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Picture it: sun on mail, shields, and fluttering banners... cannon roar... the thunder and ground-shake of armies charging... crash of swords and spears on shields... disciplined units holding together while others swirl in a melee of a hundred different sorts of armor and weapons... an open air bazaar over the space of five city blocks, surrounding you with the treasures of the world.
Picture it, or better yet, see it yourself after Bucconeer at the XXVII Annual Pennsic War. Pennsic, fought between the East and Middle Kingdoms, is the oldest war and the largest regular event in the SCA. It takes place at Cooper's Lake Campground in western Pennsylvania, about an hour's drive north of Pittsburgh and six hours from Baltimore. It runs from the first Sunday to the third Sunday in August, with the busiest time between the second and third weekends. The level of authenticity of encampments varies from those modeled after a particular time and place with inhabitants in appropriate garb, to nylon tents. The only rock-solid requirement is that participants must make an effort to dress in period clothing.
Although Pennsic is an SCA event and attendees must abide by SCA rules, you needn't be a member to attend. Some non-SCA groups attend en masse, with their own encampments.
Remember, Pennsic is a camping event; you must bring your own tent or get a room at a local motel and commute. This is a campground, with no accommodations on site other than what you bring or build yourself. There are shuttle buses from the far reaches of the site to the parking lots and "downtown."
If you're interested in going to Pennsic from Bucconeer, I'll look into chartering a bus. If you're interested in providing rides, finding a ride, or—God bless you!—volunteering to help with the effort, please contact me at:
Harold Feld (Yaakov HaMizrachi)
8301 16th Street, Apt. 101
Silver Spring, MD 20910
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