What is a Ren Fair?

[AFS1970]

As an example of what a Ren Faire is and is not, I will relate a story that still gets me in a bit of trouble with the wife. We would occasionally go to a nearby faire, but I never got dressed up. My wife on the other hand had a dress made just for the faire. It cost a pretty penny and looked great on her, although to my eye was a bit more formal than one should be wearing to an outdoor event. She asked me to dress up also.

I had nothing I considered suitable but thought I could put something together based on what I had seen. I wore a modern Kilt with a belted plaid to simulate a great kilt. A shirt that I always though of as American colonial era although are common with kilts in some parts. I had a pair of basic black mocasin boots, and a walking stick that had been brought back from Scotland for me. I also had a very generic black hooded cloak. Looking back on it, not a thing matched in any way and most conflicted horribly with each other.

A man came up to us and introduced himself as Duke something or other and said he liked the costume and gave an invite to be in a parade. My wife started to thank him and he said oh no, not you, him (me). It has taken years to live this down, but it shows that authenticity is neither wanted or expected at a ren faire.