Posted: Sun Jul 22 2001
Ye Olde Disaster! 12 Die, Hundreds Injured At Renaissance Fair

A dozen people were killed and almost 300 others ended up in local hospitals when a renaissance fair succeeded in being more "realistic".

The fair's organizers, in an effort to better educate people about the time period, infected about half of the participants with syphilis and the plague, and smeared the rest with feces. Later in the morning, the organizers forced many of the female guests into prostitution and slavery, and then released bands of armed thieves into the crowd.

Things were made worse by the lack of medical help at the event. Injured and bleeding guests could only go to the buildings labeled "Ye Olde Firste Aide" where they were treated with lead compounds and leeches, and many had their limbs removed.

Rumors that wealthy participants were forced to inbreed cannot yet be confirmed.

"We werest just trying to letith everybodie enjoy the experience," said organizer John Baxter, "but thynges just gotith out of hande."

Baxter, who now faces numerous counts of murder, rape, prostitution and theft, laments "I should've stuckth with D&D."