Why does one find so much "masquerade" at folk venues these days?

Seems like pirates are everywhere, steampunkers, ye olde wenches, and all kinds of (rather expensive) archaic costume?

Why is it that folk music makes people dress in the past?
Maybe they can not see that folk music is timeless and suitable for any clothing or none at all?

The music sounds the same without the additional symbolism "hey look at me I sing bawdy songs"

How should folkies dress to convey the vision of the timelessness of the music.

Conrad