The first Pennsic War was held in 1971. It is now held in Slippery Rock, PA Every August. Basically, going to Pennsic (or War for short) is an experience for those who are strong of constitution and have a strong interest in the middle ages, (okay, actually just Pre-1600's.)
The Society for Creative Anachronism holds many events throughout the year from coast to coast, and beyond. Pennsic War is the biggest, and in my never to be humble opinion, it is the best. The site opens on the first Saturday in August, and continues for Two weeks, ending on a Sunday. Beginning on the second Saturday, The merchants open for business and the War officially begins.
There are literally hundreds of activities of which one may partake. There are battles to fight in and battles to watch. There are Fencing matches, archery tournaments, and other martial arts. In the non-violent side, there are classes and competitions in areas ranging from Middle-Eastern dance to Speaking Old English, or even how to autocrat (host) your own SCA event. There are Royal courts and Society Balls. There is of course shopping. With several hundred merchants to choose from, there are endless ways to spend your money.
Those are just a few of the OFFICIAL activities. I shall endeavor to explain:
The SCA hosts Pennsic, but it is not limited strictly to SCA members. anyone may attend War as long as they follow certain guidelines. The most important are:
Pennsic is held at a rather large campground... There is a large, flat, open plain that we affectionately call "The Serengeti." There is a man-made lake that is unaffectionately called, "Leech Lake." And surrounding Leech Lake is "The Swamp," which is a large wooded area. Those who attend War and involve themselves in lots of official events usually camp up on the Serengeti. (Why anyone would camp there is beyond me... there are no trees to speak of, and in August, the Direct heat of the sun will tend to vomit you and everyone else out of their tents about an hour past sunrise.) The "Swampies" can, and often do sleep all day in the relative cool of the forest, thus they tend to party all night.
If you like wild dancing by firelight, tribal drums, large quantities of alcohol, and really cool and sometimes bizarre people, the Swamp is the place for you to camp. Be warned now... the only camping spaces available to individuals is on the Serengeti, so if you want to live the Swamp life, you will have to join one of the many Households or Clans.
Clans and Houses are groups of people who camp together in sort of a loose "family" arrangement. In the same way that a Clan in medieval Scotland could comprise people from many different families, Clans and Households are of a political nature more than one of blood. I have personally met people who feel more strongly tied to their clan than to their own blood relatives.
View my Pennsic Scrapbook