There's something very special to me about "big faires" (Ok, these days more appropriately just termed "long run" faires) - it's where I started, and in many ways feels the most like what I think of Faire as being. I miss those days of being part of Santa Maria at Northern/Southern, or the Queens Guard, or St. George. I know even if I ever worked faire again it wouldn't really be the same, since as with all things it's changed over the years (both the culture of the performers as well as the audience). Not that it's at all changed for the worse, just that it would be different from what I remember in my minds eye from around the lake at San Bernadino, or walking the high road at Black Point.

I think that's rather the point to myself, one shouldn't try to recapture what things were like in a past experience. I think it tends to only set one up for frustration and generally disappointment. If one just goes into it trying to have a good time and experience, then it'll be better than trying to force it to be what your minds eye has as it's goal. Let's also not forget that those fond memories of faires long past are pretty rosy, and that doesn't always reflect how it really was at the time.

Anyway, back to the review - I got out there in the early afternoon, and the parking lots (both VIP and outer) were mostly full. From walking up from the car to the faire itself, one could hear the sounds of the crowds and the cheers inside, and it made for a great draw for people arriving after a long drive, knowing that something cool was ahead of them.

Inside the streets were bustling - not so bad that it was all a red zone, but enough that there was a great level of energy from performers and patrons alike. It's not that large of a site, actually, but when walking around it, from the twists and hills, it seems probably twice as large as it actually is. But the thick canopy of trees keeps the direct sun off in most places.

Kudos to the washer women around the well at the front gate, and to the constables. It's all about those characters that are in the streets that make the experience memorable.

I often wish we could get more of the long run vendors to the short run faires, but I appreciate the challenge (and the business problems). If for no other reason through, I keep on going back to casa for the shopping (as well as getting to see friends that I don't get to see for most of the rest of the year).

I did see the flying fairies, or whatever they were called, and didn't find them nearly as obtrusive as I'd seen originally posted about. It's unusual, but not obtrustive. I think people had more of a fit (and it was more odd looking) when the climbing wall first appeared out at the Nut Tree, but by now it's just an element of the faire. They had a nice crowd watching them, and the audience seemed to be enjoying themselves, so taken for that they should get a break by their detractors, give them a few years to see how they grow into the family out there. There have been other acts that have been tried over the years that just kept on failing miserably (anyone remember the stepford belly dancers) at fitting in. Time will tell.

But as for Casa as a faire at a high level, it was fun, and would look forward to visiting it again. As for the internal drama, I'd say again, I do believe that RenFaire is actually derived from a greek term meaning "high school drama". It's just a fact of life.