When was/will be the 500th day of MDRF?

[javasaurus]

I did a bit of estimating recently, and it's quite possible that sometime this season was/will be the 500th day of the Maryland Ren Fest. However, I don't have the resources to actually count the days.

I made lots of grand assumptions with no basis in reality, but they seem reasonable. For example, I assumed that the first three years were for 7 days each (including labor day), and during the next several years expanded to 5 or 6 weekends (11 or 13 days each season). I assumed 8 weekends once the fest moved to Crownsville, and 9 weekends starting about 12 or 13 years ago.

Does anybody have hard numbers?

Comments

[anjabeth.livejournal.com]

We started in 1992, and the festival was 8 weekends then. It changed to 9 for the 1995 season.

Wow, 500 days!! :)

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

OK, if we assume/know the following:
3 weekends 1977-1979 - 21 days
4 weekends 1980-1982 - 27 days (total 48)
5 weekends 1983-1984 - 22 days (total 70)
8 weekends 1985-1994 (when they moved to Revel Grove) - 170 days (total 240)
9 weekends 1995-2008 - 266 days (total 506)

If all of this is true, then at the end of this season, we will be at 506 days. (minus one canceled day)

If we get more definitive data on number of weekends (and presence or absence of Labor Day) we can get a real number.

Oh, 420 days in Revel Grove if 8 weekends when moved in 1985. I know it was 8 by 1991, I think it was 8 in 1990 when I started.

I think I will have put in 15 full seasons + 4 partial seasons for a total of around 302 days at the end of this season. Excel is fun to play with

[cozit.livejournal.com]

Hmm... do you count, or not count the one closed day that I know about?

Wonder what would happen if you asked that question at cast call tomorrow?

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

Well, for my personal count, that day is irrelevant. Do you happen to know which day it was?

[cozit.livejournal.com]

Before I started ... there was apparently one year with *much* rain... and a morning that started out drippy, so they decided to close the site for the day - then it turned beautiful on them. There *are* several on cast who were there then, as the story came up again at Kelso's b-day dinner... can't remember for certain who though.

RenFest Data

[(Anonymous)]

Do you have any idea if yours is anywhere near the record? Has Carolyn been there the entire time? You might write to Bill Destler and ask him how long it ran back when it was at Merriweather Post; he was in a dance troupe at the fair back in the early 80's.

Orkney Lover

Re: RenFest Data

[blueeowyn.livejournal.com]

There are a few who have been there at least as long as I have (including the Entertainment Director). And I suspect that Maggoty Mullet (the Fishmonger) has more days since she retired a couple of years ago but had done the whole run up to that point).

Re: RenFest Data

[javasaurus.livejournal.com]

We've found sufficient data to suggest that the 500th day probably won't be until next year, maybe even the year after, so we have time.

Apparently, there are posters from all the RenFest seasons in the Fest's main office, and they probably list the dates.