The appeal of going back to earlier times

What's the attraction to events such as tribal pow wows, renaissance festivals, Highland games and a muzzleloader rendezvous?

The answers are almost as many as there are historical festivals.

We like to remember our past, to step outside our day-to-day lives and imagine life in earlier times while joining in with others in fun recreation.

All of these celebrate our diversity of culture and offer a viewing spectacle. For some of us, it's a time to reconnect with our roots, from our Native American ancestry or our European roots.

If you haven't been to at least one of each of these events, you've missed out.

In this area, we have our re-enactors and our own events from the past, such as Good Old Days, Bushwhacker Days, and the various living history weekends at the Fort Scott National Site.

In Oklahoma and in other states such as Oregon, many tribes mark their traditions with annual pow wows, a time when families and friends get together to visit, enjoy food and culture, and pass on a part of their heritage to younger family members.

Many tribal pow wows have been going on for years and in some case decades, marking the greater family reunion. Members who may be scattered across the country return to their homelands for a time of community and sharing.

Dancing and other performances, as well as singing, serve to unite us in the past, the present and the future.

I've been fortunate to witness these come alive, from tribal chanting and dancing, to vivid storytelling.

That same sense of community is sparked during other events, such as renaissance festivals.

Because of our family's travels, we've had a chance to see many of these as well, from Oregon and Washington, to Minnesota, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee.

Like the pow wows, these festivals are held over the summer and fall months.

They lure those who like to cheer for their favorite knights jousting in armor, dueling with the foil, lining up the archery target, getting our fortunes told, or buying handmade crafts and goods while chomping on a turkey leg (a favorite food served as these festivals).

Here too, the performers, from the clowns and the jugglers to the jousters and fencers, may travel great distances to take part in these events.

Many do the circuit, at least in their geographic part of the country, and visit cities and states in their traveling caravans of RVs, trailers and campers. While there are some who are just starting their experience, others do this nearly full-time and rely on the donations of those in attendance who appreciate their efforts.

The level of entertainment at all of these events is quite high.

The recent Renaissance Festival in St. Louis drew many from the surrounding area for the multi-weekend event that featured games and activities; jousts and fire-eating jugglers; games of skill, chess games and belly dancers.

Yet another opportunity lends itself around Labor Day with the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, one of the largest in the country and a sister event to another of the largest, in Shakopee, Minn.

A search on the web of these activities shows the widespread interest and attendance that supports our zealousness to remain connected with others and our past, year after year.

In addition, there are the annual Caledonian Games in Athena, Ore., and the Big Island Rendezvous in Albert Lea, Minn., and a large muzzleloader and frontier event in Nashville, Tenn.

These varied weekends offer piping, dancing, tossing the caber, muzzleloader sharpshooter contests, and a look at the mountain men and fur trappers of yesteryear.

Visitors get a taste of Scotland and Ireland or early North America.

Whatever your taste, whether it be cowboys on horseback, Native Americans passing on tribal traditions, men in kilts, ladies in ruffles, or knights in armor and re-enactors bringing past historical events to life such as the Civil War era, each of us can find something and some time to escape to -- a time where the pace wasn't as sudden and there were no cell phones and computers beckoning.