Greenfield — Explore the “current middle ages” in a local gathering and dinner that brings out the best of reinterpreted medieval culture, at the “Snowshoe Hare Culture Fair” in a week.
An annual opportunity to indulge in the colonial and early American lifestyle was earlier this month at the Jackson County “Trade Fair” by the Sons of Liberty Muzzle Loading Club on January 17-18. (See my preview story from last year.) Coming up is an opportunity to explore medieval Europe in a completely different nearby event, the “Snowshoe Hare Culture Fair” by the Canton of Woods End in Greenfield on February 7th, 2026.
The canton is a group within the Society for Creative Anachronism, or SCA, founded in 1966. The SCA includes all ages, with activities ranging from safe “armored combat” to arts, crafts, industries, food, dancing…and of course, royalty and court gatherings.
The SCA is a scholarly and experiential pursuit of the culture of Europe between about AD 600 and 1600, and any culture it was in contact with (which was most of the world, by 1600). This is in contrast to the popular idea of Renaissance Fairs, which are more theatrical and entertainment-focused outings based the later time period. (Yet…many of us enjoy both.)
Most SCA events – like the Snowshoe Hare Culture Fair – end with a “feast” that is a hand-made multi-course dinner, often led by professional cooks, with an admission price that is a fraction of its value.
Learn much about the SCA, its culture, and this event in my interview from last year’s event with one of the leaders of the Canton of Woods End: Eric Salyers, whose SCA persona is Olfgar Wilfhausen, a Norseman -a.k.a. a “Viking” from Norway. (By the way, I am Mael Mhuire, a medieval Irishman and scribe).
Other nearby SCA groups are at OSU, Ohio University, Columbus, and the Hocking Valley. There are usually events distributed at least 100 apart miles most weekends. Learn more in the SCA website, which includes a calendar of events, and where you can also search for the nearest group.
As I like to say, SCAdians know too much about the middle ages…and are too happy to share that knowledge. And if you don’t have authentic garb, you can learn how to make it and sometimes buy it at events.
