Pennsic, pennsic, pennsic

[anotheranon]

On the eve of this year's Pennsic War (the biggest event on the Society for Creative Anachronism calendar), I thought I'd share a few thoughts about the seemingly mythic status of this event.

I say "seemingly" because I've never actually gone to it, indeed, I only found out about it a few years back when I (briefly) joined the SCA. It was one of the first things I found out about, mostly from people telling me I simply must, must go, it's the experience of a lifetime, etc. And I must admit that I am kinda curious, especially after seeing the class calendar (drool!). But I do have my reservations.

I'm intrigued because the SCA seems to me to be the biggest pop subcultures that no one outside of it seems to know about. Pennsic attracts up to 10,000 a year, and despite my experience with crowded renn faires in two states it was still a surprise to consider that there are enough medieval/Renaissance "fans" out there to keep it and dozens (hundreds? thousands?) of smaller, regional events organized and active almost every weekend of the year. I'm boggled that they can do it because I'm simply amazed that anyone finds out the SCA exists in the first place! And glad that they exist, because it is a very welcome variation on the standard American weekend - why go out for a ball game and a cookout when you can go out for a tourney and a feast (and dress well while doing it)?

My membership was several years ago and I let it lapse due to other interests. Simply put I found that to really get anything of my local group you had to be heavily involved in a way that I'm just not prepared to be - it involves a lot of garb (most events require costume), camping equipment (and I've never been regular camping before) and weekend roadtripping (which I'm all for, but I have to do housework/grocery shop/feed the cats sometime!) On top of this add fighter/dance practice, sewing/craft circles and feasts and you have time/money for little else. I wasn't prepared to make that committment.

And that was the main reason I didn't stick with it - every person I met was more than generous with their time and possessions and extraordinarly eager to welcome a newbie - at one event I had at least two groups invite me join their camp at.... you guessed it, Pennsic!

I've seen the pictures, yearbooks, heard the stories and.. well.... Pennsic looks like it would be fun if you know people and plan to fight (it is a war, after all). If you're a newbie it seems like it would turn out to be an expensive week spent wallowing in the mud. I'm just not an outdoor girl, and I really really like the "anachronisms" of mosquito repellent and daily showers :/ Which disappoints me in a way, because those classes look awfully tempting, and the people can be so cool...

Maybe one day I'll get a hotel room nearby and commute to the site for the classes. Yes, I'm a geek :P

Comments

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

Like you, I'm a "former SCAdian" who wound up having money and time issues. I had a great deal of fun with the whole thing while I was involved, though, and I often toy with the idea of going back.

I've been to a few good-sized wars, although never to Pennsic, and I would not recommend staying offsite for the entire thing. Not only does having an on-site tent provide you with a passably convenient place to park your stuff and change clothes, but it also lets you hang out until however late you choose to without having to worry about driving your sleepy self back to the motel afterwards. You run into some cool people when you camp around them (although there will inevitably be a few assholes).

Then again, it can be nice to just take a break and grab a long shower sometimes. :)

Swimming was always popular, as was "dropping in" on someone who had a motel room with a shower, and bugspray was de rigeur. Note that very few people actually choose to try to stay totally "in period" for the duration of the War. It's also easy to be a non-fighter, as there's always something else going on. It can be an interesting social scene to go hang out down at the fighting field among the folks observing, but it's also easy to find other folks to hang out with, too.

My absolute favorite thing to do during the day while the fighting was going on was to wander the various merchant booths. There's always someone there, and you can shoot the breeze with them to your heart's content. They'll fall all over themselves to geek about their particular craft with anyone who expresses an interest, and you can find out some really neat things. Since you're heavily into costuming, you'll encounter about a million people who share that interest. :)

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Re: camping out: eurgh, maybe, maybe one day, if I can find some cool people to share the expenses with! I think part of my reluctance also comes from the fact that I came into the SCA through the costuming door, and it seems counterintuitive to work hard on something only to risk getting mud on it after I spray it to death with DEET :P I guess peasant gear/men's garb is more amenable to the camping thing (I frankly can't imagine making it through a weekend outdoors in a skirt!)

[jlsjlsjls.livejournal.com]

LOL!!!!! I camped quite a bit in my childhood and teens ... it was the only way my family could afford to have vacations/travel. As a result, I am quite addicted to motel/hotel amenities like clean sheets and hot showers. ;-)

On the other hand, wouldn't muddy hems make your costumes more "authentic"? ***teasing grin***

[tommdroid.livejournal.com]

I think you ought to give it a try. fun things and events will at times require effort and economical resources. for me it is LexxORama and that yearly reptile event down in Norrköping...and if I'm lucky enough...eventually...go abroad and met up. we only live once ;))

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

Oh, you gotta make it stateside, at least once!!