Taking Kids to the Faire

[Bathsheba Khandayce]

Hi all,
I am so loving this new board. Thanks WebMistress of All She Surveys :smooch:

I have a question to anyone who has sheparded youngins to fair (& especially NYC's Tux Faire)
I am a member of my Churches youth ministry and I am taking our lovely little tykes on a fun filled summer day at the faire. (please note sarcasm...even though I just loves the youngins :haloslip: they do at times remind me of a tank of parannia (sp?))
Anywhoot, In your esteemable opinion what would be the best time to take them to faire. During one of the "School Days" set aside for educational types (more controlled environment et. al.) or just pick a day and pray for the best, or something else????
Thanks so much
BAthsheba joyfully contemplating herding wild beasts

[Belladonna]

I would recommend taking them on a school day. The parents would probably be more apt to let them go if they think that they are going to be getting an education, and it is more controlled at most faires.

My .02

[emalia]

when you bring them...............


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

be sure they aren't sick with the chicken pox!!!! Sorry.. That is how I got chicken pox 7 months ago is from someone letting their 'ickle runt come to school with the Pox on field trip tot he fesitval day....

[Tink]

I'd vote to take them on kids days....less for church going youngin's to relay to their parental units, if you know what I mean.

Controlled environment is best. Plus, at Tux it can get so crowded, you could easily lose one of the little buggers. Who needs *that* stress?

[Morte]

*thinks of herding a group of childer at faire and almost faints*

for what it's worth i think a "school" day would be best too... for all the above mentioned reasons (especially the potential lost kids and parents approval things) AND because i think the kids would be better able to enjoy it if they weren't "competing" so to speak with a crowd of adult fairegoers when watching performances etc... (since most kids aren't 6 foot plus!)

my .02 (always happy to share)

[Pamela, Strawberry Tart]

I know that NYRF does special School Days for groups, which may be worth checking into, if it's near your area. All of the REC faires do (I've been told) If not, check with your local faire management to see if they'd be willing to arrange something similar.

And as always, check with the parents. At my HS Reunion, I mentioned Renn faires to someone who was "Born Again" and she was horrified at the whole "heathen" aspect of it all...

[daBaroness]

OK - I'm going to be the spoiler here and disagree with the crowd. As a manager at KCRF I can tell you the day we ALL love to hate is Colombus Day - our kid's/school day :rant: . It's the most-dreaded faire day of the entire run - by everyone from vendors to performers - and here's why:

When groups of kids come to faire - they're generally placed into groups of 5-10 under the supervision of one adult - depending upon age. That's fine for most grade-school kids. However, the middle and high school kids figure they don't need chaperoning and most times they're either let go on free roam by the adults in their group - or they escape their captors and reign terror and mayhem on villagers and fairegoers alike. :moon:

Most adult patrons here in KC avoid kid day like the plague. Vendors are very careful about the merchandise they display and often hire extra help to keep an eye on potential thieves. Adult-type performers (Madame Red, etc.) take the day off more for their own protection than that of the little darlings. The pack mentality of young teens is quite frightening - I literally had to pull a group of 13- and 14-year-old girls off one of our performers - and most of them figure it's not cool to "play" so they do everything in their power to disrupt the performers. Depending on a number of factors - the show on kid's day is more a practice in survival than a show for the performers. Because there are so many kids - it's more difficult to single out individuals to interact with. :tantrum:

On the other hand - parents who bring their children on a regular faire day are generally a lot more satisfied with their experience. Many performers look for families with children to interact with - and here in KC we have a children's realm devoted entirely to children's shows and activities. The volunteers therein take over to show the kids a good time. :birthday: And parents who come to faire with their children generally keep a closer eye on them than a single chaperone can. They also can choose the shows they wish their children to see, the foods they want them to eat, and the items they purchase. A parent will spend far more on a "souvenir" for a child than they would if they just give the kid some money for a field trip.

Even if teens or preteens come with a parent and then separate from them - they behave better than they would if the parent is not readily accessible. They still have a good time and feel grown up, without the need to show off and get in trouble with their peers - and I think that keeps them safer in the long run.

My advice is to take your child on a regular faire day and be prepared to make it "kid day" for him or her. Make it a special day just for him or her - where you are their personal tour guide. They'll LOVE the attention and one-on-one time with you. If you're a sometimes patron - plan to go at least twice - once alone so you can wench and have some adult fun - and another time designated as kid/family day. If you're a regular faire goer - take your kid once or twice and leave the rest of the days as adult-only days. Or - if you're like me and work the faire - your kid becomes one of the villagers and makes his/herself at home. My 11-year-old knows everyone at KCRF and acts like he runs the place - I give him some money in the morning and I don't see him again until closing gate. But if I'm visiting another faire - he's right by my side.

So - that's my five-pence worth (inflation yanno). :bananada:

DB