A Passionate Post About Oklahoma's Only OPEN Medfaire This Year
Craigmeister • September 6, 2020
Here's a letter I was asked to post about the only Medieval Faire that WILL HAPPEN in Oklahoma in 2020. It's filled with the heart and soul that many of us feel about this frustrating year. Won't you patrons, performers and vendors join us in Glenpool the first weekend of November, even if for just this one time? It could be epic!
Hi - my name is Tina Nettles, and I have a friend who runs a Medieval Faire in Glenpool (formerly Kiefer) every year. I’m not in any way a legal representative of the King’s Medieval Faire nor am I employed by them. I’m just a friend of the owner / manager of it. But I wanted to reach out to you and all the other canceled faires and events from 2020 to suggest an idea.
I don’t want to step on toes. I don’t want to try to steal YOUR acts, vendors, or employees away from YOUR FAIRES and FESTIVALS I’m not in any way an official contact. Please understand this.
During the summer, the Tulsa City County Library couldn’t hold its usual in-person summer reading program events for kids. So I volunteered late this spring to produce 26 short videos and interviews with ren-faire / med-faire musicians, artisans, and other entertainers for the library to release each week on their website, so kids would still have fun and entertaining things to look forward to all summer, attending a “virtual” faire.
Do you know what I found out during that time? These faire entertainers and craftsmen are HURTING this year. I’m guessing that you are too. Sales are WAY down while there are no live, in-person events, and without the energy that comes from meeting patrons face to face at faires.
Ancient arts aren’t being practiced, as the practicers of these arts are working mundane jobs instead. Everyone’s a little sad, not to get to see old friends every month or two on the faire circuit. Everyone’s a little worried about what the future looks like for festivals of all sorts.
So I have a little bit of good news. As of right now, my friend says that Glenpool has not canceled the King’s Medieval Faire, the first weekend in November. To my knowledge it’s the only medieval / renaissance faire to go on as planned in Northeast Oklahoma, in the entirety of 2020. She’s still accepting applications from vendors, people eager to get out of their houses, garb-up, and have a faire.
I know there’s nothing in the budget right now to pay for a bunch of extra acts, but I suspect that if you are a comedy act, a musical act, a jousting act, swordsmen, pirates, bellydancers, vikings, fairies, mermaids, falconers, harpists, dancers… or any kind of renaissance performer whatsoever, and you wanted to get on the schedule for November, to just dust of your garb, to bring an instrument, sell some beautiful things you make, you’d be welcome.
This could be historic. The ONLY medieval / renaissance faire in all of 2020 in this area. The ONLY one. Even if you wanted to just come as a patron, you are welcome. Please, let’s get together and just enjoy doing what we do.
If you are interested in renting a booth, or getting an unpaid slot on the entertainment calendar, please visit King’s Medieval Faire on facebook, and message her.
Guys, this is as much to cheer her up as you. This has been a rough year all the way around for every one of us. And our patrons. And YOUR patrons. We all deserve something good, safely distanced, but really really good, to show for 2020.
Remember, after the plague comes the Renaissance!
Also of note, Glenpool is allowing her to have a Christmas Market for makers, every weekend from mid-November in the same location (Black Gold Park right on highway 75 in Glenpool) until close to Christmas. If you sell something wonderful and would like to be a part, even if it’s just for this year, get your name on the calendar for this opportunity. 2020 doesn’t have to be a total loss for any of us. We’ll get through this together. It’s been said a million times, but it’s true. Let’s not let all of 2020 be stolen from us. It’s time for a little joy and revelry, don’t you think?
-Tina Nettles
patron
The Medieval Fair of Norman is coming next Friday - Sunday, April 10 - 12. Huzzah! One of the stars of the event is Bob the Incredible Juggler. If you would like to get to know Bob a little, tune into the Renfest Info And Fun Podcast number 11 from last summer. I can promise you lots of insight and laughs. You can find my podcast on Podbean, Amazon, Player FM, iHeart, Apple and/or Podchaser.
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If you would like to watch a revealing of what faire events are coming in & around Oklahoma this spring on your smart t.v., listen via your phone while driving or if you missed my book of faces post last Saturday, you can now check it out on YouTube. (It has a catchy intro & outtro theme as well that I love for this early time of the year.) I can't wait to get into the lanes! Just 2 more weeks! Dilly dilly! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W86VxZYr3g4&t=23s
Good day! Renfest season is rapidly approaching. Huzzah! I have published Renfest Info And Fun Podcast # 22 for your musical pleasure. I hope it can keep you in a Rennish mood as we prepare to return to the gates. You can find Episode 22 on Podbean, Amazon, Player FM, iHeart, Apple and/or Podchaser.
Huzzah! My most recent interview was with Kevin Hicks. I have tuned in to his YouTube channel "The History Squad" for years to learn about archers in the English Army. He also has stories about European royalty, Joan of Arc, a bit about The Cold War and even some American History. His videos are sure to draw viewers in because he makes history FUN! He has had many fun jobs, including portraying Robin Hood at the REAL Sherwood Forest and an archer at Warwick Castle. This podcast will be well worth your time. You can find this interview on the Renfest Info And Fun Podcast episode 2026 21. It is available on Podbean, Amazon, Player FM, iHeart, Apple and/or Podchaser. You can also watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPKNZiuTwKo
Good day! I was privileged 2 days ago with a return visit by Careena Campbell (see dryad above) who runs the Wrenfairy Cosplay book of faces page. She is a very busy lady and provides an update on the many things that she is working on these days. You can find this interview on the Renfest Info And Fun Podcast episode 2026 20. It is available on Podbean, Amazon, Player FM, iHeart, Apple and/or Podchaser. You can also watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyruu6eSYfg
Happy New Year, one and all! Here is the link to what I created in the Fall of 2026, places I visited and a hint of what is to come in 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DROPAu-cUvQ
Good day! I have published Renfest Info And Fun Podcast # 19. 'Tis an interview with my good friends, EZNDIL. I hope you enjoy this hour-long trek into their past, present and future. There are many laughs and insights. A nicer & funnier couple are hard to find. You can find Episode 19 on Podbean, Amazon, Player FM, iHeart, Apple and/or Podchaser. (I re-recorded my Public Service Announcement # 6 in this cast. The ironic thing about it is that I originally made it on the boardwalk at the Oklahoma Renfest about 25 yards from Ezndil's stage a few years ago.)
Were YOU at The Medieval Fair of Norman in its early days? I hear tell that it was by the Duck Pond. I am anxious to find out about what went on back then. There's a Zoom link in the Details page of the event. I plan to tune in this Friday evening. Huzzah! https://www.facebook.com/events/1147838004139580/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D
I can now present the large project I have been working on for a month & a half. I visited 11 parks in the Tulsa Metro area, making videos showing the amenities each would provide in holding a Renfaire in them. 'Tis high time that someone starts a Renfaire around Tulsa again. It is too large of a city not to have a Renfaire. 800,000 people live in the Metro! Catch just 1% of them & have 8,000 people walk through your gates. That would be a very successful starting faire! There are links to tips on a running a Renfaire in the video's description. Feel free to contact me if & when you decide to bring a Renfaire to Tulsa County. Some friends & I will be happy to assist you. Huzzah! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6wdSba0848&t=24s