Renaissance fairs are an American thing. They don’t exist in the UK.
I don’t know the UK, so I might be wrong, but it’s not an US only thing (beside the naming).
I’ve seen various form of medieval markets/festivals on several continental Europe countries, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t cross the channel. Even though, Historical re-enactment is a niche hobby, it’s not that uncommon to find group focused on the a given historical period caring a lot about the details, no matter if they re-enact the Viking, The crusade, or Napoleon’s army (If you visit Belgium during the Waterloo battle anniversary, you can see these groups re-enacting the battle). LARP is also a thing in the whole western Europe, it’s way less realistic as we do have elves and orcs, the biggest worldwide runs in Germany Trailer and UK has also some big ones and a lot of smaller ones.
So I’m sorry to disagree with your claim
makyo@lemmy.world 8 months ago
You say that very confidently and are pretty well upvoted but I found several in a quick search:
jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk tewkesburymedievalfestival.org fantasyforest.co.uk www.renaissancefaire.co.uk
Emperor@feddit.uk 8 months ago
You can find any number of re-enactment events/groups across the UK from Romans to Vikings to the Sealed Knot to WW2. For most of those Medieval festivals, especially the ones celebrating an event or place (second and fourth links - the first and fourth aren’t relevant to this), it tends to be a more touristy event rather than one visitors would get dressed up and involved in (until recently with the US influence).
Summer Court Renaissance Fair claims to be one of the first US-style ren fairs:
9point6@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Definitely this, until apparently the one you’ve just linked, they didn’t exist in the American sense here. The closest you would get here before was out of work actors adding a bit of flavour to some otherwise-a-bit-dull landmarks or historically important places. And even then that wasn’t super common.
I always saw the American style as basically a medieval themed Butlins experience. Pure entertainment rather than something ostensibly intended to be educational.
Emperor@feddit.uk 8 months ago
That’s it, the earlier ones were awfully dull and worthy and the Ren Fair influence has made it more fun, with visitors now encouraged to dress up and get involved. I wasn’t joking when I described them as Medieval cosplay.
It’s a bit like how British comic conventions became Comic Cons - back in the day they were a few drafty halls in some relic of the Industrial Revolution or musty spaces in run-down hotels. Now they are Nerdvana, colliding with the old memorabilia shows of yesteryear where you could get a handful of old Doctors to sign something for a few quid and now have to throw a nought on the end of that. If you are lucky you’ll still find some actual comics tucked away in a side room where they won’t embarrass the starts of that sci-fi show that was slightly popular for a couple of years in the mid-80s.
OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social 8 months ago
Is this 'renaissance fair' branding is a new thing? I did a few historical/fantasy weekend larps when I was younger but they were never called 'renaissance fairs'.
Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 months ago
Renaissance Faires are a more casual event versus LARPs. It’s usually for families. Some people do dress up but it’s not expected. Usually you just go for a few hours, watch a joust, do some shopping, and eat a turkey leg.
HamSwagwich@showeq.com 8 months ago
Don’t forget the Scotch egg!
andrewta@lemmy.world 8 months ago
In Minnesota US they’ve been around since September 11, 1971
Hogger85b@kbin.social 8 months ago
I think larps are slightly different I would say https://loxwoodjoust.co.uk/immersive-festival/ where the visitors see the reenactors, and while some cosplay, the renenactment is a performance by a cast.
Where as LARP (e.g. Empire) is all the "visitors" are in the cast
harrywrecker@kbin.social 8 months ago
I've never heard of a renaissance fair over here. And one of the examples you give, jorvik viking festival, is surely set several centurias before the renaissance.
IAmDotorg@lemmy.world 8 months ago
All Renaissance fairs are really medieval fairs.
They ended up called Renaissance Fairs because a radio ad exec in California thought it was a more broadly appealing name when the first one was held, and it stuck.
OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social 8 months ago
I've wondered about the name for a while, thanks for explaining!
pandarisu@lemmy.world 8 months ago
They might exist, but they aren’t widely known about like they are in the USA
lapislazuli@sopuli.xyz 8 months ago
“Rwy’n hoffi chi. Dych chi eisiau mynd i’r caffi gyda mi am baned o goffi?”
=
“I like you. Do you want to go to a café with me to have a cup of coffee?”
I’m still learning Welsh, so this might contain mistakes, but it’s better than saying you don’t understand her… For future reference, you know.
squaresinger@feddit.de 8 months ago
You call a fantasy event a renaissance festival?
makyo@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Arguable but the last time I was at the RenFest in Larkspur, there were Jedi and Star Fleet officers there.
squaresinger@feddit.de 8 months ago
That’s the big difference between the US ren faires and the European ones.
The ones over here are usually organized by castle museums or therelike, so in general, they are quite grounded in reality.
You might have a herb witch or something like that over here, but you won’t have dragons, magic or Disney present there.
ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 8 months ago
Today I learned, people who lived in the medieval ages were big fans of Star Wars and Star Trek.
OurTragicUniverse@kbin.social 8 months ago
I've seen and read a fair bit online about your american renaissance fairs and you have a lot of fantasy cosplayers who go to them.
Hogger85b@kbin.social 8 months ago
https://loxwoodjoust.co.uk/immersive-festival/ I think is closest to American ren faire.