Tis’ the 37th year of King of the Log and we need your help to make it a success. Now is the time to sign-up, so you can assure yourself a place on the day or days of your choice. Remember the Renaissance Festival makes a limited number of volunteer positions available to us, so schedule early! Call one of the stewards listed below. They need your names at least one week in advance of the weekend you are planning to work. You can also volunteer on line by clicking here.Your email and mail information will update at the same time.

News from the Guild and the Realm

The King of the Log game is managed by a volunteer Guild.  King of the Log is a fundraiser for Barton Open School.  Several of us are old Barton parents.  We do all of the behind the scenes organizing, planning, building, sewing, mailing and any other work that needs to be done.   We are:  Mike Bastos, Clint Canfield, Joe Chrysler, Don Espe, Leia Espe, Ellen Hein, Brenda Reedy, Robert Reedy and Char Thomasson.  We could not do our work without the many volunteers that participate in the Log.  Our thanks to each one of you!  We welcome you again this year and hope that your volunteer experience is great.  If you have any questions or comments for the Guild please contact Char at 612-825-8070 or any one of us at the Log site. You can also contact us through this website.

We are looking to do a better job of training-in volunteers.  We know that a better trained volunteer has a better Log experience.  King of the Log continues to grow and change, even after 36 years, and we always hope for the best.  We look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.  We want every volunteer and participant at King of the Log to have a safe & fun experience.  Please report any safety or personal concerns directly to any Guild member.

You will see many changes this year and there will be many ways in which you can volunteer. Here are just a few things to know for the coming season with the contact person noted.

• We want to remind all volunteers that the Minnesota Renaissance Festival including the King of the Log is advertised as a family affair. Therefore, and in keeping with our contract we follow all Fest policies and procedures. This includes the Fest sexual harassment and behavior policy. We ask that our volunteers and their friends are respectful of each other. Please be aware that the Log has many volunteer families with children and young adults of all ages. We expect our volunteers to conduct themselves in a thoughtful manner including safety, dress, language, drinking and behavior. For more information read the policy page. If you have any questions regarding these issues please contact Char Thomasson.
• Ellen Hein will be King of the Log Costume Mistress.  Assistants to the Costumers will become a regular King of the Log job.  Assistant jobs include repairing and maintaining our clothing inventory throughout the year and sewing new costumes and props.  
• We want all volunteers to know that there are many different jobs at the Log. Each job has its own unique responsibilities and skills that are required. There are the obvious jobs like bagging money at the gate, referee at the log, and hawking in the lane. There are many other jobs like set-up and striking, costume assistants & awards ceremonies. We want you to do the job you would like to do, but we also need certain jobs to be done, so please understand that we need to assign jobs - - all things considered.
   

• We need adults to coordinate volunteers each weekend. The job of the Coordinator is to sign-up & recruit volunteers, assign volunteers to jobs, manage volunteers & help with costuming on your weekend/day. Coordinators can each take one day or do the weekend together. Coordinating is a great way to recruit your family and friends for a day of fun, but also to make new friends. Call Char if you are interested.
  

Open the Log Day will be on August 10 from 10 AM until early evening.  Anyone who can help getting ready for opening weekend is welcome.   Bring food to share.  Libations will be provided.  RSVP with Char.

The Perks: 

• You get in free and have half a day to wander around the Festival.
• Costumes are provided, along with the necessary training.
• There are jobs anyone can do, from shy kids, to not so shy adults.
• Coordinators get 1^st choice at King of the Log campsites on their weekend.
• The proceeds go to help support Barton Open School fine arts programming.
• Did we mention that it is really, really, really fun!
  

Stewards

Our on-site Log shifts are from 8:00-2:00 or 1:00-7:00.  The Fest starts at 9:00 AM cannon and ends with the drum jam dance from 6:30 to 7.  It is very important that you arrive on time, so that you have time to dress into a costume, situate your personal belongings and to be oriented to your volunteer job.  We have private dressing spaces & lockers for personal belongings.  You may bring your own lock.  Your Coordinator will sign you in and help you to get trained-in.  You can bring food with you or purchase it at the Festival. Discount coupons are available at Gate B.  No alcohol is allowed during Festival hours.  We have water.  We have a first aide kit.  There is Safety Services & a nurse on the Fest site.  Bring your suntan, bug lotion and “hay” medicine!  If you have any questions please contact your weekend Steward one of the Guild members.

The following information should be helpful to you after you have contacted your weekend Coordinator and booked your volunteer date(s).  The Log site emergency number that you can be reached at while volunteering is 612-715-3348.

If you should have an emergency and are unable to attend we ask that you please contact your weekend Coordinator or Char Thomasson at 612-825-8070.  

Directions:

The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is located south of Chaska. To get there from the Twin Cities go I-35W South to

I-494 West or Hwy 62 West.  Take Hwy 169 South.  Follow the signs to the Festival as you approach Shakopee and Chaska. It takes about 30-45 minutes to get to the Festival from the Twin City area.  Park anywhere in the lot.  You must enter through Gate B.  Your name will be on the King of the Log list at Gate B.  Get in line and they will give you your pass. You must keep your pass with you at all times.  You must have your pass to leave through Gate B.

Please note the first shift starts at 8:00 am.  That means you need to plan to be at the Festival grounds by 7:30 am in order to get through gate B and into costume on time.  The second shift begins at 1:00 pm.  If you are coming for the second shift avoid the afternoon traffic and incoming lines by coming early and enjoying the Festival.  If you come late do not get caught in parking far away.  Drive to the Gate B parking area where you will usually find a spot to park.  Please note that we are anticipating some possible changes in the availability of parking this year.  Check our site for updated information for the 2008 Minnesota Renaissance Festival Season.  Thank you.

Thanks for your help.  The King of the Log toasts you!

We look forward to seeing you this 2008 King of the Log Season.

Get ready to rumble!!