Bristol Renaissance Faire — Local services in Bristol

WOMEN/POC/AND INTERRACIAL COUPLES PLEASE READ...

My partner and I had a horrible experience at Sahara Mist this year. I've contemplated sharing the story but I think it is important to warn people because this man was absolutely out of line.

My partner and I were harassed by a larger gentleman with a large beard who appeared to be working at or owner of the store. I'm unsure of his name, but he had a very prominent long large grayish white beard and was a larger man.

For reference, I come to the faire every year and stock up on a scent from this store. It's so hard to find stores that actually sell these intense oils / scents outside of online, so getting to smell them in real life and pick out a signature scent each year is one of the highlights of my time at the faire. There are two areas where the oils are: there is a small stand by the register and then there is a larger display on the display case to the right of the register. I started with the ones near the register. I smelled each one and picked my two favorites before having my partner smell them. The first one was more of a musty smell and then the second one was a more feminine rose smell. I loved them both. To note, when I held out the rose one for my partner to smell I said "and this one is rose." and he smelled it, said it smelled good and that was that. While I was smelling the oils at the register, the man who was working there with the large beard was behind the register. I honestly didn't notice him at all, but my partner later told me that he had noticed him staring really intensely at us the entire time I was smelling the oils. The woman at the counter was still helping another person so I moved to look at the incense burners along the left wall while I waited to smell the other scents. About five minutes passed and we were able to approach the counter and start smelling the other oils. I smelled maybe two before the man with the beard said something I didn't catch. I hadn't heard what he said so I was like "I'm sorry, what?" He got closer and got right up in my face. Mind you, I'm 5 foot 5 inches and he was towering over me and looking very angry. He was scolding me for talking badly about the oils. He stated that it was inappropriate for me to call them gross and that if I didn't like the oils, I could just keep it to myself. I was so confused because I hadn't said a single bad thing about the oils. I was very confused about the confrontation and was like "wait what? I like all the oils" He interrupted me and told me that I was making negative comments about the oils and essentially told me if I didn't like them I could leave. At this point, he was getting confrontational in front of the entire store. I looked around and everyone was looking at me. I told him again that I didn't say anything bad about the oils and that I had no idea what he was talking about. He stated I called the rose oil gross. My boyfriend told him that I didn't say that and that the rose oil was one of my favorites. I told him I think he misheard me. Instead of apologizing he then got in my boyfriends face and said that he must have said the oils were gross. I told him that my boyfriend really hadn't commented about the oils at all and that I think he just misheard me. At that point, my boyfriend nudged me back because the guy was just towering over us and standing in front of the oils. We ended up walking out because we truly didn't feel safe. I was humiliated and so scared. My boyfriend said the guy was eyeing me the entire time we were in the store. I can't say that he did this because he was targeting us (we are an interracial couple) or because I'm a woman, but my partner stated it felt very targeted since there were other people there also smelling and commenting on the oils.

Just please be careful going to this one particular store. I've never had a bad experience at the ren faire. It's usually a really welcoming community, but this guy was insane and it absolutely ruined...

Fun atmosphere, not handicap friendly, shit security. I checked in where they check bags and headed towards the ticket booth only for some lady security guard to accuse me of sneaking in under the ropes when I was just bending down to pick up my stuff after getting my wallet out of my bag. I've never been so embarrassed having to walk all way back to the bag check to the same guy to confirm that I entered the right way following the rules instead of sneaking in. Talk about ruining my time already maybe pay attention instead of accusing honest people who paid to come here if I hadn't paid money already and drove all the way out here I'd get a refund and for sure never recommended this place to anyone. I was extremely offended to be accused that way out of the blue for no actual reason other than picking up my stuff and I wasn't even next to the ropes to begin with. It doesn't matter if your handicap your stuck parking wherever they put you even if it's far from the entrance. There's no easy pathways up and down hills for walkers, wheelchairs, etc. because its mostly gravel not brick. The only stuff worth buying at a high price is the genuinely handmade items, alot of what vendors sell you can find the exact thing online cheaper. They need at least a couple more water fountains throughout the park instead of just the one by the entrance. It's hard to fill a metal water bottle with the one that they have. Long wait times for food especially for turkey legs that can only be found on one side of the park. Not a lot of seating because they're overcrowded and it doesnt seem like they've updated to accommodate for the massive amount of people. The entertainers work hard at their job, they do ask for tips but its all part of the act, there just needs to be more organization throughout the park and more employees to know where stuff is to be helpful...

What a mess! I went here ten years ago and had a great time. I thought I would now bring my own children and I couldn’t be more disappointed. First, parking was a fiasco. The directions on the site are outdated and all access points listed were gated with just two people directing traffic. The last tenth of a mile had us in line for 52 minutes almost no movement at all and that is with. VIP pass. Next, the bathrooms are horrendous. Not enough hand washing stations. Just overall aged and poorly maintained facilities. There is not nearly enough security at the event. I witnessed a large man hit a child on the back hard and had difficulty locating people to report the incident. I was worried for my own safety. The park does not have enough disbursed staff to provide interaction. In four hours we encountered only one free roaming themed employee outside of the booths/stages. Finally, the food lines are absurd and the quality is poor especially given the radically high pricing. I bought three turkey legs and sides. It took 48 minutes to wait in line and order. No seating to eat. Then halfway through we realize the food was not cooked all the way through. My children and I were ill for almost one entire eeek with gastroenteritis. I am also shocked again that the absence of security leads to smoking everywhere. When we finally had found a place to sit, a man lit up a bowl next to my five year old and we had to move. There are designated smoke areas but no enforcement. This is not a place for families or children. There were adults easing other adults on leashes and other over the top sexualized clothing and displays. Just a horrible event. Avoid...