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
Good day! In case you want to hear about my 2025 Spring sojourns while you drive, mow or vacuum, you can follow this link. OR you can watch it and have a relaxation break. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzLLybQQ6vk
Well met! I have published Renfest Info And Fun Podcast # 10. It is an interview with Careena Campbell that I conducted a couple of years ago. Not only is she a Rennie, her alter ego can be found at Wren Fairy Cosplay on the Book of Faces . You can listen to the podcast on Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Amazon, Player FM and/or Podchaser. This podcast is another Easter egg for something coming in the near future. Stay tuned...
Oh, my! There will be a mid-week small, short Renfaire in Broken Arrow on Wednesday, June 4th. In Tulsa street terms, it will be on the southwest corner of 101st Street South & 145th East Avenue. If we can show the library system that they have something great on their hands, mayhems they will move it to a weekend... https://www.facebook.com/events/640413532326316/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mec...
Seeking adventure this weekend? Well, look no further than the Bluffwoods Renaissance Festival in Saint Joseph, Missouri. (It's about an hour north of Kansas City.) I can ensure that you will have a great time at this event. Good music, jousting and great vendors abound! Huzzah! www.bluffwoodsrenfest.com
Good day, fyne people. You can find Renfest Info And Fun podcast # 9 now on Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Amazon, Player FM and/or Podchaser. This podcast with Dan Zielinski of the Jenks Planetarium discusses how many people in the Medieval & Renaissance times depended on tracking the stars to survive. Have you heard of Copernicus? His contribution to earth is discussed as well. He was definitely a rebel who feared for his life due to his discovery. Feel free to tune in & I wish you faire travels to your next event!
Greetings & salutations. You can find Renfest Info And Fun podcast # 8 on on Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Amazon, Player FM and/or Podchaser. The 8th episode contains nautical music. It is a tribute to Jesse Linder, Bard who talked of making a nautical cd in 2019 but was not able to do so before he passed. I put songs in it from several artists for your listening pleasure. I hope that you enjoy it.
Good day! And so it was that Renfest Info And Fun Podcast # 7 was posted. It contains tips on running your own Renaissance Faire during the weekend it occurs. 'Tis a crossover from my video on YouTube from almost 2 years ago. I plan to bring more NEW content to my podcast this month as well as over the summer. You can find my podcasts on Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Amazon, Player FM and/or Podchaser. Enjoy these breaks from the Rat Race. Huzzah!
Need something to listen to on the way to a Renfest this spring? The 6th Renfest Info And Fun podcast has been published. It's an edited version of my FB Live interview with Holly Anne Black who is an organizer of the The Narnia Faire coming May 9 - 10 to Fordland, MO & September 26 - 28 to Fayetteville, AR. I edited out the connectivity issues that plagued us while using FB. The interview is also available on my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOEeZOaM4vM
Good day! Renfest Info And Fun Podcast # 5 has been posted. It contains tips on how to plan ahead in holding your own Renaissance Faire. It is a crossover from my video on YouTube from almost 2 years ago. I plan to bring BRAND NEW content to my podcast very soon. (That being a difficult task in the middle of Renfaire season since I am blessed to be able to travel to so many of them.) You can find my podcasts on Apple, iHeart, Podbean, Amazon, Player FM and/or Podchaser.
Do you have a quest to better afford trips to Renfaires? Here are 8 great ways to be able to save money on such journeys. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAWtLxeM5Lk