Idaho Renaissance Faire INC does not require your booth to be decorated, or you to be in costume. However, we do recommend that you do. Dressing up in a costume and decorating your booth can make things much more fun for you and your patrons. By dressing up your booth you continue the immersive element of the Faire.
The following excerpts are from a book titled "A Guide to Renaissance Faire and Themed Festivals" by Don Carson, and is being used with his permission.
Each event carries its own weather considerations. The following are things that you could encounter and some possible mitigation procedures. As always Idaho Renaissance Faire INC cannot be held accountable for loss of inventory based on weather patterns, so plan appropriately.
Our 1st event, SKAL, is taking place in January. With that said, it would not be abnormal for snow to fall during this event. Snow presents a set of issues that are similar to rain, in that your product may get wet, and/or damaged if not properly protected. Weatherproofing your tents is a good idea for any outdoor event. but with the possibility of snow it is a must!
Whether or not it Snows at SKAL it will definitely be cold. And not just at SKAL. We have had freezing weather at Beltane Fantasy Festival, and at The Idaho Renaissance Faire as well. Dressing warm and having the proper tent styles will help to prevent the cold from getting into your spaces.
For your costumes, adding extra layers will help to insulate and keep the warmth in, while looking more period appropriate. Furs will also do the same if you have them.
For your booths the pvc/vinyl coverings of most storebought 10X10 pop up tents is not enough to prevent the cold. Canvas is a heavier alternative, but it holds the warmth in better. If you wish you may have a small firepit in your booth as well, but only if it is raised off the ground, and a fire extinguisher is to hand. If you plan on a fire pit, you must carry insurance as noted on the insurance page. Other forms of heaters are also allowed, but as stated in other places you are responsible for your own fuel/power requirements.
Our events are rain or shine events. We may cancel or close gates early in extreme weather conditions (as during Beltane 2023), but outside of the extremes we will be open. Please take the proper precautions to protect your product and the inside of your space. Canvas tents are excellent for this, but if you only have a pop up, other methods of mitigation are possible. When putting two (or more) pop ups together a rain gutter, cut to length, and hung between the two canopies will help prevent the rain from entering your space. Added supports (pvc pipe, wooden dowel, etc...) can be placed to prevent the pooling of your vinyl cover which can cause an overweight issue and collapse the pop up. There are lots of ways to mitigate damage from rain, so feel free to use these, or to find ones that works for you!
Heat is another issue that can happen at our events. Again, the easiest method to mitigate this is with the proper materials. A canvas tent may hold heat in, but if set up properly can also have a great cooling effect. Your costumes also can be a factor here. Extra layers on your costumes can be used to create air flow if done right. As will the right fabrics. A period accurate costume will almost always be better suited to the weather than your typical jeans and t-shirt.
Wind has been a major factor at every event we have done. We have a perfect track record of at least one canopy being damaged, collapsing or some other catastrophic failure occurring due to wind, at every event we have held.
A canvas tent is less likely to collapse on you during a wind event, as proper staking is also required to hold the structure upright. But if you are using a pop-up canopy staking procedures are not always enough. These canopies and their frames are made with light weight, semi durable material, that bends and breaks easily. In addition to staking, weighting the legs, done individually, is extremely helpful in keeping the structure from moving. Also, over the top ties can be helpful to prevent an inverted umbrella effect from occurring.
The section above is informational only. In disclosing these tips and tricks, Idaho Renaissance Faire INC does NOT accept liability for the safety of your booth space, health, or inventory management.
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The Idaho Renaissance
Faire, Inc. is a
501(c)(3) non-profit
organization.
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