Midwest Chick's Place

(A.K.A. Non-Original Rants)

–Co-opting good stuff from all over the ‘Net and maybe some original thoughts—ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

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Because Renaissance Faires are not Kink-Fests

In Maryland, furries are no longer welcome at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. The main reason for this change is due to complaints by other festival goers who are not feeling comfortable around them.

I am absolutely certain that furries have been going to Ren Fests for a while and, as long as they behaved (as in just walked around like any other attendee) there was no issue.

I will say, because I’ve seen it in other places, that their behavior has become more sexualized in the past few years. And that’s probably what’s causing the issue. (Full disclosure, furries squick me the fuck out–can’t stand them).

I’ve seen analogs to this, such as a dude in a blonde wig with platform heels, white tutu dress, and white thigh high stockings with little pink bows and a parasol sashaying around a modern medieval village.

There’s also this problem:

One of the issues that non-furry attendees highlighted is furries giving “unauthorized performances” at the festival and pose as paid cast members. The rules state that visitors “should not engage/entertain” others and that the dress code prohibits “musical instruments, hula hoops or other items that could be used in a performance.”

Because the last thing the organizers need is the liability issue as well.

There’s kids at Ren Faires. Lots of them. And parents are not taking them to the Faire to see a bunch of furries or to see other fetish folks letting their freak flag fly in a completely inappropriate environment.

They want jousting and huzzahs and to have a turkey leg and hear a bunch of bad British accents.

So yeah, there needs to unfortunately be a ban hammer on this stuff. I’m just surprised that they are doing it.

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Midwest Chick

8 responses to “Because Renaissance Faires are not Kink-Fests”

  1. Don Curton Avatar
    Don Curton

    I’ve heard that the after-hours party at the local Renn Faire are quite, umm, wild. That said, the daytime hours when I’ve taken my family are usually pretty normal with some shows borderline PG13 and the rest just good wholesome fun.

    Reply
  2. Nemo Avatar
    Nemo

    This is what happens when “tolerance” is applied to everyday life.

    Reply
  3. boneman1959 Avatar
    boneman1959

    Used to attend one of the original fairs in Sterling Forest (tuxeo park) NY. It’s been a while for sure and back then the odd attendees in full Klingon Regalia were certainly out of place.

    Not sure “Furries” were a thing back then.

    Last fair I attended was the Riverdale Kiwanis Ren Festival at Lakes Park in Ft. Myers… maybe 10 years ago. Don’t recall any furries there either.

    Hopefully the “Furry” edicts will hold as truth be told, I seriously doubt they were in existence during the Renassaince.

    I’ve been trying to get to another… but none in Florida are local to me any more.

    Reply
  4. TRoy Avatar
    TRoy

    Is there an appropriate environment to fly the “freak flag”? I would say no.

    Reply
  5. Gary Moore Avatar
    Gary Moore

    Speaking as a lifelong Maryland resident, I have attended MDRF (Maryland Renaissance Festival) on and off since it was 10 years old so that was in 86. The attraction is a chance to dress up like you think people did in that era. And yes the number of Pirate costumes did explode when that movie came out. There have always been some that took it as a chance to do the fantasy/sci fi dress up . There are always a fair number of Doctor Who’s that show up but time travel, and a few superheroes that can do that. But it was more in the late 2000’s say around 2010 when the “furries” started to show up, you can accept some in the spirit of say the original fairy tails (Brothers Grimm) and your big bad wolves. And we do have what is called the “Day of Wrong” which is the last day the fair is open where it was accepted that any costume is ok. But the “furries” got brazen and started acting out their fantasies trying to get people to join in. But they are not accepted performers and by doing things as such can cause a lot of liability issues if they act like they are employed by the festival and hurt someone. They say very plainly in all the information and when buying tickets that you may not act as a performer (exceptions are when acts ask for volunteers) and as such if you are caught doing street performances you can and will be ejected. I have seen someone dressed as a Monk going abound and preaching, while it might be a place that needs Jesus that was still a big no no. We attend to see people we see maybe once a year, to drink adult beverages, to sing slightly bawdy songs, see people do daring deeds of dare and take in a show. Lately it has become the “in” thing as the tic-tok influencers have “discovered this fun new thing ( is there anything more annoying than an “influencer”?) and as such they go around filming to get likes and that has emboldened the “furries” as there is nothing it seems more interesting to the influencer than people doing things in public that they should not do. Most of the people I know at the fest (I have made friends with quite a number of the performers and some of the regulars) are of the opposite political view and except for a few jokes we have an unspoken understanding that when we are in Revel Grove that there is no Democrat and no Republicans we are all subjects of King Henry VIII, and we get along but I know that while they may accept that kind of stuff out in the world they feel that our home of Revel Grove should be about what unites us not about the things forced into our lives by those with an agenda. The Festival has every right to decide what they will allow, it recent years they have restricted open containers of liquid coming in from outside, weapons of ANY type real or toy and just this year the removed the free seniors day because of crowd size (many don’t know that it is tons of free will between the owners and the people on the surrounding land that allows the long traffic back ups to get in) They want an enjoyable time for all not a blatant in your face and values freak show for a select few. They have Artisans, Musicians, Actors, Craftsmen, Instructional shows, Interactive shows it is a way to include those willing to experience a different time and not be confronted by the average day down in Dupont Circle.

    Reply
  6. wheels Avatar
    wheels

    The first Renaissance Faire I attended was held north of San Francisco in 1975. It was exactly what you’d expect from the label.

    I’ve been living in Colorado for over 40 years now, and have attended the one in Larkspur a number of times. I don’t remember seeing any furries (thankfully), but I’ve seen both Klingons and Imperial Storm Troopers more recently. Personally, I believe that a Ren Faire is an inappropriate venue for such costumes. Hearing a wandering minstrel immediately start playing the Imperial March on his mandolin in response to the Storm Troopers was entertaining, though.

    Reply
  7. streetdog16b271a192e Avatar
    streetdog16b271a192e

    America is descending into madness. Enjoy the decline.

    Reply
  8. Old NFO Avatar
    Old NFO

    Never got into the whole SCA thing, much less the ‘other’ kinks… Too much to deal with in real life, and travel all the time.

    Reply

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