There's a difference between people dressing up as "cosplay" and real re-enactors. Or, for that matter, between a random guy with a guitar/keyboard and a real musician. You get what you pay for, at best.

The cast and crew of a typical commercial "rennfest" are paid actors and performers. Being in a "proper" outfit is part of the job. And, in some cases, there are compromises between "authenticity" and either modern-day reality or the professional demands of being a performer. (And many aspects of real medieval life are too brutal for an entertainment fair. Nobody actually dies in the jousts, as but one example.)

And as we mostly know, there's often a big difference between the "cliche" expectations of a conductor's or engineer's uniform and the outfits of the people really doing the work, even at a place like Strasburg, Durango, Williams, etc. The guy who dresses up in a pinstripe cap and a vest covered with excursion line patches stands out like a sore thumb. If you're planning to offer "photo ops" for attendees like they often do at military-airplane or naval events like the Liberty Ship sailings as part of the admission and attraction, you need the good performers, the one that go the extra miles (leagues?) for proper authenticity.

I happen to know many re-enactors and their groups--people who can accurately portray everything from the English Civil War to the American Civil War to the Iraq War. Yes, they will volunteer for special events, in exchange for some considerations like a special "living history" area and promotion. Part of their mission is educational, the preservation and accurate transmission of real history, not some "Medieval Times" fantasy. But it's not free. Everything from the wool and handwoven fabrics they're wearing to the replica guns, Willys Jeep, etc. costs A LOT. You want them for a special event at your museum just for posing for pictures, playing swing music and recreating the Andrews Sisters for the Liberty Ship day cruise or fundraiser night? Expect to pay, or you'd really better be a cause they support.

You haven't even mentioned:
1) How many excursion lines have a pub or tavern ON THE PROPERTY, or if not there, right across the street, usually in a historic building in its own right;
2) How many British heritage railways have "pub guide" brochures that will allow an all-day rider to ride between small stations on the line and debark to walk a few hundred yards or so to the next quaint, historic pub...... and you can find online discussion about such itineraries on both rail and beer forums online........

PLEASE !!! I must strenuously object to this mischaracterization of guitarists and keyboard players as somehow being something other than "real musicians" !!!!! While it is true that some players of these instrument families have a long way to go on the road to instrumental mastery, I have played duets with many of them who are conservatory graduates or students. Many of these highly trained performers also play a variety of popular musical styles, as well as Happy Birthday/Amazing Grace/Here Comes the Bride/Jingle Bells, etc. No less a universally recognized musical genius as Paul Hindemith described these type of performances outside the concert hall setting as GEBRAUCHSMUSIK --- "Music for use".

Let me rephrase:

"a guy who just got the guitar or keyboard a week ago, knows two chords, and reads the lyrics on his cellphone from a karaoke site................"

That was a grrrrrr moment. Thank you for the clarification. Some of us here have been musicians for 50+ years.

Now drummers, OTOH, occupy six pages in my Musician's Joke Book...............

Here's an example of another history museum doing a "Brews & Bites" event as a fundraiser. Note it's been going on for ten years, so they must think it's worthwhile:

https://lowerbuckstimes.com/2024/06/24/ ... ews-bites/

Don't EVEN get me started. If you want to dump on drummers, may I take the liberty of informing you that one of the greatest hits for classical violin solos, The Meditation from the opera Thais, was composed by a DRUMMER ?? Jules Massenet was a prolific romantic operatic and orchestral composer in addition to his regular gig as PERCUSSIONIST with the Paris Opera Orchestra. And this is only natural, because bowed strings and percussion are the only two instrument families played with sticks.

What's the difference between a viola player and a seamstress ?? The seamstress tucks up all the frills.

What do you call a drummer who just broke up with his girlfriend? Homeless.

That would be the equivalent of a restaurant guide here in the states. Certainly, I'm not suggesting that the RR Museum of PA shouldn't advertise Bespoke Brewery right down the road.

Most people won't visit four or more restaurants a day.

The difference would be like if you could disembark at Leaman Place, Carpenters, Groffs Grove, and Esbenshade and walk 500 feet to another Amish home bakery, ice cream shop, fudge shop, cheese shop, or bologna maker, if we're focusing strictly on Strasburg. (Or a winery--why not?)

The primary difference is that here in North America, we have very few, if indeed any, excursion operations that connect a number of small villages with stations that still have some form of commerce, let alone allows passengers to disembark at these villages AND runs frequently enough to function as a shuttle between these villages. Further, many Brits (and Germans, Swiss, Italians, et al) have a tradition of hiking for a couple miles between such villages if feasible. This is the England (and Germany, France, etc.) you see on BBC programs like All Creatures Great and Small, The Vicar of Dibley, and more--not the America of Little House On the Prairie, The Waltons, Petticoat Junction, or whatever.

Bespoke Brewing probably does not need any advertising from the Strasburg Rail Road--which, of course, should want to keep people on their campus as long as possible to have them partake in their various commercial enterprises, including dining and dinner trains. And there is no good motivation to promote wayside attractions or the "Paradise" they go to when passengers can't disembark, either.

I never mentioned Strasburg Railroad so I guess you are just arguing with yourself. Lol.

Of course I visit Bespoke Brewery and The Speckled Hen cause the food at Strasburg Railroad leaves a lot to be desired in recent years. But that’s another subject! Haha

Sorry, I hit the wrong button........

Oddly enough:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Speckled_Hen

Haha! Not sure if the Speckled Hen in Strasburg serves beer or not but they have the best coffee and best breakfast in town! Great way to start the day before heading to the railroad, museum, or choo choo barn!

Only been to Bespoke once, I didn’t try the beer but the BBQ was good.