Hi! I have a question I hope you can provide some insight into. I really want to go to the faire this year, but am a bit nervous about whether or not the safety measures will still be listened to by the end of October? I really want to go, but am worried about being a hypocrite for going to faire in the middle of a pandemic. Do you have any idea if the safety measures are actually being followed and if it is actually not as crowded? Sorry for bothering you. Thanks!
I’m sorry for not getting to this sooner, I posses neither time-management nor memory nor executive function.
There are more safety measures in place at the Faire than anywhere else I’ve been since the 2020 covid pandemic began, and more measures are being followed at the Faire – both proportionally and by raw numerical value – than anywhere else I’ve been since the 2020 covid pandemic began.
It is not perfect. With the caveat that I have no concept of amounts in general, I'd say that 90-to-95 percent of patrons are wearing masks correctly when not eating or drinking. Of the 10-to-5 percent who aren't, some are trying to pass off clearly inadequate face-coverings as adequate, having presumably ditched their actual masks upon entrance; some wear proper masks incorrectly; some seem to think that merely holding food or drink but not actively consuming it is perfectly fine, even in the midst of a crowd; some do not isolate themselves before eating and drinking; and some just don't friggin' wear their masks.
Nevertheless, I've seen fewer folk unmasked at the Faire than I have anywhere else I've been since the 2020 covid pandemic began. The two times I've been thus far, I felt safer than I do at the grocery store.
Social distancing is a little tougher to call. Remember how I don't conceptualize amounts? Yeah, I dunno how long six feet is. However, I'm pretty confident in saying that distance of six feet is definitely being observed less than mask wearing is. But this is something that you yourself can have good deal more control over than others' mask-wearing. First day I went, I incorporated a cane in my costume that I would just hold out horizontally if I was approaching a crowd. Cane wasn't six feet, but it plus arm might have been. Second time, the same but with a fake cutlass. I've taken to bringing a blanket that I drape over the benches of audience area as though I'm saving seats, but it's actually just to keep everyone six feet away.
My experience is limited, though. I have yet to enter a shop (I'm there for the in-house shows and maybe two-and-a-half out-of-house groups, not to shop, not in this economy, not with what tickets cost), but I saw a fair amount on the magical Book of Face about shopkeepers having trouble with patrons removing masks in shops. Only saw that after the first weekend, though, not this past one, so it may have been sorted out.
My personal main worry had been for the actors, but of all the people on the grounds, I am the most confident in the performers' safety. They are definitely being protected.
Of course, I have no way of knowing if the safety measures will continue to be followed into October, but I think that they will. The people spearheading the safety measures know what the fuck they're on about and do not take bullshit. I know this because the people in question are the same people performing, some of whom are immunocompromised themselves. My sources here are the weekly livestreams of one of the actors, and an article somebody linked to in the dot-netters group, which will only let you open it once unless you buy a subscription.
Provided that you've naught going on to put you at greater risk to begin with, I would lean toward going. Bring at least one extra mask so as to be able to change it when you inevitably snot it up halfway through the day, bring things with which to hold people at bay, and do whatever you need to reconcile yourself to probably sitting farther away from stages than you usually would.
And if you decide not to go, I've been filming what I can as best I can. Thus far they've only been posted on the PARF-fan facebook, because of chronology reasons, though I keep intending to at least link them here, but they exist and are watchable, and barring unseen catastrophe, will continue to happen.
Never feel that you need apologize for “bothering” me. No ask has ever bothered me; I’m just forgetful and procrastinatory as hell.