keep a small first aid kit on you with some basics. Keep a mug on you for hydration. Use layers of clothes, so it'll be easier to take off layers if you get too hot. Wear comfortable shoes, and carry an extra pair of socks. And be a real lifesaver by keeping a cloth and leather repair kit on you as well. Don't spend hundreds on trinkets. You can even make some small trinkets for pennies on the dollar just to give out to make friends. If you don't see the vendors actually make the items, always assume they bought just to sell.

If you sunburn easily that is a symptom of low antioxidants. You can take 2-4 astaxantin and or your antioxidant of choice. I usually eat an entire bar of dark chocolate and drink a coffee before going out and I'm set, but if it's near noon and/or full summer I'll take some astaxantin as well and never need sunscreen.

Here's a tip bring l the Gatorade packets cuz they have electrolytes which help with dehydration

I’m an idiot, at least I was when I went to my first steampunk event in shoes that looked like cool Victorian boots but had my dogs barking after a few hours so that I limped out bare footed on blazing hot blacktop!!! Ouch!!! I learned the hard way. (And that dress on the dressmaker’s dummy is gorgeous!! )

Newbie here thanks for the tips

7:48 At Avalon Faire in Texas, many vendors will charge slightly less if you pay in cash as the mobile card readers have a fee. So, you'll save money if you pay in cash.

Are flasks (like for a potion) allowed at bristol it said it didn't allow glassware but I didn't know if there was an exception

My sister would always bring small battery charged fans and large personal misters. The misters she would fill with water and a couple drops of peppermint essential oil! Peppermint is very cooling, and with the fan it kept her from getting too hot in the summer months

me who is makeing a deeer girl and i have to walk around in hooves "dont be like me"

Apparently LARPing is a thing in the UK. Thanks for that, I'm also someone who tries to avoid ads all the time so cookies and tracking be 📴

folsom ren fair is expanding this year !

I have a crap ton of plastic diamonds that I hoarded , I plan to give out when I dress up as my gemstone dragon

So I wanted to try and wear a traditional barbarian costume (I've been REALLY hitting the gym trying to get BIGGG for my costume and it exposes a good majority of upper body with the exception of a piece that covers a portion of my chest) but in the rules it states no exposing clothing. Would this be allowed or would I get in trouble?

Europe has quite a few Ren Fairs! Spain, France, Netherlands and UK have many. I know as I live in Sweden and I always see really nice ones in those countries which is not close! He hee. But here we have several Viking festivals. I would say in Europe there is a difference between "Medieval Fairs" "Ren Fairs" "Viking festivals" and Ren act events. But you will have overlap. But due to these type of events are based on European culture they are more regional in line with the history of the nation.

Thought I would throw this out. Hopefully helps other people. I actually use Gemini AI to help find a Renaissance faire near me in Washington State. It listed pretty much everything going on when they happen and also provided links for them.

I’m going to my first ren faire in a few weeks, I still need a shirt and pants though. I have a 48 dollar budget and I’m going as a (female) elf, any tips?

I tend to get lost easily somehow even with a faire map. I find that some faire maps are esthetically nice but not physically accurate. I make a google map of my own and drop a map pin at my location when I'm standing at a spot I want to return to. Then I let google give me walking directions. Examples of places: the flush toilets, particularly good food vendors, great artisan shops, certain performance stages. My home faire is permanent on its grounds, so I use the same google map year after year, filling it out more and more, and deleting things that are no longer there.

Sqwinchers, schwinchers, sqwinchers!! It’s a name brand we use working out in 100° weather in the solar fields they even have otterpop like flavored ice sticks

My tips: 1. Closed toe, flat shoes. For Costumes...flat boots, ghillies, ballet shoes/slippers, etc. Guys, same for you...watch those boot heels. Try to stay flat. Twigs, rocks, and roots care not for your safety! (out of costume, hiking boots rock) 2. If you are of Scottish or Irish, put on sunscreen...lots of it. If you run out...try to work together instead of fighting....and take it from fair skinned English people! 3. Eat first thing, drink second, drink water third. Then, drink more water. 4. Ask to take a picture. 5. If a dragon asks for a light, tell him you don’t smoke. Just trust me. 6. Drink more water and put on more sunscreen. 7. Get cash BEFORE you go. 8. Don't hit on the mermaids. Just trust me. 9. Don't be afraid to participate. This IS the place to make a fool of yourself. 10. Fairies WILL shank you. Be nice. 11. Damn, this list is LONG! 12. Don't flash your cash and keep valuables in front of you. 13. Again, don't hit on the mermaids. 14. Be prepared for all types of weather. 15. Did I mention not hitting on the mermaids? Yeah, don't do that. Your's in jest, Holey McSockpuppet...Freelance Professional Court Jester

The Folsm Ren Faire is just ok I guess, it's pretty small so it's not a bad way to dip your toe. It's also in a park area & has concrete walkways which is convenient for mobility impaired folks who may need to use wheeled mobility aids (accessibility is always a concern for me) Like most of the smaller, local faires I've been to in the last 10-15 years it is pretty All Are Welcome as far as costuming goes & you see many people in elf ears & fairy attire as well as cottagecore, pirate garb & whimsygoth or just fantasy inspired "medieval" outfits. When I lived in the SF Bay Area, the Black Forest Ren Faire up in San Rafael was THE Renaissance Faire. They had a perm location out in a wooded area with perm structures & it had a more authentic, almost historical reenactment quality to it. It usually ran for 4-6 weekends. The food, the actors, the vendors & the vibe was very immersive. I just found out that that faire has moved to Hollister & I'd really like to check it out but that is a long ass drive from Roseville so it might require an overnight stay to be doable for me. I don't know why the faires are always in late Aug/early Sept which is typically the hottest time of the year & not very comfortable for Elizabethan period costuming. I highly suggest wearing linen & cotton if you plan on going in costume.