What is a Ren Fair?

[Luke MacGillie]

To me a Ren Faire is an event that is put on as a way to make vendors of nick nacks and proto-historic clothing money, and provide a good time for the people who attend, and to also allow the public to pay and make money for someone? It is usually, but not always detached from any sort of educational organization or museum. This allows people to pretty much do what they want, crocheted chain mail, elf ears, and well, to do things they way we wish they were, not the way the most current peer reviewed documentation of the period shows life was like. You will see all kinds of quasi Scottish impressions, but they usually involve a modern kilt, a 2 handed claymore, leather vambraces and a pair of Apache boots.

I have no issues with folks doing what they want, but at the same time, these Ren Faires use a loose association with "Historical Education" to justify to the public at large what is really Live Action Role Playing, swinging and well you get the picture......

That sounds very judgemental, but really it is not. When I put on 18th or 19th Century historic clothing and go someplace to engage in public education, that is what I do, and then at some other time and place, outside of the pubic eye, shenanigans and debauchery can take place!