But the thing I remember most was the darkness. I still can see all the candles trying in vain to push back the darkness. Since then I have attended many other events that have been just as dark. The most popular source of light in the SCA seems to be the taper candle. They are inexpensive, easy to get, easy too use, and period.
Modern candles are much more convenient than period candles, but they do have their shortcomings.
They tend to extinguish in the slightest breeze, and many indoor halls have rules against unenclosed flames. Being a Mediterranean persona I would not have used candles. The climate was much too warm for period candles that tended to have low melting temperatures. The oil lamp. On page 30 he describes an interesting lamp called a float lamp.