Elf Fantasy Fair

Elf Fantasy Fair 2011

The Elf Fantasy Fair (Elfia) is an outdoor fantasy event in the Netherlands.[1]

Between 2001 until 2009 it was held in the month of April. From 2009 it is held twice a year, in April at Castle de Haar, Haarzuilens and in September at Castle Arcen, Arcen. The Haarzuilens fair is the largest fantasy event in Europe[2] and attracts some 22,500 visitors every year.[3] The fair is managed by Stefan Struik since 2008, who also initiated the event in 2001. Next to fantasy, there is also representation of science fiction, LARP, gothic, manga, cosplay and historical reenactment genres.

Previous guests of honour included Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Tarja Turunen, Stanislav Ianevski, Brian Froud, Brian Muir and Christopher Paolini. The German band Faun often headlined the fair and the English lecturer Professor Rotherham regularly gives lectures in the castle's chapel.

Elf Fantasy Fair 2007

Other events

Since the Elf Fantasy Fair proved to be a success there have been other fantasy related events held in The Netherlands such as the Gothic & Fantasy Beurs at De Broodfabriek in Rijswijk (Gothic & Fantasy Exhibition, since 2003),[4] the Midwinter Fair at the Archeon, Alphen aan den Rijn (since 2003),[5] Castlefest at the Keukenhof, Lisse (since 2005),[6] the Gothic & Fantasy Fair in Arnhem (between 2007 and 2009),[7] Keltfest near Dordrecht (since 2008),[8] the MysticFair in Rotterdam (in 2008 and 2009),[9] Nox Obscura (in 2008),[10] Phantasium in Eindhoven (since 2009),[11] Fantastic Amsterdam in Amsterdam (in 2009 and 2010)[12][13] Fantastyval (between 2009 and 2014).[14][15] and the Midzomer Fair (Midsummer Fair, between 2010 and 2012)[16][17]

See also

External links

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elf Fantasy Fair.
  1. (Dutch) Elf fantasy fair, NRC Handelsblad, May 4, 2007 (behind paywall)
  2. Holland Elf Fantasy Fair, Brasky.org, May 26, 2010
  3. (Dutch) Bezoekersaantal Elf Fantasy Fair op 22.500, De Volkskrant, April 22, 2007
  4. (Dutch) Gothic & Fantasy Beurs website
  5. Archeon website
  6. Castlefest website
  7. (Dutch) Gothic & Fantasy Fair website
  8. Keltfest website
  9. (Dutch) MysticFair website
  10. Nox Obscura website
  11. (Dutch) Phantasium website
  12. (Dutch) Fantastic Amsterdam website
  13. (Dutch) Geen Fantastic Amsterdam dit weekend, organisatie failliet, Het Parool, 12 Augustus 2011
  14. (Dutch) Fantastyval website
  15. (Dutch) Stekker uit Fantastyval in Wouwse Plantage, BN De Stem, 9 January 2015
  16. (Dutch) Midzomer Fair website
  17. (Dutch) Midsummer Fair, Aztek-TV, June 19, 2010 (archive)