Step one: find an event!

You may find SCA events in many places: your local Kingdom website, the Kingdom newsletter, the Kingdom social media, and the websites, newsletters, and social media of your nearby baronies and other local groups. If you don’t know what to expect at any given event, feel free to reach out to ask questions. You can contact the hosting Event Steward or Autocrat, the officers of the group hosting the event, or the officers of your closest group, if that is not the group hosting the event.

Step two: don’t show up “naked”!

Participants in SCA events need to wear an attempt at pre-17th century clothing. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or handmade, or museum quality. If you see an SCA event happening and wish to check it out, you are of course welcome to observe in your street clothes, but if you are planning in advance to attend and participate, we ask that you make an attempt to blend in to preserve the mood.

Most groups have an officer known as a Chatelaine or Hospitaler, who is there to help you get acclimated. This is a person who is designated to help you get your bearings and get acquainted. They often have, or know where to obtain, loaner costumes (known as “garb” in the SCA) if you don’t yet have your own, so you can come and play and see if you like us before you put any time and money into your own garb. The Chatelaine will introduce you to people and groups in your areas of interest and generally get you acquainted. They may also be able to help you find transportation and lodging for events, if need be. If your local group does not have such an officer, the group Seneschal can help you coordinate.

Once you decide you’d like to keep having medieval-style fun with us, you can work on building your own garb collection. If you cannot sew or don’t know anyone who does, ask at your local group. There will usually be people who will help you learn to sew your own costumes, or you can buy or barter costumes from them. Try your local thrift stores. It is amazing what you can find there.

Step three: research the event!

Before planning to attend, you should research what type of event you are attending. Will it be a camping event? An event outdoors at a public park? A convention at a hotel? An indoor event at a recreation center or gym? You will need to make sure you have accounted for your comfort and physical needs. Additionally, if the event has a feast you will want to bring feast gear (plate, cup and utensils). Plain pottery or good wooden cups, bowls, and plates are a great first choice and can usually be found at most thrift shops.

Step four: pay the troll!

There will be a gate where you can check in at the entrance to every SCA event. There, you will pay the entrance fee and obtain your site token. This is a souvenir you are allowed to keep to remember the fun you had at the event. If you are not a member, you will also be asked to sign waivers to protect the organization from legal liability if you wish to engage in any slightly risky activity.

Basic Gear

There are several things you will want to take with you to every event:

1. Hydration: In the Outlands, staying hydrated should be your number-one priority. Many of our events are in high altitude desert conditions, and dehydration is always a concern. Make sure you always bring a drinking vessel (cup, tankard, drinking horn, wineskin) and refill as often as you need to.
2. A costume: Medieval clothing is often called “garb” in the SCA.
   • A basic tunic or peasant style shirt with a plain, loose-fitting pair of pants, scrubs pants, or sweats is fine for men to start with. A basic tunic or peasant style shirt with a long skirt is good for women to start with. Togas are great, easy options as well.
   • Belts are great for hanging a pouch and a tankard so you can keep yourself watered during your wandering at events.
   • Sandals, simple pull-on slippers or plain boots will do for footwear.
   • A wide-brimmed straw or floppy felt hat will do for head covering for anyone.
   • A cloak or a blanket pinned as a cloak in case of cold weather or aggressive air conditioning.
3. Money: You will need funds to pay the gate fee, as well as cover any purchases you may wish to make, if there are merchants or food vendors. Many of these do not take card payments, so you should ensure you have some cash on hand.
4. Seating: Many people use mundane/modern camping chairs to sit in, and cover it with a large piece of cloth to cover its mundanity. As you progress in the SCA you may eventually want to get a real, period-style chair, but it’s not necessary and even many long-time players still prefer the comfort and convenience of a modern camp chair. Even if the event is an indoor venue that probably provides seating, it’s not a bad idea to bring a chair anyway, in case the venue runs out or has chairs that are less than comfortable. Regardless of whether or not you bring a chair, you should also bring a cushion. Many events last several hours, so maximizing your comfort is a priority.
5. Feast gear: These should be made of metal, wood, glass, or ceramics and be of a period-looking style.
   • A big cup, goblet, mug, or tankard, preferably with an attached lid to keep out bugs.
   • A plate or platter.
   • A bowl.
   • A spoon and sharp knife. Forks were not common until very late period, but many of us use them anyway.

More Good Gear

Here are some other things, in no particular order, you may want to take to events that are for fun, for comfort, or to help make a more period environment.

1. A little table. Sometimes it is nice to set your goblet on something other than the ground.
2. Food! An ice chest with snacks, drinks, or lunch if you plan to be there all day and there is no feast or a late feast. Always take drinking water along with you. just in case. If the event is outdoors in summer and/or you are participating in any physical activity, electrolyte mixes are a must. Crackers, bread, cheese, fruit, nuts, sliced meats and sausages make for convenient, unobtrusive period type eating. Try offering a passer-by water or some of your snacks – it’s a good way to meet people!
3. A rug or blanket to spread on the ground if you are outdoors or to cover up if you get cold or sleepy.
4. Shade of some sort in case there are no trees or pavilions. This can be anything from a pop-up tent to a folding parasol. Sometimes other people will invite you to use their shade, or you may ask if you can sit with them. Explain that you are new.
5. Hand fans are great to help keep cool at summer events, or indoor events that are too warm due to everyone crowding a small space, or to help keep the bugs away if you are outdoors.
6. Cloths to cover up your table, chairs, and other modern items to help keep the medieval atmosphere.
7. A large, sturdy basket with a handle makes an excellent storage for any games, books, or arts projects you are working on, as well as a handy place to keep your feast gear.
8. Games you can take along include dominoes, dice, chess, mancala, and backgammon. Ask passersby if they would like to play; it’s another good way to meet people.
9. Lighting, such as lanterns or electric candles, is a great way to add some atmosphere, especially during feast or after dark.
10. Collapsible wagons cannot be praised enough. You will see them at almost every event you attend. If you are taller, make sure you get one with a handle long enough to be comfortable. You can cover them with a blanket or dress them up to make them seem more medieval, and then you can use it to haul everything you brought with you, don’t want to leave unattended, and realized too late that you don’t want to carry everywhere you wander.

For camping events, you will want any of the comforts you would take with you on a camping trip.