We Built This Faire – And We’re Taking It Back

We, the community members, artisans, and dreamers who brought this faire to life, say enough. What was once an open, creative, and welcoming gathering has been taken over by secretive leadership. Decisions that shape our future are made behind closed doors, serving a small circle of insiders while the community that sustains the faire is shut out.

For years, the warning has echoed through camps and workshops: “Something is wrong here.” A space built for art, connection, and mutual respect has been overshadowed by a business-first mindset. The joy we created together is being drained away.

According to public records and the accounts of those who have worked behind the scenes, the nonprofit running our faire has taken in over $9 million in recent years. Yet the people who build the event face long, exhausting days for modest pay, while it’s reported that top leaders have taken six-figure salaries and a $300,000 “consulting fee.” Many in our community believe this diverts resources away from the faire’s mission.

Concerns raised by community members and witnesses include: arrangements that appear to benefit insiders, transactions between connected entities, questions about whether official reports are complete, and possible misuse of grants, licenses, and permits. Some have described retaliation against those who speak up, favoritism in staffing, and grievances that go unanswered.

Safety concerns are not just rumors — they’ve been documented. In Oregon, an official OSHA inspection identified 12 separate violations at a related faire site, 7 of them classified as “serious.” These findings reflect the same unsafe conditions our members have long reported: grueling shifts without adequate protections, hazardous worksites, and a disregard for worker well-being.

Many community members have voiced concerns that volunteer labor — offered in the spirit of art and fellowship — has been stretched into something exploitative. They describe situations where volunteers felt pressured to take on work well beyond reasonable expectations, and where speaking out risked losing their place in the faire. While the current leadership must be presumed innocent until proven otherwise, the depth and consistency of these accounts make a thorough, independent investigation essential to restoring trust.

We will not stand by while the faire’s values are eroded.
Under Washington’s nonprofit laws, our community has the right to a transparent, accountable board. We call for:

• A forensic audit of the faire’s finances
• The removal of any leaders found to have violated their duties
• A worker-led board chosen from those who build, create, and sustain this event

Our faire must return to its roots — where art, education, and community come before profit, and where the magic belongs to all who gather here.

What You Can Do:
Sign and share this petition in your guilds, social circles, and across our faire and SCA networks. Tell your friends why this matters. Support our legal effort via Patreon: Patreon.com/fairejustice . Every dollar goes directly to legal counsel. No one in our movement is paid.

Our faire was built on trust, creativity, and the shared work of kindred spirits. We, the People’s Faire Council, stand together for a nonprofit that serves its people — not its predators. Together, we will reclaim the magic of this Renaissance.

Sign now. Stand with us. The faire belongs to all of us.

Disclaimer: This petition contains opinions, concerns, and allegations based on personal experiences, witness accounts, and publicly available information. All individuals and entities are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Our goal is to seek transparency, accountability, and independent investigation into these matters.

This petition is not affiliated with or endorsed by Wandering in Time Productions or the Washington Midsummer Renaissance Faire.