Marion County OKs Canterbury Renaissance Fair for two weekends in July with new conditions

The Marion County Board of Commissioners on March 19 approved a mass gathering permit allowing the Canterbury Renaissance Fair to run the last two full weekends in July, but the board limited the event to two weekends and imposed conditions aimed at traffic management and public-safety access.

The permit, for an event organized by White Wind Productions LLC on property owned by White Wind Woodland LLC, approves mass gatherings on the parcel for the weekends on the county record (the two last full weekends in July) with conditions that include increased shuttle service, improved signage for rideshare drop-offs and written confirmation of cooperation with law enforcement and fire officials.

Planning staff had noted the applicant applied to expand the fair from two weekends to three and proposed up to 5,000 people at any time for each weekend. John Speckman of Marion County Planning said the application sought a “large mass gathering” under Marion County Code 9.25 — gatherings of more than 3,000 people — and that the county’s hearings officer had earlier approved a related conditional use request. Planning staff, however, told the board new…