2010 Texas Ren Fest closing weekend

[Zardoz]

Well, all good things come to an end, and last Saturday (11/27) was our last trip to TRF, and the closing "Celtic Christmas" weekend for the 2010 36th Annual Texas Renaissance Festival.

It was a very nice day, cool and sunny, great faire weather, except that it brought out over 37,000 people, making the grounds too crowded IMO.

Anyway, we mostly ran around seeing some freinds we might not see till next year, etc.. But I got a few good photos, here we go....


Right in the gate we see our friend Sholo the Moor, who guards the festival.


And see a kilt don't... although I guess tights are one way to deal with the 40 degree (F) temps that morning.


Our friend Taarna the Ice Queen was out, this lady's husband is doing his part in Iraq right now.


We ran into X-Marker Jack Daw.






Herding Cats 2010 Holiday edition, the Clan group photo...


One of Santa's helpers...



We had a great season this year, although I have concerns that the crowds at TRF are reaching the point where they are sometimes having a negative impact on my enjoyment of the faire. This topic was discussed a lot this year, we'll see what happens.

[Chas]

Great pictures - as always. Everybody seems so full of life!

Regards

Chas

[English Bloke]

You two look great. Glad you enjoyed it despite the crowds. Must be a popular doo!

[Tobus]

I have concerns that the crowds at TRF are reaching the point where they are sometimes having a negative impact on my enjoyment of the faire.

This year was my first to TRF in about a decade. I was surprised at how crowded it was, and I have to say it was not as enjoyable because of it. The weekend I was there (Highland Fling), I would say that the crowds were busy enough that it was still enjoyable, but much more than that, and it would just be too much.

What do you think they'll do, if anything? Expand?

[Jack Daw]

This year was my first to TRF in about a decade. I was surprised at how crowded it was, and I have to say it was not as enjoyable because of it. The weekend I was there (Highland Fling), I would say that the crowds were busy enough that it was still enjoyable, but much more than that, and it would just be too much.

What do you think they'll do, if anything? Expand?

I think they could expand. There was a lot of unused parking rows that could be converted to new faire space, if needed. But frankly, I don't mind the crowds on the grounds at all - it indicates success, even during tough economic times. What they do need to do is to organize the logistics of getting the vehicles out of the faire at the end of ther day a lot faster.

[Zardoz]

I think they could expand. There was a lot of unused parking rows that could be converted to new faire space, if needed. But frankly, I don't mind the crowds on the grounds at all - it indicates success, even during tough economic times. What they do need to do is to organize the logistics of getting the vehicles out of the faire at the end of ther day a lot faster.

I guess I shouldn't complain about the success of my home faire, but shouldering through like 35,000 people is starting to wear on me a little... I'm not agoraphobic at all, but sometimes I just want out of there.

For a little perspective; The faireground has not grown in physical size since the 90's, 5 or 6 years ago a "busy" Saturday was 19-20,000 folks and the faire had like 260,000 total over the 7 weekends. Based on that, in 2005 the 'powers that be' thought the faire could support an 8th weekend.

The second year after the 8th weekend was added, 2006, year totals were over 300,000 and have risen steadily every year, to almost 412,000 in 2009.

I have not got a look at the final numbers, but I think it's safe to say we're looking at total of over 470,000 folks this year.

I think a few extra acres, and some effort to clear some of the bottlenecks in the current set-up would be a big improvement.

*EDIT: This years total was total was 449,786. Black Friday had half the crowd as last year. If it had not been cold and rainy in Houston (didn't rain at the faire) on that Friday morning, there might have been another 15,000 folks.*

[Tobus]

What they do need to do is to organize the logistics of getting the vehicles out of the faire at the end of ther day a lot faster.

You sure said a mouthful there! We spent two hours in the parking lot, trying to get out. Traffic was backed up so badly that we just couldn't move. People were cutting through, looking for alternative ways to get out. There was no coordination, ineffectual traffic control, and several instances of people nearly getting into fistfights. It was, by all definitions, a cluster****. In retrospect, we should have just brought some food and drink, and hung out in the lot until the traffic cleared.

It would be nice to see them expand, but even as it is now, the grounds are so large that it's nearly impossible to take it all in over the course of a single day. We were there from the opening of the gates until the closing, and we still didn't get to visit all the vendors or take in very many of the shows/performances. I guess we'll have to make it a Saturday/Sunday visit next year.

[Kiltboy]

We had a great season this year, although I have concerns that the crowds at TRF are reaching the point where they are sometimes having a negative impact on my enjoyment of the faire....

I attended for the first time, two weekends ago. A tremendous space and very organized. But I have to agree about the crowds. I enjoyed myself until about 2pm, when the crowds became so large, I could barely walk. If you go in the future, go very early. Oh, and it's very kilt friendly.

[Jack Daw]

I attended for the first time, two weekends ago. A tremendous space and very organized. But I have to agree about the crowds. I enjoyed myself until about 2pm, when the crowds became so large, I could barely walk. If you go in the future, go very early. Oh, and it's very kilt friendly.

Yeah, it's gonna get to the point where nobody goes anymore because it's always too crowded.

[Highlander31]

Z, once again you have given us a nice photo tour.