[cquick]

we went to the Renaissance Fair, it was pretty good. They had jousters with beautiful horses, and some sword fighting. Quite a few vendors. Some food vendors. Some stages with music.

I am sure it will improve when they get the hang of having a fund raiser. They had one tent with 2 raffles. The signs were not very well displayed and the buckets you put your tickets in were not even labelled. They did add a label to one of them.

I don't think they did a good job with the free luncheon for cancer survivors. There was a huge line and only one station where they were dishing out the meal. Perhaps they will improve on that next year.

Also, there was no schedule for entertainment or the jousting times. We only stayed a little while.

They sure needed more advertising before the event. And they could have sold their raffle tickets at several places to make more money.

It was certainly a beautiful day for the event.

Connie

[momesu]

I too had a good time and some good food. I did get a schedule of events when I entered the festival. Maybe they ran out due to higher attendance than they expected. I arrived about 10:45am. It truly was a village event even though it was only 10:45 the tent with the longest line for purchases was the Pub selling beer and wine.

Suzanne

[logdog]

It was okay. Saw many really beautiful costumes. I agree that a schedule would be a big help, especially if they printed it in the paper. But not bad for the first year. Parking was much better than expected.

[borjo]

This was an organization who puts on Renaissance festivals who were the jousters and most of the costumed people. They travel all over and do this. Would have liked to know who gave us (survivors) the free meal as I had no one to thank. I hope Moffit got a substantial amount but hiring this group Im sure cost a few dollars.

[beartrack]

The Relay for life is no more, too bad. As a cancer survivor I attended the last two relays. They were beautiful and very well organized. The relays were all about cancer, cancer survivors and their caretakers. This Festival idea is all about Moffitt and seems, to me at least, to treat the survivors and their caretakers as an afterthought. The emphasis is on MONEY, not the hope that we survivors can bring to those patients suffering the effects and treatments for this dread disease. Please do not consider my post as sour grapes of some kind on my part. Truth be told, I loved the "Relay for Life" For the love that surrounded all in attendance. Thousands of folks applauding and contributing and wishing us well. This festival did not even come close to producing that kind of emotion. I am very happy to have Moffitt here in The Villages. I contributed to the cause and I will continue to contribute because Moffitt and their terrific staff is the main reason that I can call myself a "survivor". Thank you Moffitt but, as I previously stated, the "Relay" was about the people. The festival is just another fundraiser.

[hedoman]

It was great, the shows fantastic and the jousting unbelievble. Talked to one of the guys after and he admitted he really did fall off the horse, his armor I could feel was the real deal and the jousting poles split on contact that was real contact... He was a little shaken and neaded attention at one point after the fall...

Horray for the crowds and money raised!

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by beartrack

The Relay for life is no more, too bad. As a cancer survivor I attended the last two relays. They were beautiful and very well organized. The relays were all about cancer, cancer survivors and their caretakers. This Festival idea is all about Moffitt and seems, to me at least, to treat the survivors and their caretakers as an afterthought. The emphasis is on MONEY, not the hope that we survivors can bring to those patients suffering the effects and treatments for this dread disease. Please do not consider my post as sour grapes of some kind on my part. Truth be told, I loved the "Relay for Life" For the love that surrounded all in attendance. Thousands of folks applauding and contributing and wishing us well. This festival did not even come close to producing that kind of emotion. I am very happy to have Moffitt here in The Villages. I contributed to the cause and I will continue to contribute because Moffitt and their terrific staff is the main reason that I can call myself a "survivor". Thank you Moffitt but, as I previously stated, the "Relay" was about the people. The festival is just another fundraiser.

Good idea to have two different kinds of events --that way more people have an opportunity to give (whether money or support)-- --some people are involved with other fundraising relays, walks, and marathons --
it may sound cold but these people may be more prone to attend something that is entertaining. It sounds as though the intent and appeal of this event was to raise money to develop a facility that will provide the latest in diagnostic and treatment services for those living with cancer; then it was all about Moffitt -- nothing wrong with that! Fundraising is about raising money --whatever works.

[getdul981]

I really don't understand why there can't be two events. One for Relay for Life and another to raise money for The Moffitt Center. They're both ultimately trying to reach the same goal. Eliminate cancer!!!

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by getdul981

I really don't understand why there can't be two events. One for Relay for Life and another to raise money for The Moffitt Center. They're both ultimately trying to reach the same goal. Eliminate cancer!!!

[cquick]

Originally Posted by beartrack

The Relay for life is no more, too bad. This Festival idea is all about Moffitt and seems, to me at least, to treat the survivors and their caretakers as an afterthought. The emphasis is on MONEY, The festival is just another fundraiser.

Relay for Life is a wonderful event. The Renaissance Festival was a wonderful event. Both events main focus is to raise money....both are fundraisers. Since the people who are raising money for the Moffitt center wanted this fundraiser to benefit them, they get the money. Seems ok to me.

Connie

[adenicol]

I don't spend a lot of time on Talk of The Villages and I wish I had more time to comment on this sooner.

For those who don't know me, I am Anthony DeNicola, I have been on the Relay committee for several years and now this year on the Renaissance committee.

I am not going to get into why we are not doing the Relay as that has been discussed so much already. I do want to mention a few things though for those who wanted to know:

1) There is another organization that is holding The Relay for Life in The Villages, they are called "Hope for Life". Last year was their first year doing it and I don't think they had publicized it much. I am not even sure if they are doing it this year or not. However, if you contact the ACS office they should be able to give you information on this years Relay.

2) The free survivor lunch was provided by Sunrise Cafe over on 466 down towards the school.

3) We did hire outside entertainment for the Jousting, living chess bard, Davinci Brothers, and Empty Hats (The empty hats in addition to doing Renaissance festivals has also performed several times on Town Square and Lake Sumter Landing).

4) The Renaissance Festival is going to be back in 2013. We are currently still in the planning stages but we are looking at making 2013 a two day event on January 5th and 6th.

If anyone has any suggestions or is interested in being part of the event, please post hear or message me. Not sure if the forum rules will let me post my email address, but if you message me I will get back in contact with you.

There is also a facebook page at The Villages Renaissance Festival | Facebook which has information on the event.


Regards,
Anthony DeNicola

[adenicol]

There is a group putting on the Relay for Life in The Villages this year. I think it was in The Villages this past year but appears they have moved to Wildwood. The URL to that event is Relay For Life of The Villages of Hope.

The committe that put on the Renaissance Faire last year has changed and the main organizers are not involved this year. The year the Renaissance Faire is raising money for The Villages Charter school. It's supose to be a bit more authentic than last year and there is an admission fee this year. Their site is The Villages Renaissance Fair. It's on January 5th and 6th, 2013.

[cquick]

I think you should start a new thread about the Relay for Life.....it might be missed on TOTV because my original post about the Renaissance Faire is almost a year old.