IDK man, the more historical Renaissance fairs still exist, with people a bit more strict about dressing period-appropriately. The ones you’re talking about are basically a whole separate thing, it’s basically a fantasy-inspired comic-con, and attracts a whole different audience.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with either. I think it’s awesome that there’s places for people to sell their niche handmade goods while sporting the fashions of 17th-century France or whatever, as well as places where people can dress up like fantasy creatures, tails and all.
I can’t confirm or deny your claims about soaking, because I never went to BYU.
However, I did live in a smallish town in Utah for a year, and I can confirm I saw more married and pregnant 18 year old teens in that one year than I’ve seen in the entire rest of my life.
The Department of Temporal Investigations is on the case (pixelfed.social)
alternative to trees (feddit.de)
soak and jump hump (feddit.de)