If you haven't seen the message being forwarded around from Gerald, here it is. Looks like we're back to having only one Northern faire again.


-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 9:49 PM
Subject: Farewell to Northern

Gerald Zepeda wrote:

Dear Guildmasters, Directors, Performers,

As you have been aware, the fate of our Northern Faire has been uncertain. I am sad to announce that we are, indeed, closing the Northern Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Below is a letter from our management detailing the situation. Please know that Southern Faire will go on as planned, and that I am continuing as Entertainment Director. I thank everyone involved in creating our entertainment. You can be proud of the fine job you have done and proud of the effort you exerted to make this Faire a success. The memories of Northern Faire, including the times we shared, certainly will live on in my heart. I am looking forward to our next meeting. I apologize for the lack of a complete e-mail list. Please forward this message to all concerned parties.

Gerald Zepeda
Director of Entertainment
REC California
(408) 847-1138 ext 241



-----Attached Message-----

Renaissance Entertainment Corporation
Renaissance Pleasure Faire
10021 Pacheco Pass Hwy 152
Hollister, CA 95023
(408) 846-6446

Dear Faire Family,

As you are aware, we have been fighting a losing battle over the last few years with attendance and loss of income with the Northern Renaissance Pleasure Faire. We have had a steady decline in attendance since 1991 (with the exception of 1994, our first year of "Farewell to Black Point").

There is no one factor that we can isolate which has contributed to the failing of the show. The decline began during the Patterson's administration and has continued through a series of General Managers who have been unable to stop th e hemorrhaging of revenues at this event.

No ad campaign nor marketing schedule, including Phyllis Patterson's legendary marketing skills, was able to deter the decline. Our attendance failed long before we moved from our home in Blackpoint and has suffered greatly while we tried to find a permanent home.

Since 1994 we have looked at over 200 sites and have spent over $500,000 in an attempt to find a home for our Faire. Not only has a property been impossible to find, the one exception (American Canyon) proved too costly to make workable and the California environment regulations work against any sincere efforts to create a business which by all accounts, "lays lightly on the soil".

The Northern Faire has lost $900,061 in revenues during the years 1999-2003. Our attendance has declined 62% since 1991. The losses incurred by the Northern Faire have placed a continual drain on our Southern, Chicago and New York Faires, which are healthy shows and consistently create a profit. It is unfair for these healthy shows to bear the burden on Northern's losses.

It, therefore, is which great sadness that we announce that we are closing the Northern Renaissance Pleasure Faire.

We must ask that you remove all of your personal possessions from the site by November 2nd, 2003.

As performers and entertainers the show has rested on your shoulders for many, many seasons. Please know that this failure does not reflect upon the amazing grace that you have given the show. We are all so appreciative of the energy and level of entertainment that you have contributed.

The show sparkled brightly this season and it is bittersweet that even though we have never looked or perform ed better, this has become our final Huzzah. We thank all of you for your continued support through all these past years. For as long as the show lives in our memories, it shall never fade away.

-- The staff and management of the Northern Renaissance Pleasure Faire and Renaissance Entertainment Corporation.