Thanks to everyone for their kind words about my singing!! ❤️ The song over the photo montage is Thomas Morley's "April is in my Mistress' Face," in this case with all four parts performed by me. If you want to hear more of my singing, check out my music video playlist: kzfaq.info/sun/PLsmjZYZs1ps0mMVCn6AO4yBobwCFqcFD5

"so now it's full of alcohol".. I understand you. Like.

"How do i react to a serenade?" I've been serenaded once, and legit I just copied the Sims 2 reaction. It seemed to work.

I remember one day the choreographed sword fighters did their act and bowed to the audience then walked back into the staff tent still laughing and joking In-character then as soon as they closed the curtain one of the fighters grabbed the other one and almost collapsed. No one had realized it, not even the guy he has been fighting, but he had missed a parry and shattered the bone in his leg. The leg-armor was the only thing keeping him standing the entire second half of the show and he had just kept going because he was such a badass and didn't want to scare the kids.

SO MANY MEMORIES! I miss Foxglove, and singing with you, with that group. I agree it was a formative experience, same. It changed my life, too. Faire is still fun nowadays, (I still perform every summer with Wakefire at the Michigan faire), but it's very different being a stage act, more like an actual job, and there was something special about those magical early years on the Larkspurshire lanes that I will always be grateful for!

And now I’m so glad we now have the Costume is NOT consent, going around.

I asked myself the same question about the film industry once I aged above 25. How the hell do these 50-60 year old's party until 4am every night for 10 days, and still make it to the market for 9am? And then I learned the answer... Drugs... The answer is drugs.

My experience was pretty similar, even though it was only a week long event three summers in a row. The group of people I had become friends with were pretty dedicated, and I went and worked with them. They dressed me, and we camped for a week on site. The cool stuff was that as you said, often you felt like you were living in a real village. Most of what we ate was cooked over a fire. We slept in constructed "authentic" tents. We drank terrible mead someone there had made. We bartered goods. Thinking back, maybe because it was only a week long as opposed to an entire summer, but people were very likely to stay in character the whole time, with little fear of burning out. They looked forward to it all year, so the play-acting continued all day and night when out in the open. It was definitely a tent-hopping partner swapfest though. I was younger and didn't partake in the "festivities", but I too was propositioned by "royalty"! The King was openly very flirty with me, which made everyone treat me like I had been plucked from obscurity. Other girls giggled and blushed and encouraged me to keep his eye. It was all fun and games and play-acting till he pulled me aside and asked me back to the "royal bedchamber". I cringe when I think about how goofy it suddenly was. It became very clear very fast that he was super sleezy, and probably only a "hit with the ladies" at the fair in this role. I didn't visit that bedchamber. Thanks for the video, it really took me back!

I have to say, I’m from the south of England so my accent is very much like the type of accent people attempt to recreate at Ren faires in America and it is so refreshing to see someone actually doing a good Hampshire English accent! Normally people do a blend of Mary Poppin’s cockney and crazy exaggerated posh but you’ve got it down perfectly 🤗

One day we'll get a Critical Role Ren Faire. Mercer's dream of Critical Role Land will come true!

I've never been to a ren faire but I did have that EXACT same "coming of age in a sea of nerds and people are hitting on me for the first time" experience.... at 4chan scientology protests. that's.... a weird realization to have

About 18 years ago I asked a girl out at the Ren Fest. Her name was Twig. She played the pan flute. She said no.

Some of my best singing has been in a corset, the structure is *chef's kiss* for getting peak vocals. The misconception is real, I feel ya Ginny!

10:00 best part trust me dont get me wrong i liked the story but that singing was angelic

As someone who’s worked faire for a... while its good to see someone do a story time that’s honest about the experience. This is pretty much identical to my own. There’s definitely a hedonist atmosphere that can be really pushy and uncomfortable but it was also the first time I felt attractive and the first time I met people who turned me towards some of my favorite hobbies and things now.

I never worked at a fair but I come.from a theater background and love having fun and impress the cast there sometimes. I dress up, have a character just for fun. Once i was a princess. Just a big dress, corset, crown and cloak princess. A little boy, maybe 4 dressed like a knight ran up and said hello. I gave him a curtsey and admire his bravery protective his mother from dragons. The boy kissed my hand and bowed! I nearly cried and posed for a picture and talked with him till I had to "bid him farewell " because my "prince was coming to take me to the enchanted forest" my husband had food and drinks lol. It was adorable

I loved working at Scarborough! The "faire persona" really helped me come out of my shell (at 25 lol) and interact with people confidently. Most of my interactions with patrons where really fun but the drunken creeps are definitely a thing. I was floater for the souvenir booths and this one man followed me the whole damn day. Security finally chased him off and I was so spooked I had my dad pick me up instead of driving myself home! (Also the venn diagram of rennies and kinksters is definitely... a thing.)

First 10 minutes: That sounds really cool, I should encourage my daughter to do RenFair for a summer job! Last 10 minutes: We aren't going to RenFair anymore...

Wait...wait...WHAT?! I've been to the Colorado Ren Fest many times including back in 2010 and believe I remember hearing the lovely ladies of Foxglove sing! I don't remember the songs, but I do remember you all had wonderful harmonies! I am honored to have crossed paths ever so briefly and gotten to hear your amazing musical talent live. Thank you for sharing your story and experience! HUZZAH!

Our golden rule was, If its funny once, its funny a thousand times. You have a beautiful singing voice btw.

I've been to the Pa. Faire 3 times. The last time, I took my aged mother-in-law, who sat on benches and watched people, and we went from bench to restroom to bench around the grounds. Then she found "The Queen's Hounds", a greyhound rescue booth, which is the only kind of dog she wasn't afraid of. We spent quite awhile petting those dogs! I had wanted to give her an interesting, different experience for a change.

As someone who lives in a country with no ren faires, I've always loved the idea of going to one and it's interesting to hear stories about them. Also, itty bitty titty committee will never not be funny! I'm a proud member myself

Oh Ginny this was a great video! I also dated a rennie once... and he too, serenaded me.... and to this day it is still the most awkward human interaction I've ever had...

Wow, your singing voice caught me totally off guard. You speak well, and were very casual and relaxed then suddenly started singing and it was a shock hearing the difference.

This is so weirdly parallel to my own life, getting a job at Disney World as an innocent naive inexperienced non-drinking 19 year old and finding that the behind-the-scenes culture was ummm a lot more grown up than expected 😂 and yes having crushes on people because they played a prince, or drove the monorail, or whatever even though they were just some 20-something doing a summer job

You know, this was a fun video. RIP the first version, but 20 mins just flew by.

Good on you sticking to your boundaries. :) Don't let anyone tell you you weren't cool or something, alcohol is overrated.

I’m much too shy for Ren faires 😂 the moment a character comes up to me to talk or singles me out in an audience I have to dip

I started working at Renaissance Festivals when I was 7, and stopped in the Spring of 2017, after 27 years. Scarborough Faire was actually my home show. I agree with almost everything that you said,though the culture is much more varied than you got to experience. For a surface level analysis, this was spot on.

Bruh, you really flexing with your voice bruh. It's the most angelic sound my ears have beheld 🥺

There was a Ren Faire near my grandparents place in upstate NY that I'd go to every summer as a kid. I loved it but I stopped when I was twelve because I started going to theatre camp. Honestly your description of some things just sounds like theatre camp but for adults. My favorite Ren Faire story is when one of the actresses referred to me as a princess and I said "Nobody calls me princess" (which was a blatant lie) and my cousin told her to excuse me because I was "a little twisted". She then proceeded to refer to me as "Little Twisted" the way children used to be called "Little Mary" or "Little Peter". Little Twisted was a family nickname for me for several years (which was fine, my family is weird and we embrace it)

This just popped up in my “recommended videos”. This was in a word enthralling. I totally enjoyed it. You have a gorgeous singing voice, and are a splendid storyteller. 👍

Wow!! You brought back some wild memories! I worked the "Carolina Renaissance Festival" back in 95 and 96. It was a WILD time!! I have some crazy stories also. Thanks for jogging the memory!!

Every time I go to fair I’m an elf or a fae folk so I can play just weird and avoid flirting. As an asexual it’s a good way to avoid awkward things.

maisie williams looks good with mint green hair.

My parents were rennies for years before they had my sister and me. I loved (and still love) hearing the stories of my mom, the madrigal singer, and my dad, the elven scoundrel/security guard. I’ve always wanted to work a Ren Faire, but I’ve been kind of nervous because as the child of rennies, I know what the scene is like.

Random dude picks up a woman Viking-Style: “MY WENCH!” Me: “HELL NAH BRO, LEMME AT EM!”

High key obsessed with your hairstyle in this video. It's so pretty! 😍

This made me look up the next ren fair in my area... turns out it’s on my birthday!!! It’s fate I must go!

Great video, very informative and entertaining. Everyone should attend a renaissance festival once just to experience all the awkward fun that it is. Side note, do not wear clothing with writing on it. I wore a Ministry tshirt and was referred to as Master Ministry the entire day. Immerrrrrrsion.

Thanks for the memories. ☺️ I sang in a madrigal group that was formed for the 2nd annual Largo, FL Ren festival in the mid 1980s. We performed all 6 weekends the first year and the first weekend the next year. We were a stage act so we had cover for the 5 weekends it poured. I was new to the whole scene but enjoyed it tremendously. The bass of the group liked it so much he went on with the tour. Last I heard he was Blacksmithing, and jousting in addition to singing.

I think literally three different people said "Nice rack!" to me over the approximately four hours I was there as Keyleth, and by the, uh, second, I had my response prepared. (Which is "Thanks, they're natural!", which the horns are obviously not.) Edit: I completely failed to mention that I'm in Colorado, which is why I didn't think to specify which one I was at. Whoops.

As someone who has always struggled with self confidence and overall self esteem issues, just being in the Ren Faire, and seeing so many cast members give me attention and act the way they did honestly made me feel much better about myself. Now, I just wish that feeling stayed, instead of getting stomped back into the ground at school/college, but it is what it is. I honestly wish I had some experiences like the ones you’ve described, because I think it would have likely had a similar effect on what I think of myself and how I choose to carry myself, wether in public or just with some friends.

“The beer is in the pickup truck” Having work at Faire, these are great words to help remove any traces of medieval accent, although I had much more trouble not placing a wee bit of Scottish on my speech

I worked at one too, helping out my then-boyfriend. It's definitely a lot of fun but I was so TIRED by the end! We manned a mead sales point, and people love to drink like their hangovers are going to stay back in the medieval days as well... You don't get to sit, you don't get to eat much, you have to do so much mental math constantly... that being said, now that I attend merely as a spectator, I love going. Some people go all out with their costumes and it's amazing to see them!

Love this relaxed storytelling structure!

I went to the faire in Wisconsin for the first time this summer with a group of friends. I didn't have a costume but I wore what I had that most resembled the style, one of the people I went with wore a full samurai suit and a few people asked to take photos with him. It was a lot of fun to me to buy into the idea of being in the past and a semi magical world, and it was a place id wanted to go for a while but was scared to go alone. I think the coolest part for me was having a knight sign my flag after the joust :^)

Watching this a year after the fact, but I just joined the Ren Faire circuit myself. I'm working for a leather vendor, and was at Louisiana Ren Faire this fall, and will be heading to Scarborough in a few weeks. It's a weird time to start this, with Covid messing everything up, but it's a lot of fun, if a bit stressful at times. Also, I'm in my 40's and I felt pressured to drink, so it's not just the kids who feel that.

As a Brit, living in the UK, it's so strange to hear about Ren Faires, because they really don't exist in Britain at all. We have some similar things, Larping, Fairy Balls etc, but those are very small, and only a particular group of people really attend them, and lots of people don't know about them at all, whereas I feel like even if you don't attend them in America, you still know about them, and what they are. It would be cool to see you re-form a Madrigal group now, it would be lovely to see what songs you would sing, or if you wrote your own, or re-wrote lyrics to fit a certain fandom. You have such a beautiful voice, and that little clip was delightful!

The prince... I remember him!! He was interesting, from my memory. I worked there for 2-3 summers in the 2010's (Games! Mostly darts and plate smash). I love your stories about it. I am having my own flashbacks to that time thanks to these stories. I still visit the Faire to this day. My friends still work there, and I know so many of the actors still. I'm surprised there was no mention of the owner of the land. The man who barred fur from anyone who didn't work leather. And barred asking for tips. And loves fairies more than mermaids and (I believe) still doesn't allow them in faire. And... Well... He was interesting. Still, these stories take me back. I had fun listening to all of this.

I remember back in 91 or 92, my college summer (ugh, I just dated myself), my friends (5 of us) and I went in costume. They went as peasants and went in my old death robes from Halloween (I was to busy making everyone-else's costumes, I didn't have time for mine). My robes were REALLY long and flowy with a deep hood and red lining with all the hems shredded (I think I still have it around somewhere). I decided to be a "wandering mage". I had a rope belt and little satchel and crystals, it was pretty bad-ass for the Ren faire =) Well, my friends and I sat down under a big tree in the middle of the square to eat lunch. I was just screwing around and grabbed some twigs and rocks threw them on the ground and pretended to read my friends fortunes. In about 5 minutes we had a crowd of people around us thinking we were part of the faire. So the rest of the day, people actually treated us AS we were part of the faire and we played it up. It was either Don Juan or Migel (some of you know who they are) complimented me on my costume, act and said I should join them next year. I loved going to the Ren, but that was the best time I've ever had! Just thought I'd share =)

Thank you for all the stories in this video. It really makes it hit home how much I missed going to Ren Fest during 2020 and possibly 2021. I haven’t ever worked there, but I’m so much a regular that the behind-the-scenes stories are really fun to hear because I understand them as a mundane would not.

This is the pinnacle of the "KZfaqr pretending to drink to get through a video" gag. That's it everyone, Ginny wins.

So ive done medieval reenactment since i was a child and my brother formed a pirate crew in game who then went on to do ren fairs in washington. They do kid pike drills and march them around and show then pike formations. So i feel very at home in ren faire environments but i was also never pressured to drink or flirted with 1 cause i was a child for most of my participation and 2 because i was the 'captains' little sister so i was treated with far more respect and consideration. Ive been to all sorts of ren fairs from small local ones in idaho and washington to big professional ones in wisconsin and washington. The big ones have a more dedicated 'cast' while small ones are often volunteers who are larpers. I still love ren fairs and would love to make a small choir.

Your singing is beautiful and I would love to hear more! Also the insights of what it's like for others behind scenes is pretty interesting, so thank you for sharing that.

"all these moments will be lost, like tears in the rain"...or words in an unplugged microphone 😀

My friends and I go to the Kansas City Renfest every year, we love it. My costume gets more complex every year and I have slowly made each of my friends wear costumes as well

Honestly it wasn't until I heard CR members going to Ren Faires that I found out those were a thing. They don't really exist in my country, there is one sort of convention type thing that is a bit similar, but it is nowhere near as immersive as renfair sounds tbh.. I'd be interested in going at some point, and working there does sound like a fascinating experience

This was awesome. I love your humor, singing was beautiful, and a great peak into RenFaire Life. Thank you!

My fair is Scarborough in Texas and I got really excited when you mentioned it, I’ve been a few times and I love it!

This only makes me want to run away with the ren faire more.

Went to Scarborough in Jr High for the first time and I was like DEEP in my goth phase and all I can really remember is a court jester heckling the SHIT out of me for being dressed in all black.

I think this is the most I have ever related to another youtube creator. My grandfather took me to the Sterling Ren Faire in NY every year until I was a teenager and I have such awesome memories of that. I completely relate to your boundaries and stories from highschool too. Thank you for such warm, relatable content! Cheers!

I really like this. It's just story time. And the goblet adds to it for whatever reason. Very relaxed and personable. I enjoy the reflective aspect. Thank you for sharing. ❤️

Wow, the Rennies wanted to encourage a cute, little 18 year old woman to drink. Color not surprised. Did Daniel Duke of Danger or Don Juan and Miguel ever get out to Colorado? I went to the Sterling New York Ren Faire a few times. It's always nice even if it's in high summer. They have a lot of shade trees.

The first and only renaissance fair I have been to is Scarborough actually. It has a special place with me because it is where I met my fiance's brother, sister, and nephew for the first time. That was in 2018 so I'm hoping we can go again.

This was beautifully intimate.. thanks for sharing. It felt like kind of sitting with a new friend and learning about their experience.

Dang! I haven’t you sing before and then you drop “I would enter your Garden” Blew me away!

9:57 for amazing vocals

I've been to the Carolina Ren Faire multiple times, never worked there, but always went in costume. I've been a ranger, twice an elf, a gypsy, and a dragon lady. It was the first place I went where guys actually would wink and flirt with me. As my bff would say, I turned into a tomato and literally tried to hide behind her. Probably my favorite time, however, was getting to sword fight with a pirate. That was awesome!

Ginny Di that was a great video. I really like your videos and the personality you exhibit in them.

I absolutely adore this hair style for you, also your singing is beautiful

When I was about 22 I had a similar experience to you. I didn't sing, but I started going to the local faire with people who had a booth selling pottery. Eventually, I would make friends with character actors. Ah the dream! It was also where I learned I was 'sexy,' and although at times that was a weird... sometimes uncomfortable experience. I was kinda happy it happened there. I had a sense of confidence there so I learned more about my boundaries. I still have a dream that one day I'll retire with a caravan that I sell stuff out of at faires. Just be the 'faire witch' and sit around drinking mead and enjoying the outdoors till my dying days.

Remembering back when I was an awkward youngling. What she said about picking out a kid and running through a bit at 7:27 makes soooo much sense now. I was so embarrassed and my parents laughed.

I go to Scarborough in texas as its my "local" fair i have a full satyr suit and honestly i love the idea of being on cast but acting in character is not my strong suit plus time it takes to devote to that and i have kids just wont ever be a thing 😂 but i love going i love the atmosphere

I loved this so much! You're such an amazing storyteller!

Bro I get what you mean about the magic being dispelled once you've worked faire. Like I still love the pageantry and community of faire, and seeing how different ones are set up and populated, but I've seen too much behind the curtain. I feel like I don't know how to be a patron at faire anymore 😅

I've watched many of your videos over the years. This one more than any other, really felt like we were just hanging out in your living room listening to you tell stories. Very real, very candid. Thank you for sharing your story and your voice.

That was a fun video. I liked going to RenFest and the casts did a great job over the years of making the magic. Thank you for sharing.

Great story! It was interesting to hear more about the cast experience and really cool. At the time I was on another side of the faire as a playtron so I enjoy the stories. :) we didn’t camp at faire but just up the road at the KOA south of castle rock. There we had huge throw downs into the evening as well just not on site. I always wondered what those that got to stay on-site did. Thanks again for sharing!

Thanks again, lots of fun, yes you definitely needed the drink! I was the Brewmaster for my old Viking re-enactment society, & know what it's like when you get into character .. We'd authenticamp for the whole weekend, luckily I brought gallons of mead & ale to help people get throught it! ;)

Yup, sounds like RenFaire. Except the pressuring people to do things. That’s a big no-no in the community. My family has been involved in Rennisance Festivals since I was a Freshman in high school... in 1995. Ye gods, am I really that old now?

How cool that I see this right before the opening of Scarborough this year! I hope you can come to visit again, you'd be very welcome! I've been doing that faire for 23 years now, and your experiences sound so familiar and made me smile. Thanks for sharing this very fun video!

Ah!! I remember these days! Whoa! Sadly, I’m still doing it, just not the partying aspect. Great video!

if I had not already subbed, that open would have clenched it for sure. The old saying, "If you can't get laid at Ren Fair, you can't get laid." Glad to know its not just the N Cal fair.

First 30 seconds: Ginny you are nothing if not #relatable

Just found this vid. I really love your style and attitude! :) Thanks for posting.

you are very lucky to have those experiences. Thats something im grateful for, just going out there and making my time worth something

I have a story from the Colorado Renaissance festival too! When I was twelve, my parents took me and when I bent over to tie my shoes, my mom smacked my butt so hard that I faceplanted and busted my nose. She felt pretty bad lol 😂

The bristol ren fair in Wisconsin is by far the best faire I've been too!

I've always enjoyed, as a customer, renfairs. Never considered working at one, but my friend has. They're fun to visit for an afternoon, and I love seeing costumes and showing off my own.

Thanks, I'll be praying 🙏for your health. Much love to you, and you are an amazing person!! Never forget that🙂

You're adorable. Thank you for the stories, they're magical!

I commend you for having your boundaries and sticking to them, though it's still baffling to me how backwards the regulations are in the US regarding drinking. Pretty sure in most other countries everyone can drink at 18 and buy light alcohol (

I have never met you or have seen any of your other videos but I wanted to tell you how adorable you are and how much I enjoy your personality. You really sparkle so I will have to look through what other content you share with us. thanks for the great and fun video about the Ren Faires

Wow!! You have an amazing voice!! I wasn't expecting that.

My mom worked our local Renfaire for most of my life, so I kinda grew up in the back of an alestand. I worked one year when I was 17 and yeah... very much an awakening and oh geez were there lots of totally inappropriate things. Like even though I was camping with my mom and after hours we had to stick together, my shift at my booth was only half the day so I had far too much time to run around on my own and get into trouble. I worked the puzzle boxes booth, and my "oh you're so creative..." comment from patrons was "well I can open that with an axe heh heh heh" and my flirty hawking line was "come and see my most puzzling box in all the shire!"

I've been to exactly one Renaissance fair in my life and, while I enjoyed it and would do it again, I went for a specific purpose that ended up not happening there, so it could have been better. Ended up getting a sword though, so it was most definitely an absolute win.

I’m glad to hear the Colorado Renaissance Festival is still Kickin, I had the best time going to that when I was growing up

My ex taught me where every woman should carry knives in costume. I taught her that guys should stand up for guys throwing people over their shoulders if they don’t want it. Carried that forward to my wife, who is a horse girl. She snorts in amusement. “M’Laird, I handle a thousand pound beast... and our horse... I think I could toss HIM well enough!” 😆😂🤣