I've never been to a renfair (I did meet a fellow once who does go to them, who said that on those weekends, he is "Egbert, the Duke of Yolk"), but I suspect they are not that different from some science fiction conventions—an opportunity for people to leave the real, work-a-day world behind for awhile and live out a bit of fantasy.

I haven't been to a science fiction convention for some years now, but at the last one I went to, along with the serious writers' workshops and such, I saw at least five Darth Vaders of various sizes and shapes all kitted out with the black armor, the long black cloak, and the black chamber-pot on their heads, along with enough people wearing Star Trek uniforms from various series' to crew about nine enterprises, along with more Klingons than there were on the Klingon home world. Romulans, Vulcans, and species I didn't recognize. A few bare-chested and somewhat paunchy Conan the Barbarians, and one rather grossly overweight young woman who really shouldn't have, but had chosen to be Red Sonja. Very skimpy outfit along with an impressive looking broadsword. I've never quite understood the practicality of a chain-mail bikini, but I figured "what the hell . . . she's enjoying her weekend of fantasy, so leave her to it!" And I did see one very blue smurf!

Anyway, I tend to think that a bit of fantasy away from the everyday grind is pretty much what it's all about.

Don Firth