Staff
News and Updates
Martial Activities Update 8/7/2026
Target Archery is Closed for the Day and the War
Target Archery Opening Delayed
Youth Armored Castle Battle
Battlefield Update 8/5/2026
Target Archery Wednesday Early Close
The Martial Activities Division exists to ensure the smooth and safe operation of all martial activities at Pennsic. The Deputy Mayor of Martial Activities is directly responsible for managing the division and reports directly to the Mayor. In addition to the deputy mayor, Martial Activities contains various departments with control over specific areas of martial activities. Each of these activities is managed by a department head and additional volunteers as necessary. Martial Activities staff are not responsible for the actual scenarios and do not run the individual events at Pennsic. Those duties and functions fall to the purview of the Marshal in Charge and suitable deputies appointed to each of those events by the Marshal in Charge. Instead, Martial Activities staff and volunteers work in concert with the Marshals to ensure the resources are available for those events and officers to safely and competently carry out their duties.
Pennsic 53 War Scenarios & Tournaments
Martial Activities Departments
Archery
The Archery Range is located southwest of the Main Battlefield, beyond Oversized Parking. It is not visible from the main campground areas. The flag at the top of Mount Eislinn no longer exists, we now use a QR code to send you to a Facebook page to indicate when the range is open or if special conditions exist. Look for the signs with the QR code posted at the bus stops. We will be updating the information regularly.
There is regular bus service to the range starting at 9 am. We try very hard to be handicapped-friendly, but the range is extremely hilly. Also, please wear protective gear on your feet, due to the possibility of poison ivy, rocks, and other natural field conditions present on the ranges.
Please come out and enjoy some challenging shoots, regardless of which side you favor. We will be keeping score, and you may shoot each set of targets for points up to five times apiece during war week at Pennsic. The practice range and the family range will be set up as well.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone back on the archery range this year!
Need a refreshment on the archery field? Come swing by the archery populace tent! We’ll have shade, snacks, and Gatorade! Like everything at Pennsic, we run on Volunteers! If you would like to give back to the community and be an attendant at the tent, please sign up to help!
Armored Steel Combat
Armored Combat with Rebated Blades is a new SCA combat style that seeks to recreate one of the many styles of tournament on foot in the 14th-16th centuries. It utilizes blunted steel weapons and only cuts – no thrusts. The rules are similar to what you will find in the duel rules of the modern sport of buhurt, made popular by the Battle of the Nations annual event.
This year at Pennsic, the Steel fighting area will also be host to the new Harnischfechten Experiment, which seeks to reproduce a wider range of historical tournament and dueling techniques. SCA Harnischfechten rules closely mirror those used in the Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) community outside the SCA.
Rapier Activities
The Rapier Lists and Tent are located at the south end of the battlefield.
Standard office hours for the Rapier Tent will be 9 AM to 5 PM.
Various tournaments may start before or end after those hours, but marshal coverage for those events is the responsibility of the hosts. No activity is to take place without a marshal present and monitoring activity.