Our first year at WildeRealm Fest was everything we hoped for and more. Here's a quick chronicle of every adventure, every mile, and every magical moment from the week.
Tuesday: The Journey Begins
Every great adventure starts with a little chaos — and ours was no exception.
We spent the morning packing up the last of our loose items, our bookstore kitty, Sir Fritz, coolers, and gear into the rental van. (Ten seats had to come out just to make it all fit; we were playing some serious Tetris. From there, we made our way to Colorado Springs to pick up a truck, then swung through Pueblo to grab a generator, our music setup was chosen as a standard, and the best deal we could find within range.
We drove hours, from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm; we listened to music, talked about the world, and all the magic of the WildeRealm with our inner team. We had the visionary, the aspiring author, a musician and sound warlock, a Jack of all Trades, and the comic book and co-creator of the WildeRealm.
The final stretch of the drive was nothing short of breathtaking: winding roads, sweeping scenery, and the quiet that reminds you why you do this. We pulled off at a local gem near Saguache, called Oasis, for a well-earned meal and a moment to breathe before the real work began.
By the time we rolled onto the faire grounds, the energy was already building. We pitched our camping tents under the open sky, set up our bookstore, set our alarms for an early rise, and let the anticipation carry us to sleep.
The Realm was waiting.