Myths & Reality

Welcome, on this page we dispell falsehoods and rumors about faire from all over the net. If you have read it or heard it, we can probably give you the straight scoop. Do you have any myths or rumors you want cleared up just head over to the Message Boards and ask.

  1. Does "the beer is in the pickup truck" mean 'the day is over it's time to go home'?
  2. You can carry a sword in MDRF if its peace tied.
  3. If you're not going to dress from head to foot, don't dress up.
  4. If you dress up in garb you will be treated differently at the faire.
  5. You cannot bring a flask or boda-bag filled with wine or liquor into faire.
  6. It is in the lease contract for the grounds that the MD Ren Fest has to be closed by 7PM.
  7. It is the 30th anniversary for the MD Ren Fest and it's the last year.
  8. There are people that live on the MDRF grounds year round and faire people are on site all the time.
  9. The BlackFox and Amras coined the term Mac-n-Crack for the Macaroni and Cheese on a stick at MDRF.
  10. Although playtrons don't get paid by the festival, there really is an "unspoken obligation" to act as though we are when in garb.
  11. Turkey Legs would not be available in Henry VIII's time but there'd be a remote chance of Elizabeth I tasting the rare meat.

1. Does "the beer is in the pickup truck" mean 'the day is over it's time to go home'?
No it doesn't. This phrase is used by some festival workers to get out of BFA (Basic Faire Accent). It is believed that you can't say the phrase while faking an English accent.
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2. You can carry a sword in MDRF if its peace tied.
No you cannot. No weapons of any kind (real or costume) are allowed in the festival, as a matter of fact when you buy a weapon at the festival it is wrapped and you are expected to take it to your car.
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3. If you're not going to dress from head to foot, don't dress up.
None of the staff can even come up with a remote reason behind this myth. Most rennies tend to buy thier garb in stages, a mug seems to be most common first step. For some it is a cloak or a tunic maybe even boots (there is nothing wrong with sneakers), you wear what you want to wear. Garb is very addictive and most die hards end up with a room full of clothing and accesories. There are those out there who mock people for many reasons, clothing is just one of them, our suggestion is just to avoid people who think "It's all or nothing!"
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4. If you dress up in garb you will be treated differently at the faire.
This one depends on what you mean by "treated differently". You won't be allowed backstage and you won't get any discounts. Performers probably won't pick you as a volunteer for thier shows. The biggest difference you will notice is that people who are new to faire will you ask questions like you are the information booth.
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5. You cannot bring a flask or boda-bag filled with wine or liquor into faire.
100% true, you cannot bring any alcohol into or out of the faire, just like a baseball or football game. It is a matter of law not rules, the faire can lose thier liquor license for this behavior.
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6. It is in the lease contract for the grounds that the MD Ren Fest has to be closed by 7PM.
Regardless of contract, many people are there starting from 7-8AM and want to go home, most employees including security are on hourly wages, and it is much harder to clear the parking lot out after dark as seen in October. Anyone who forgot where they parked in the field when it's dark can attest to this. Safety is also a big priority.
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7. It is the 30th anniversary for the MD Ren Fest and it's the last year.
Yes and No respectively. It is the 30th anniversary and it is not the last year, period. Back

8. There are people that live on the MDRF grounds year round and faire people are on site all the time.
Well seeing as the grounds are owned by private landowners, there are people who live in the homes on either side of the site. So anyone else who goes into the site during the year is trespassing. There are security measures set up to make sure no one goes into the site off season, or without permission during the festival.
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9. The BlackFox and Amras coined the term Mac-n-Crack for the Macaroni and Cheese on a stick at MDRF.
Yet another one that is nothing more then a boastful claim from someone who has no association with the festival other then paying for a ticket. This is not true, as a matter of fact Mac-n-Crack was so named by Mark & Gary, the vendor who sells it in "Shrek Village" (the food area at MDRF that looks like a scene out of Shrek) back in 2001, years before the BlackFox and Amras ever met.
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10. Although playtrons don't get paid by the faire, there really is an "unspoken obligation" to act as though we are when in garb.
Sometimes the admins get a giggle at the types of things people come up with. You do not and should not act like you work at the faire in garb or out. What should be said here is that you should act like a respectful and responsible person no matter where you are or what you are wearing. This is simple common descency, if someone asks you for directions you tell them. Be nice no matter where or who you are.
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11. Turkey Legs would not be available in Henry VIII's time but there'd be a remote chance of Elizabeth I tasting the rare meat.
Thanks to Deuce for researching this one, we can tell you that this is not true. Turkies although rare could have been around during King Henry's time although they would most likely have been reserved for the upper class and royalty alone. For more info read what Deuce posted on the Boards.
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