A Hint to Renn Fayre Present in Themes of the Past
While you should remember dressing up like clowns for Spring Fall a few months ago and putting on your most surreal outfit for last year's Renn Fayre, did you know that 2007's Renn Fayre theme was Dr. Seuss? We can only imagine how many cats in hats there were at that year's Thesis Burning. As we all gear up for Renn Fayre 2025's Theme Reveal happening at midnight tonight, we want to look back at Renn Fayre themes of olde and discuss some of our favorites.
10. Miami Boom Boom (2015)
The "Spring Breeeaakkkk!" vibe was probably strong with this one, but our favorite detail about this year's Renn Fayre is that the whole GREAT LAWN was filled with little plastic figurines of flamingos. Sounds tropical!
9. Submarine (2020)
It is a shame that this Renn Fayre was cancelled (for obvious reasons), because we think this theme is so cool! Maybe the “under the sea” vibe is what everyone on Fizz was hoping for when suggesting a SpongeBob theme. Well, at least we have the Bikini Bottom Ball, happening tonight in the SU!
8. New World (2013)
We are including this theme in the top 10 because of a single student project that was featured that year. Apparently, near the LIBRARY, a gigantic pyramid was built by physics majors. When Reedies climbed inside, they could look out the top and see a kaleidoscope of colors. We don't really get how it works, but it's pretty cool that it happened.
7. Superheroes (2000)
Renn Fayre themes started becoming a common occurrence around the turn of the millennium but considering the reputation of 2000's celebrations, we're surprised the themes continued! Contrary to popular belief, the theme of the Renn Fayre that cost around $20,000 in damages was not “apocalypse.” We imagine seeing everyone walk around POOL HALL in capes was worth it though.
6. Dr. Seuss (2007)
While there were probably many rhyming costumes during this theme, we bet there were actually more than just cats in hats! Renn Fayre is such a whimsical event and a children's book theme just enhances that whimsy. Oh, the places you'll go (like VOLLUM LECTURE HALL)!
5. Divine Comedy (2023)
One of the main things we like about this theme is that it provided a mini theme for each day of the weekend based on the three sections of Dante's epic: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. We also heard it was pretty sunny that year and while the weather doesn't make or break Renn Fayre (the community does!), we're hoping for some sun this year too.
4. Sin City (2018)
We still have many supplies from 2018's Renn Fayre in storage in DOYLE (if anyone needs a Vegas Chapel banner, hit us up), so we can only imagine that that year's Renn Fayre was a good one. Apparently there were Elvis impersonators, balloon arches, and gaudy decorations that are only fit for gambling and, evidently, celebrating Reed's graduating seniors.
3. The Body (2009)
This theme is especially intriguing to us, considering it featured a giant vagina and even plans for a "boob room" in a GCC CONFERENCE ROOM, where the bean bag chairs had nipples.
2. Surrealist Soiree (2024)
Maybe we are biased because we were actually able to experience this Renn Fayre in all its glory, but we loved this campus-wide tea party. Everyone had avant garde outfits, the campus was covered in colorful yarn and flowering vines, and it felt like a real return to major Reed traditions after a couple years more heavily impacted by COVID-19. We really commend last year's Czars on planning such a great weekend!
1. ????? (Renn Fayre 2025)
If you would like a hint to this year’s theme, we think you should ask the stars... or use the locations mentioned in this article to discover clues.
What is your favorite out of this list? We can't wait for you to find out this year's theme because, personally, we think it should be your favorite, too. Remember, Renn Fayre cannot happen without volunteers, student projects, and the whole community’s participation, so keep signing up!