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Marion County approves Canterbury Renaissance Faire for two weekends with new safety, access conditions
Summary
After hearing traffic and public-safety concerns, the Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a Mass Gathering permit limiting the Canterbury Renaissance Faire to two weekends in July 2025 and added conditions on signage, shuttles, and law enforcement access.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners on March 19 approved a Mass Gathering permit allowing the Canterbury Renaissance Faire to take place over two weekends in July 2025, rejecting a staff- and neighbor-concerned expansion to three weekends.
John Speckman, a county planner, told the board the application from Whitewind Productions/Whitewind Woodland, LLC originally sought three weekends (July 12-13, July 19-20 and July 26-27) with up to 5,000 people at any one time. Speckman said staff had received a March 18 letter opposing the expansion and reported a March 19 call from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office that deputies in 2024 were, on one occasion, reportedly prevented from entering the site to check on a dog in a vehicle — a concern because Marion County Code requires applicants to consent to law enforcement, public health and fire access for inspections and enforcement.
"It is dangerous for a small car to go around a large piece of farm equipment that may be in the roadway," Commissioner Danielle Bethell said, urging the applicant to add clear signage and to ensure event staff understand law enforcement access requirements.
Nancy White, the faire's owner, described 2024 mitigation measures — designated drop-off areas, paid on-site parking, shuttles from Silverton, and added signage — and said she had asked major ride-share companies to follow posted directions. "People love the show, and traffic will be spread out over three weekends versus the two weekends that are currently allowed," White said, while also agreeing to proceed with two weekends this year if that eased neighbor concerns.
Planning Director Brandon Reich proposed specific permit conditions for the two-weekend approval: increase transportation shuttles to eight (four shuttles per parking site during peak events); ensure adequate on-site signage to direct ride-share and shuttle services; and require written evidence that event security cooperates with Marion County Sheriff’s Office, fire and health personnel about access and enforcement. Commander Jason Bernards of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office told the board deputies responded to three calls during the 2024 event — a hit-and-run in event parking, a fireworks complaint, and reports of an animal in a hot car — and asked that event staff be trained on access and permit requirements.
Commissioner Colm Willis and Commissioner Kevin Cameron emphasized protecting farm operations and the short harvest window for neighboring farms, saying a third weekend could impede timely farm work. The board gave the applicant the option to return with documented neighbor support for a future three-weekend approval but approved the mass-gathering permit for July 19-20 and July 26-27, 2025 with the additional conditions discussed on the record.
The motion to close the public hearing and approve the permit was made by Commissioner Kevin Cameron and seconded by Commissioner Colm Willis; a voice vote was unanimous. The board adjourned at 10:07 a.m.
