A Tribute to Texas Renaissance Festival

From the onset of the Sherwood dream, faire was about community—about the clans, the gatherings, the shared vision. It was about the fire circles, the potluck dinners, the communion at the Seven Sisters. It was about much more than the business of Faire. And over time, it incorporated Summer Camp and the Celtic Music Festival and Highland Games. But still, the experience was about attempting to create a place, experiences, and an atmosphere that encompassed a sense of belonging and comradery. Sherwood was to be a place similar to an artist’s blank canvas where everyone who wanted to be a part of COMMUNITY would have their own paint brush to add to the collective collage that would evolve over time.

It seems appropriate to put our recent Covid 19 Safety Plan in the context of the origins of Sherwood.

When we were preparing to open Sherwood in 2021, after all of us having endured the ravages of the pandemic, we drew a panel of volunteers to the table—consisting of patrons, clan leaders, merchants, entertainers, and management. Our goal was to examine what would be the best plan that all of us around a table could get behind and support … one that would forward the objectives of operating an outdoor venue safely and in accordance with the CDC recommendations. It was not going to be a political decision. It was not going to be a financial decision. It was to be a safety plan that would focus on the health and well-being of our patrons, our participants, and our staff—and still be an event that folk could enjoy and celebrate.

After weeks of zoom meetings and listening to all who participated, we arrived at a plan that we thought was reasonable and would meet the overall safety and health concerns.

I must digress a bit to discuss community.

Since our species moved from hunters and gatherers into communities, we set forth what the thinkers of the enlightenment coined “Social Contracts”—the agreements we would work under to live together. Different tribes formed different terms—different laws. But in general, there was a common thread—what would be in the most functional, best interest of the majority—what would work for the common good while allowing society AND the individual to grow and prosper.

Society from its origins set rules and expectations.

Eventually, those were encoded into laws.

It was a “give and take” scenario…again based upon what was best for us living in a community. Some would not agree and go their separate ways…either to live outside of community, or to form or join societies that better met their own beliefs and mores.

Tribes formed. City-states arose. Eventually, national identities took shape around various philosophies or perspectives of groups of common minded people.

But in all circumstances where society and community prospered, there were written and unwritten social contracts that outlined what values the community held—defining where the individual’s desires and wants would give way to the overall good of the group.

So as others have done in times of danger or emergency or public crisis, we gathered to determine what we could and should do in amidst the Covid pandemic.

When faced with a crisis—war, terrorism, smallpox, polio outbreak, and the like—we have come together to decide on a course of action that will best protect our society, our community. And at times, we sacrifice freedoms, we forego plans, we defer gratification, for the benefit our family and friends and fellow citizens.

Again, our decision in implementing the Covid-19 Safety Plan was not politically motivated or swayed by anything except what we as a group thought would be in the best health and safety interest of our community.

And the plan Sherwood presented was a consensus.

Then we approached the clan leaders because the Prime Directive (mask mandate and social distancing) would have some changes to previous year camping experience. The reaction of the clan leaders was heart-felt and touching. The support to the Safety Plan was accepted. The overall attitude was vocalized so beautifully by one clan leader, “We will embrace this plan and agree to follow its edicts for the good of our community; but in 2022, we plan to party like there is no tomorrow out here.”

So, there it is in its origins, its purpose and goal—temporary requirement to mandate masks and socially distance.   And we believe Faire can still be exciting, meaningful and a profound statement that while Covid may cause us to restrict a few of our otherwise normal activities, for the good Sherwood, for the good of the Sherwood community, for all our brothers and sisters who might not have the vaccine in time, for all who might be immunocompromised, we will follow the Prime Directive—believing each other’s health is worthy of the minimal inconvenience. We will lay aside our political persuasions for the greater good (and actual survival) of each other for this one season.

Isn’t that what the symbols of the Seven Sisters, the Fire Circle, the Clans, have all been about? Bringing our best to each other!!!

We understand some who will stay away out of protest. We understand some will stay away for criticism we have not done enough. We understand the inconvenience. But we believe it is the most moral and responsible action we can take to protect our community.

We ask each of you to offer some understanding that we made this decision collectively and in hopes we could pull off a masked event that would be meaningful, responsible, and fun.

Join in the story line of Robin Hood!!! Join us this season in revelry, music and fun—think of it as a Sherwood Forest Faire masquerade.

Rengypsy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                

Sherwood Forest Faire Announces Temporary Closure

Popular Festival Ceases Operation in Response To Emergency Declaration

McDade, Texas (March 16, 2020) – Sherwood Forest Faire, the popular medieval entertainment event outside of Austin, Texas, has announced it will cease operation in response to the Emergency Declaration issued by Bastrop County Judge Paul Pope.

“The health and welfare of our patrons and participants is always our foremost concern,” said George Appling, founding partner of Sherwood Forest Faire, LLC. “We will comply and cooperate with all local, state, and federal directives and try to do everything we can to support our community during this unprecedented health event.”

The Faire is suspending operations during the fourth week of its eight-weekend season. It has not been determined at this point whether the event will be cancelled outright. “Since there is no solid determination of how long this emergency declaration will last, we have not made the decision to outright cancel the event,” said Appling

Patrons who have purchased tickets for upcoming weekends should contact the Sherwood Forest Faire offices by email at info@SherwoodForestFaire.com or by calling their offices at 512-222-6680.

About Sherwood Forest Faire

Named one of the “Best Renaissance Fairs In The U.S.” by TravelAwaits.com , Sherwood Forest Faire, LLC offers a wide variety of medieval and Celtic themed events year-round. Established in 2008, Sherwood Forest Faire, the company’s signature event, now attracts over 100,000 visitors each year to its 162-acre village and campground in McDade, Texas. In addition, Sherwood Forest also provides unique summer camp experiences for both children and adults. The annual Sherwood Forest Celtic Music Festival is held every September and offers the best in world and Celtic music. For more information, please visit the website- www.SherwoodForestFaire.com.

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Sherwood Forest Faire has become a favorite spring event for the people of central Texas, who have visited our 160-acre enchanted realm. Our foremost concern is always the health and safety of our guests, participants, and staff. Like others around the country and the world, we are following ongoing developments regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

We have implemented preventive measures in line with recommendations from local, state, and federal health authorities and the input of our medical teams. We have health and safety protocols in place, including:

• Training for our staff, entertainers, merchants, and food and beverage servers on the most effective preventive health practices.
• Defined procedures and protocols for the frequent cleaning and disinfecting of public areas.
• Easy access for guests and participants to handwashing and sanitizing stations.
• Positioning hand sanitizer dispensers in all restroom facilities and counters of food and beverage shops.

 We will continue to collaborate with health officials, monitor the situation, and act accordingly. We strongly encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Prevention and Treatment Guidelines which include:

• Staying home when sick
• Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Following proper respiratory cough etiquette
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
• Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

A complete list of prevention and treatment guidelines can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

“We understand that for many people these are uncertain times,” said George Appling, co-founder and Marketing Director, “but we think the kind of first-rate, immersive entertainment offered by Sherwood Forest Faire can be just what the public needs to escape for a while. We encourage everyone to use their best judgement to decide what is best for themselves and their families, but if they want to get away from it all, Sherwood Forest Faire will be open to welcome them to step back in time and forget their cares.”

Over twelve years ago, this dreamer who had been an artisan and merchant at Texas Renaissance Festival for many years, and a patron long before that, heard through the grapevine that the owner of TRF, George Coulam, was selling his faire. I was not a wealthy man. I was raised by two public school teachers who took odd jobs with the school system to make ends meet. I had graduated in 79 from Texas A&M University and taught high school myself for 8 years. During the fall of 1985 or 86, I decided to go back to graduate school and signed up for a class in medieval history with a renowned Mediaeval and Renaissance professor by the name of Zolton Kostolnycz (Hungarian by birth). I sat in a room of about 30 at the beginning of class. When time had ended that morning, there were eight of us left. He spoke in a very deep accent—and in a high shrill voice. I knew it was gonna be one hell of difficult time in his class, but the knowledge, the stories, the way he weaved mankind’s past together, was addicting. I ended up taking him for 7-8 classes. They were all pretty much the same—early church history through the Renaissance.

But in the middle of my last class after having finished 30 prior hours, and all that was left was this one class and writing my thesis to complete my masters, I quit. I walked out with one paper left incomplete. I put a back pack on and hitchhiked across Europe for 7 months living in a tent. I had to feel and witness what and where he had spoken of…that land of Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Picts, and the like. I had to chant in Celtic caves, walk Robin’s Sherwood Forest. I had to drink a pint at the base of Nottingham Castle in Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem. I had to baptize myself in the land, the people, the buildings and streets, the history I had become so enamored with.

When I returned, I started working for a not-for-profit where I have been for the last thirty years.

Back to sitting in my booth at TRF years later when I heard the faire was up for sale. So, Monday, back at work, I made appointments with two prominent businessmen in my area. I had one simple question for both. “Could someone with my meager means ever dream of such a venture, such a financial undertaking”.

Both said “Of course. You just need a business plan that can convince either a bank or an investor”. So I was off. For months I put together and tweaked a business plan. I had back in forth with a critical investor. Then, I remember it as clear as day…when he said, Eric, we can do this.” He had used we. There was a chance.

Well, after I had spent approximately 10k on legal fees trying to get a real estate and business contract in place, Mr. Coulam was no longer interested in selling his creation.

But I was not deterred. My family would get in the car or truck some 75 Saturdays and Sundays as I walked throughout tracts of land throughout Texas from Katy to San Antonio to Austin and back to the Brazos Valley. We saw land that was perfect. We saw mining sites. We woods and pastures and land without easements to land almost inside town propers.

I must have executed some 15 contracts during that time, but for a myriad of reasons none went through. Mostly because they didn’t touch my heart as the right place. One or two would have been great, but others purchased it before I would get a contract executed. So the search continued.

Then one early morning traveling on U.S. 290 from Bryan-College Station to a meeting in Austin, I saw a for sale sign that had just been placed on the land where Sherwood currently stands. I pulled over, called the realtor, asked a few questions, and without walking the property, and told him to work up a contract. We would walk it later. There was of course a grace period where I would only lose my earnest money if it wasn’t a fit. But with 1200 feet frontage off 290…wooded…it felt that morning I had found the home for the faire.

That weekend my family walked it. I could see it all. We fought our way through land that had not been walked on for decades. It was perfect.

And thus, Sherwood was born.

But as you know, birthing a child is only the beginning.

Soon after, we would begin the tradition of holding Gatherings, meeting at pubs where playtrons gathered, holding tours for those vendors who might join in on this dream. And they did. I would be walking through recently cleared woods telling folk where stages would be, where paths would be, where booths would be located. We had fire circles and drumming. We had pot luck dinners and broke bread together.

Volunteers would come to the Gatherings, camp, cut wood, help build structures, and over time, with sweat and shared vision, this little faire was dream becoming manifest. One day, I think in September, I was giving a tour through what would be a stretch to considered much more than a dream constructed of thought more than of materials. But on that walking tour with some 30+ people, a tall man stood out and asked, “Are you Rengypsy?” to which I replied, “I am he” and he proclaimed “I Love Rengypsy”. And soon after, George Appling became my partner…and through magic, unbelievable hard work by so many of you, the gates of Sherwood Forest Faire opened for the first time in February 2010.

Sherwood was and will always be a Shared Vision—a mosaic where rennies, platrons, artisans and management all have paint brushes, all add their dreams upon this canvas.

We welcome you to our 10th Season. It’s been an amazing venture. Thank all of you for making this faire what it is, what it will become.

Respectfully

Rengypsy