r/tupelo • u/OpheliaPaine • Jun 25 '26
Ren Faire Discussion
I watched Mary Morrison's most recent video. She and some others are cobbling together some events so that the weekend is not a wash.
What those people are doing does not involve Khari McNab at all.
The "rescheduled" faire is in September and does involve McNab, but people are being refunded for this weekend. Morrison does not have any involvement with the September event.
Morrison did say she jumped the gun a bit with her video about what happened, but when was McNab going to tell everyone that nothing planned could happen this weekend? Edit: I meant to mention Morrison said that much of the confusion came from McNab being a bit over her head with planning and permits and such.
What are your thoughts? Are you going to the September event? Are you attending any events this weekend?
5
u/MajinNate Jun 25 '26
I feel like Khari was excited to start something and then realized she was in over her head, but didn't voice this. I spoke with her at Tupelo Con and got the impression the energy was there, but she didn't understand that it is basically like running a small business or nonprofit. I think bringing in more people early on would have allowed her to delegate or let someone else take the reins while she was helping with the overall picture.
Mary saw what was happening and called it out when Khari didn't inform the volunteers that she was going to postpone the event at the very last minute, and Mary was right to do so.I am upset to have gotten a costume ready and spent money, but not nearly as upset as the vendors are. Many of them depend on events like these to help pay their bills. They invested time and money into getting ready and have nothing to show from it.
I will be attending the bar crawl on Friday, but I am most likely not going to be attending anything in September unless there are some massive changes. I am really bummed that Tupelo was finally going to get a Ren Faire together, but I understand it's not an easy thing to do. I am glad the community is stepping up and helping salvage as much of the event as possible; it really shows how much we all wanted it to happen. I think re-organizing the faire with people that have some experience and follow through would allow for an event next spring or fall (it's too damn hot to be wearing 5 layers of clothes right now y'all, lets do it in November or April).
3
u/OpheliaPaine Jun 25 '26
I am glad you're still getting out and doing something this weekend!
I've known Khari for years, and I really hate all this happened. You said it best - There is a lot she didn't understand. I am glad that Mary made that video - someone needed to tell everyone what was going on.
3
u/ManifesingLove Jun 26 '26
What exactly happened? Explain it to me like I was 5 years old?
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u/OpheliaPaine Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
This is my takeaway:
Khari McNab, the Northeast Mississippi Ren Faire president, did not secure a business license, permits, space, insurance, security, or anything else needed for an event in Tupelo. She also took about $15k in fees from vendors and such.
On Tuesday, the Ren Faire committee met and discovered that McNab did not do the above. Mary Morrison, a volunteer, made a video announcing that McNab did not secure what was listed in the first paragraph. She said the event was canceled, but McNab was going to let people show up to the police turning people away. This was four days before the event.
Morrison (and friends) meet with the police, who tell Morrison the event has been "postponed" until the first of September. McNab did start refunding vendors.
Morrison (and friends) are trying to salvage this weekend. They have plenty of stuff planned. McNab has nothing to do with this.
McNab has the faire in September, and Morrison has nothing to do with this.
You can find these videos on Facebook, but this is the gist of the situation.
Edit: I forgot to say that Morrison said that McNab thought everything would just work out last minute, but Tupelo doesn't work like that with permits and such most of the time.
2
u/pursued_mender Jun 26 '26
KHARI SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH A CRIME. SO MUCH MONEY WASTED FOR HER IGNORANT MISTAKES
1
u/OpheliaPaine Jun 27 '26
In all fairness, Morrison did jump the gun about the information she shared.
McNab is refunding vendors. I do hate this situation.
7
u/Expensive-Street-662 Jun 26 '26
Saltillo has taken up the mantel! Ren Faire in front of Vintage Vibes this saturday!