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The Brandywine Festival

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The Brandywine Festival
Welcome, Fellow Hobbit
✦ ✦ ✦

Welcome to a 15-minute primer to begin your journey to The Brandywine Festival.
Settle in. Your adventure begins here!

🔊 Music recommended · Best experienced fullscreen

Chapter I

What Is The
Brandywine Festival?

"The festival is an annual event hosted by the Master of Buckland to celebrate a successful harvest."

The Brandywine Festival is a live action roleplay (LARP) experience set in the world of Tolkien's Shire. You will play a Hobbit at the 259th annual Brandywine Festival — the most beloved celebration in all of Buckland.

It is October 7th, 1418, Shire Reckoning. The harvest has come in, the fires are lit, and the ale is flowing. Stories unfold. Music fills the air. Something stirs at the edge of the forest…

🎭

Immersive LARP

Like improv theatre — no script, no audience. Everyone is a participant, creating stories together.

🍺

A Hobbit Festival

Food, ale, music, gossip, gifts, and the simple joys of Shire life — with a little adventure lurking nearby.

🌿

You Create It

The stories that emerge come from you. Your character, your choices, your moments with others.

The Heart of It

Three Core Principles

These are the pillars on which the Brandywine Festival is built.

🤝

Community

An environment — online and on-site — that is welcoming and encouraging. Assume the best of others. This is how we build the Brandywine Community.

✨

Co-Creation

A world full of Hobbits can only be created if everyone dresses and plays like a Hobbit. You are part of everyone's experience. And they are part of yours.

🌙

Immersion

We want to create an experience that looks, sounds, and feels like The Shire. Everywhere you look — from the lanterns to the costumes — is the world made real.

Chapter II

Concerning Hobbits

Who are you? And who are your people?

The Folk of The Shire

Hobbits stand between 2–4 feet tall. They are good-natured, rustic, and peaceable folk who love good tilled earth, six meals a day, the company of friends, and the comfort of home.

They dress in bright colours — green and yellow especially. They are quick of hearing, sharp-eyed, and possess a near-supernatural ability to go unseen when they choose.

They love to laugh, eat heartily, give gifts freely, and sing songs for every occasion.

Culture & Customs

  • 🌱 Gardening and farming are central to life
  • 🎁 Gift-giving is a cornerstone of social culture
  • 🎵 Songs for every occasion — walking, mourning, celebrating
  • 📜 Stories passed around tables every evening
  • 🚬 Pipeweed enjoyed by many after a good meal
  • 🍺 Ale, mead, cider, and beer — always in good measure
  • 🤫 Gossip is practically a Hobbit artform

📅 It is currently October 7th, 1418 Shire Reckoning (T.A. 3018). Strange riders in black have recently ridden through Buckland. The Horn-call sounded just a week ago. The Festival is a welcome distraction — and comfort — for the whole Shire.

Full Player Guide ↗
The World

The Shire

The green and fertile home of the Hobbits for 1,400 years

A map of The Shire

📍 Buckland

Our Festival takes place here — just east of the Brandywine River. Home of Brandy Hall and the Brandybuck family.

🏛️ Michel Delving

The de facto capital of The Shire, seat of the Mayor. Home to the Mathom-house museum.

🌳 The Old Forest

Borders Buckland to the east. The trees are said to be awake and hostile. Bounders guard the hedge.

Chapter III

The Rules

Simple, so you can focus on playing.

🟢 In Character (IC)

Within the shared fiction — your character, the world, the story. During game time, stay here as much as possible.

🔵 Out of Character (OOC)

The real world — safety, logistics, emergencies. You can always step out when needed. Your wellbeing comes first.

🚫 No Combat

No Hobbit participates in physical combat. None. Not even a little scuffle.

🚫 No Weapons

No LARP weapons of any kind are carried during the event.

🚫 No PvP

This is not a game about conflict between Hobbits. There may be rivalries — but no malice.

🛑 "Stop" & "Continue"

"Stop" halts all play for safety or emergency. "Continue" resumes. Always obey immediately.

💬 "Really Really"

Say this IC to signal an OOC need without breaking immersion. "I'd really really like to sit down."

🤝 Arms Crossed

Crossed arms indicate a person is Out-of-Character. Respect this signal always.

⛺ Postmaster's Tent

The OOC HQ, always centrally located. Go here for emergencies, questions, or IC messages via messenger.

Full Rules Guide ↗
Chapter IV

Playing Your Hobbit

Tools to bring your character to life

🔬

Make Small Things Big

Your biggest worry today is whether your neighbor's pumpkin is shinier than yours. The smaller you make your world, the more Hobbit-like it feels.

🎁

Give Gifts

Bring small gifts — flowers, cookies, trinkets. Gift-giving is central to Hobbit culture and leads to wonderful roleplay moments.

🎶

Sing Songs

Hobbits sing constantly. A walking song, a tavern song, a lament. Tolkien songs are perfect; feel free to adapt folk tunes to fit The Shire.

🤫

Share Gossip

Gossip is positive here! "I heard strange lights in the forest" draws people to plot. Spread stories that give others something to discover.

🐾

Hide or Run

Faced with danger? A wise Hobbit hides or runs. Playmakers will respect a committed attempt to flee. Your courage is quiet and deeply felt.

💬

Speak Like a Hobbit

Old English cadence, no modern slang. "Oh my god" breaks the spell. Try "Fiddlesticks!" or "Oh beans!" instead. Address others as Master or Miss.

Play to Lift: Support other players in the role they've chosen. Read the mood of a scene. Build others up — and they will build you up in return.

Your Costume

Dressing Like a Hobbit

A guidebook, not a rulebook — but immersion starts here.

Hobbit clothing is simple, comfortable, and practical — inspired by 1700s pastoral England. Think pre-industrial rural life: quality craftsmanship, natural fabrics, bright earthy colours.

🎨 Colours

Green and yellow especially. Blues, reds, warm earthy tones all work. Avoid neon or synthetic-looking fabrics.

🧵 Fabrics

Linen, wool, cotton, silk. Natural fibers look best and perform better outdoors. Avoid synthetic shines.

👢 Footwear

Simple leather shoes or boots. The site is rough terrain — bare feet are Hobbit-authentic but not recommended!

🎩 Hats & Caps

Wide-brimmed straw or wool hats for outdoors. Linen caps inside. Ribbons and simple trim welcome.

🔥 Fire Safety

Synthetics are flammable. Near open flames, wear 100% wool. It smoulders rather than catching fire.

🪙 Buttons & Trim

Brass buttons, ribbons, embroidery. Hobbit pride shows in the details — a fine waistcoat says everything.

Purchasing or thrifting and adapting clothing is completely acceptable. Remove brand logos from visible areas. Every effort is celebrated — as is the Hobbit way.

Full Costume Guide ↗
Create Your Hobbit

Who Are You?

How about some name suggestions?

⚠ Kindly avoid "Baggins" — it implies a rather famous relation.

Make your selections above to reveal your Hobbit…

📋 Take your name further — Download the Character Creation Sheet ↗ to flesh out your Hobbit's full story before you arrive.

Arriving in Buckland

Travelling to the Festival

Your arrival shapes your first story

🏡

Local Hobbits

You live nearby or were already visiting Buckland. Arrive at the start, help with last preparations, experience the Festival building around you.

🌄

East Farthing

A ~1 hour walk in, fully IC. You may catch glimpses of something happening in the surrounding area on your way.

🌍

Other Farthings

A ~3 hour walk, fully IC. An adventure before the adventure. You will encounter happenings in the forest. A shortcut exists for those who need it.

Brandywine Festival Event Site Map
🗺️ Explore the Interactive Map Open Map ↗

📅 Event dates: October 1–4th  |  Early Arrival: Sept 28th (ticket required)
Check-in hours: 9:30am – 9pm each day. Show wristband at gate on re-entry.

Camping Guide ↗
We've Got You

The Team & Your Safety

🟡

Game Masters (GMs)

Identified by yellow bags or sashes. They oversee the game and are always there to help with questions — IC or OOC.

📮

Postmaster's Tent

The OOC hub — centrally located at all times. Has a radio. IC messengers can carry letters to other players.

🎭

Playmakers

Team-controlled characters who supervise plots. You won't always know who they are. Follow their clear IC instructions.

🏥

Paramedics & Outroom

Medics are on site at all times. The Outroom is a quiet OOC space for rest or mental health support. No shame — your wellbeing matters.

📮 Sending Letters IC

Drop letters in IC postboxes or at the Postmaster's Tent. Address them to your character's destination. You can even write to your Great Uncle/Aunt (the team) to share how your game is going or request a story nudge.

At a Glance

Quick Reference

Everything you need to remember — in one place.

IC

In Character — inside the fiction

OOC

Out of Character — the real world

GM

Game Master — yellow sash/bag

Playmaker

Team-controlled character

🛑 STOP

Halt all play. Wait for instructions.

▶ CONTINUE

Resume roleplay after Stop.

🤐 "Really Really"

Signal OOC need while staying IC.

🤲 Arms Crossed

Person is Out-of-Character.

📖 Full Player Guide ↗ 👘 Costume Guide ↗ ⛺ Camping Guide ↗ 📜 Create Character ↗
The Brandywine Festival
You're Ready

Welcome to the
Brandywine Festival

"The stories of the Brandywine Festival will come to life as your characters interact together. Stories that are warm, some even exciting, but most of all — Hobbit-like."

You now know everything a Hobbit needs to step through the gate and into The Shire.
All that's left is to be there.

Haven't got your ticket yet?

Get Your Ticket ›
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Partners & Sponsors

Middle-earth Enterprises Middle-earth Adventures Burgschneider The Brandywine Festival

Middle-earth, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and the names of the characters, places, items and events therein are trademarks of Middle-earth Enterprises, LLC used under license by Burgschneider. All rights reserved. (S25) · The Brandywine Festival is organized by Burgschneider GmbH. · This onboarding experience is intended for registered participants. Content is subject to change and final approvals. · By attending The Brandywine Festival you agree to the participant terms and conditions available at burgschneider.com. · All participant wellbeing and safety information is subject to the full Player Guide and event briefings on-site.