|
There will be no sword-fighting, gypsy-dancing or wandering minstrels in Belfair this summer: Ron Cleveland's dream of bringing his renaissance festival to North Mason county came to a halt Monday. Cleveland planned to hold his Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire on a 206-acre property off Old Belfair Highway. On Monday, the state Department of Natural Resources affirmed a notice of compliance it issued earlier stating that Cleveland needed a zoning conversion to clear portions of the forested land. Mason County has issued a moratorium on developing the property because the state's notice prevents the county from issuing and permits or licenses. Because it will take months for Cleveland to get a zoning conversion, the fair is off for this year — and maybe forever. Not being able to hold the festival will cost him about $250,000 out-of-pocket, he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do," Cleveland said. "This is putting me out millions. This may very well destroy me and most of the vendors." Cleveland said he will try to refund the vendor's fees and presold tickets, but he's not sure if he has the financial means to do it right now. The festival was held in Purdy for nine years, but that site had become too small for the approximately 80,000 attendees. So Cleveland signed a four-year lease and purchase option on the Pope Resources-owned property on Bear Creek-Dewatto Road. The festival was scheduled for three weekends next month: Aug. 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17. In previous years, the fair has drawn thousands of people from outside the state. Cleveland estimated the festival would bring more than $5 million to the community. In addition, Cleveland planned to hold other events throughout the year, including a Shakespeare Festival, a Dickens Festival and Civil War re-enactments. These events, many lasting for multiple days, could have brought as much as $45 million to $50 million to the area, he said. North Mason Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Frank Kenny was a supporter of the project, touting the economic benefits. "This event will be of value to not only the families that attend, but also to those who depend on the small businesses of North Mason," he said in an e-mail. Community members, however, had mixed reactions to the festival. Some had even signed an online petition against bringing the fair to Belfair. Signee and Belfair resident Keith Morrison said he was concerned about having thousands of cars on a steep, narrow road leading to the site. He also said few people knew about the specifics of the fair. "The first time I heard about the issues was when I was asked to sign a petition," said Morrison, who lives less than two miles from the site. "There's been little information given to the community and most people around here have no idea of the scale this is going to be." But Bremerton resident Wesley Weaver was doubtful the problems associated with holding the fair would outweigh the benefits. Like Kenny, he thought holding a multi-day festival would boost local businesses. A longtime renaissance fair attendee, Weaver pointed to the success of a festival in Larkspur, Colo. The town bases its livelihood on the fair, he said, and holding a similar event could catalyze development in Belfair. "Saying 'No, we don't want the millions of dollars the fair is going to bring to the community' is ludicrous," Weaver said. "It's self-destructive." |
from across the United States and beyond. 
