What better way to learn and teach others about a period of history? Of course, if you want the historically accurate you’re better off sticking to an SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) event.
If you’re just looking for entertainment value, however, there are festivals all over the place. If you’d like to find one near you (at least in the United States) I would recommend RenaissanceFestival.com. They have a pretty good directory of Faires and Festivals around the country.
Want to find some clothing to dress up in? There are several companies I would recommend (where you may purchase from, depends on how accurate you want to be and how much you’re willing to spend).
The first company I would recommend is Very Merry Seamstress. She makes custom garb, as well as reproductions and she doesn’t stop with the Renaissance. Interested in the Civil War or the Edwardian era? She makes garb for those and more.
Next on my list would be Threads of Time. Here they create men and women’s clothing (including kilts). They also have a myriad of accessories.
If you’re looking for weapons to protect your lady, then stop by Realm Collections. You can find movie reproductions as well as more time-appropriate weapons, clothing, and even armor.
If you plan on bringing weapons to a Renaissance Festival be sure to read up on their weapon policies. Some Faires will not allow weapons, some require them to be “peace-tied” meaning they must stay sheathed at all times.
