RULES OF PARTICIPATION

The Fair at New Boston represents the period of 1790 - 1810.  No clothing or other items dating after 1810 will be acceptable.  On the other hand, it is reasonable that clothing and other items which pre-date 1790 may still be in use.

1.      Your appearance, camp, accouterments, food, etc. must be approved by the jury committee before acceptance and is subject to inspection at the fair.

2. Between opening 9:00 a.m. Saturday and closing 6:00 p.m. Sunday, you are in the period of the Fair, whether or not the paying public is present. All items are required to reflect this. Please remain in period appropriate clothing during this time.

3. All items used or sold at the fair should be authentic to the period. This includes clothing, furnishings, guns, knives, shoes, hats, baggage, eating utensils, trunks, ect. Modern patterns and books should be kept in a separate area not open to public view from the street. No Western or Plains Indian articles should be worn or sold.

4. Merchants may sell pre-prepared period-appropriate foodstuffs from USDA or State approved sources presented in a period appropriate manner and approved by GRCHA Jury process. (This is to eliminate duplicates.)

5. Only pre-1810 eyewear, genuine or facsimile, or contact lenses are allowed. No modern eyewear is acceptable.

6. Men’s clothing should be typical American clothing of the late 1700s to 1810 (see note in heading). Clothing items include: shirt with collar, waistcoat, hat or other head covering, stockings and shoes or barefoot (no modern style moccasins), neck stock or neck handkerchief, trousers or breeches, and coat when walking in public (such as frock, jacket, hunting coat, etc.) The following are not allowed: Printed Calico shirts, long fringed buckskins, “Mountain Man” clothing, western clothing or capotes.

7. Women’s clothing should be typical of the late 1700s to 1810 (see note in heading).  Clothing items include: shift (chemise), under petticoat and petticoat, short gown, jacket and/or gown, white day cap or period hairstyle, stockings and shoes or barefoot, neck handkerchief, hat or bonnet when walking in public. Any jewelry should be appropriate to the period and to the re-enactor’s station in life. No modern makeup, non-period calico prints, or sleeveless bodices are permitted.

8. Children’s clothing list includes: shift or shirt, trousers or breeches for boys, cap, hat or head covering, and petticoat for girls, waistcoat for boys, neck handkerchief, stockings and shoes or barefoot, short gown, jacket or gown for girls. No sleeveless  bodices are allowed.

9. Alternate suggestion: Children’s clothing list includes: Boys – shirt, trousers or breeches, waistcoat, hat or head covering. Girls – shift, petticoat, short gown or jacket, and/or gown, white cap or period hairstyle. No sleeveless bodices are allowed. In addition, for boys and girls – neck handkerchief, stockings and shoes or barefoot.

10. Infant’s clothing items include: shirt, cap, diaper cover or period diapers, bedgown or gown, blanket, period basket for supplies/infant.

11. Clothing standards for male Indians include: moccasins center seam, one piece with pucker toe scalp lock or head covered with kerchief or turban, leggings (snug fitting, side seam, mid-thigh; no higher than mid-thigh); breechcloth (width mid-thigh to mid-thigh, length no more than to mid-thigh); bead work (straight geometrical designs, no floral); trade silver (appropriate to the period) hide and finger woven bags (no cloth bags). All sashes and knee garters must be finger woven - no inkle loom woven pieces.

12. Clothing standards for female Indians include: Strap dress, trade shirt over a match coat skirt, leggings to be same as men’s or short below the knee, suspended by a garter. Dresses should extend below top of legging. Moccasins also same as men’s, no shoulder bags, no neck knives, reasonable face painting, hair pulled up and queued, may be greased back but no bangs.

13. Footwear- typical of late 1700s to 1810 (see note in heading),  including moccasins. Not allowed: Dyer footwear, Poppen moccasins or slippers.

14. Shelters: acceptable shelters include simple lean-tos, marquees, wedge or wall tents. Tepees are not permitted on the Fair grounds. Modern Tents are only permitted in Modern Camping.

15. No coolers or other non-period items for storing perishables should be visible to the public. Such items are permitted, but must be kept hidden.

16. Unlicensed alcoholic beverages are not permitted by order of National Trail Parks & Recreation.

17. No cigarettes or brown cigar-like cigarettes are permitted by persons dressed in period dress.

18. Dogs are not permitted by order of National Trail Parks & Recreation. This does not include service dogs, but please make appropriate arrangements.

19. Minor children are the sole responsibility of their parents or the adults who bring them.

20. No cameras should be used by participants in period dress.

21. Anyone carrying firearms or edged weapons is charged with the responsible handling of same. Irresponsible behavior will not be tolerated and can result in expulsion from the fair. No un-announced firing of weapons.

The George Rogers Clark Heritage Association (GRCHA) makes every effort to be knowledgeable regarding all elements of the period of the fair. The GRCHA does not pretend to be the final authority on any and all matters. However, as the GRCHA is affirming to the public that the fair is as accurate in all it’s details as possible, decisions as to what is permitted are made on the basis of what is provable through documentation. We recognize that logic suggests behaviors, but, absent of proof, we do not feel we can certify accuracy on the basis. If, on the other hand, you have documentation which you feel supports a position which our jury committee has ruled inappropriate, please present it. This is a constant learning process for all of us.