These festivals are not like others. The air is clean. The panorama is colorful but tastefully muted in rich purples, burnt oranges, forest greens and the earthy browns and golds of wood, leather and antique metals.

The gentle notes of a

recorder

replaces the grind of gears and rock music blasting from carnival rides.

Natural wood and canvas structures replace tacky trailers strung with Christmas lights and banners advertising funnel cakes and corn dogs. No plastic trashcans spilling over with Styrofoam litter the landscape.

At medieval encampments and Renaissance fairs, the strict prohibition of anything that would not have been around from 400 AD through the 1600s helps to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a less-cluttered existence.

And late summer is the time when Western Pennsylvania becomes the hub of such events.

Each August for 34 years the Pennsic War encampment at Cooper's Lake Campground in Worth Township has been sponsored by the Society for Creative Anachronism, an international group dedicated to researching and re-creating pre-17th-century European history."Anachronism means something in the wrong period of time," explained society member Lois Ament of Slippery Rock. "The society theoretically tries to re-enact the period of history from 400 to 1600 AD the way it should be."We try to create a utopian version, one without unsanitary conditions, plagues and rancid meat," she added with a smile.The Pennsic War has been touted as the largest medieval re-enactment in the world, according to Diane Weston, a media liaison for the event."We get about 15,000 campers and 200 vendors from all over the world. When I go overseas and tell people I've been here, they are amazed," she said.Curious locals who pass the sea of canvas tents while traveling down Route 422 each August may wonder why so many leave their air-conditioned homes to rough it in rural Butler for two weeks. SCA member Cheryl Brasch of Butler has the answer."Our mission is to preserve the past for the future," said Brasch, who makes clothing for period festivals.Brasch said the SCA holds 900 classes to instruct its members and guests in preserving the lost arts and sciences of the past during the two weeks of the Pennsic War event.Young and old learn to make everything from ancient pottery and jewelry to handmade parchment scrolls while developing skills like enameling and calligraphy.Dan Carpenter of Red Falcon Armouries of Butler learned his trade through the SCA. Now he earns his living making the armor that protects bold knights who fight in the field and castle battles all over the world. His partners are Brasch and her husband, who introduced him to the craft 15 years ago."Armouries with a 'u' means defense. If it's spelled with only an 'o' it's offense gear. I've been trained to make armor by the SCA for proper protection," said Carpenter recently as he pulled his combat authorization card from his pocket.He also joins the battles wearing a skirt, bearing rattan weapons and bucket hilts to protect his hands."When someone 'loses an arm,' he will put his hand behind his back to indicate the loss of limb. His opponent will do the same. It's the chivalrous thing to do," Carpenter said."I was one of those kids who went out fighting with a broom handle and a garbage can lid. Now I just have better equipment and a better set of rules," he said.Unlike, Carpenter, Weston doesn't always attend the battles. It's usually too hot out in the open fields of Cooper's Lake Campground. But it's those fields, plus the close proximity to Pittsburgh International Airport and the vast camping area that make it an ideal spot for a campout of this magnitude."No one realizes how unusual this site is. I researched sites that might accommodate 15,000 for the 40th anniversary of the society, and found nothing in the world like Cooper's Lake Campground," Weston said.Fortunately, 15,000 electrical hook-ups are not something that is important. Historical accuracy is so valued that electricity is only permitted in merchandise and food tents, and in the handicapped campsite.Cell phones are legal at the Pennsic War encampment, but not at all medieval events."At the Great Lakes Medieval Fair, if I was seen using my cell phone, I'd be fined $50," Brasch said.Despite its strict enforcement of rules that keep it historically correct, the group was praised by Weston and Brasch for its charity to members who are having difficulties and its acceptance of all types of people.Non-members are welcome at the encampment, and numerous nationalities are represented at campsites on Cooper Lake this time of year."One thing is, we are much more accepting of other people's foibles than any other group. It's all volunteer, but you can do as much or as little as you want," said Weston, who has been to the Pennsic War 10 times.In the evenings, campers visit other campsites where they tell stories and sing songs in character, Weston said."It's really great. They have bardic circles where they make things up as if they had actually been there. People say that the heat from all those campfires actually moves the clouds away."

Though they are probably the most serious, the SCA is not the only group dedicated to educating people about medieval times. As the Cooper's Lake group broke camp last weekend, the 12th annual Greater Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival and Crafts Market got into full swing.The fair will continue until Sept. 25 at a location six miles west of New Stanton in Westmoreland County, where 70,000 visitors are expected to converge over the six remaining weekends."The festival is more of an entertainment venue but strives to be historically accurate and also seeks to educate the public," said Elizabeth Gehrman, entertainment director."All crafters are juried and our cast members audition in the fall and go through a series of workshops where they learn the physicality, dialogue and mannerisms of people who lived between 1590 and 1600," said Gehrman. "We try to hit the 10 years of Elizabeth's(Queen Elizabeth I)reign."New at the fair this year will be Student Days on Sept. 13 and 14, exclusively for groups of students who want to combine learning with a fun-filled field trip."It will be the same show but the bent is educational. We hope to offer a painless transfer of knowledge to the students," she said.Gehrman said more than 700 people, including 100 costumed cast members, help to put on the fair that boasts seven stages, three jousting events per day, music, 100 craft shops, games and rides.Though the SCA events are more strictly guided toward historical accuracy, the Renaissance festival also tries to stay true to its time period."Games and rides are all man-powered. If you get on our ride, some man will be pulling you around on it," Gehrman said.Some of the food is what you'd expect, but different, she added."We have hot dogs, but we call them squire dogs. We also have soup in a bread bowl and big, roasted turkey legs."

Michael Mykita of Middlesex Township and his 13-year-old daughter Alexandra, a student at Mars Middle School, became cast members two years ago. After just watching for about five years, Mykita decided to join the fun. His daughter, who went along for the ride, ended up getting cast, too.As actors/tour guides, they greet visitors and draw them into the Renaissance. The tricky part is that most of the time, they have no script."The bulk is improvisational. We improvise from the time the gate opens at 10:30 until it closes at 8:30," Mykita said."That's what we're trained for - how to have a conversation that's going to go somewhere. We're taught improvisation by professional actors."Mykita's character name is Dr. M., the royal astrologer and adviser to the queen. He and his daughter, Nell Belle, the village bell ringer, also sing in the Shire Choir and help out at the maypole and human chess game. The board is painted on the grass."When one piece catches another, we clear the board and let them fight it out," Mykita said. "Fights are choreographed by professional fight directors. Members of the audience play the pawns," he added."You can step into the 16th century and be a member yourself. Their job is to interact," said Gehrman of the actors."We don't take ourselves as seriously as the historical re-enactors. We don't mind inaccuracies for the sake of health, welfare and fun," Mykita said.And there are plenty of opportunities for fun. Young children can go to the gingerbread stage for magic shows, a "dragon hatching" or a lesson at Fool School, taught by the court jester.Older visitors may want to watch musical performances, acrobats and jugglers or dueling swordsmen, or attend a party for Queen Rosalind and King Richard. Each weekend celebrates a different theme.Mykita receives a stipend which just about covers his expenses for costume, gas and food."You don't do it for the money. Nobody is getting rich at this thing. We just break even," he said.But Mykita doesn't mind. He is having the time of his life.Each evening after the gates close, he and the other cast members head down to the cool valley, into the lush forest, where an entire Elizabethan village has beenre-created, complete with shops of every kind and a village pub.Many of the buildings are permanent, two-story structures. After spending eight hours in layers of clothing in the summer heat, it's time for some refreshment."Each night at the pub sing, different musical groups, dancers and jugglers perform. It's a lot of fun," Mykita said. "After the seven weeks are up, you'd think everyone would be ready to leave, but at the last pub sing, there is not a dry eye in the place."