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Tourney Site Disguises

by Catherine Kenda of Stillwater

One of the benefits of a tourney is the chance to really attempt a re creation of the Middle Ages for a couple of days. There is certain feeling about waking up in a medieval tent, to a setting and events of six hundred years ago, that nothing else gives. You arise, dress in tunic and cloak, gird on your knife or sword, and as you step forth into the bustling camp your eyes are greeted by the sight of a day glo orange nylon tent surrounded by piles of bags, ice chests, aluminum folding chairs and a Coleman lantern and stove...

If you winced at the description above, perhaps you need to think about disguising your tourney equipment. "But," you say as you nod in agreement, "What can I do? I don't have any money I'm just a poor _______" (Pick one peasant, student, serf, lord.) We answer – there is a lot you can do to “spiff up" your tourney site and help create a medieval atmosphere without spending a fortune.

For example -

Ice chests: They can be disguised quite simply by throwing a square of fabric striped, solid, or whatever over them to create an instant seat or table.

Coleman lanterns: There are few things more obnoxious than the glare of a Coleman lantern in a "Medieval" setting. While sometimes necessary for setting up camp, they can be replaced by inexpensive candle lanterns from Cost Plus during the event. Two or three will give adequate light for most campsites. You can even make your own, with a little ingenuity, from tin cans or other materials.

Tents: While there is little you can do to really disguise a modern tent, you can help the mood by other tricks such as keeping other non medieval equipment out of site. One way to disguise a tent somewhat has been used by Duke James Greyhelm on a pavilion. Since for safety all guy lines must have flags, he made a row of pennons to tie on. This gave the effect of dagged edges, but keep really modern tents away from the eric, no matter how you disguise them.

Chairs: The easiest way of hiding aluminum chairs is to throw a cloak over them. For the more ambitious, cloth can be pinned or sewn to form a cover.

Other Ideas include bringing tourney gear in a large, cheap basket, or cloth sacks; hiding boxes under a table (if there is one at your site) and then covering with a tablecloth; and keeping armor and weapons neatly stacked by the tent.

There are other ways of achieving a medieval campsite. Not all of them are expensive. Just ask other people with good looking sites how they did it, and they'll be glad to tell you. Your eyes and spirits will benefit as much as anyone's.

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