Attendees at the annual Scottish Highland Gathering at the Alameda County Fairgrounds witnessed medieval history repeated with stunning accuracy, even if there was more than one Mary, Queen of Scots roaming the festival grounds.

Actual swords were stabbed, ladies wore impressively wide hoop skirts and men were decorated for their valor.

By day, men and women were anything from chamber maids to chamberlains. A few even held high positions in the royal court. At night, role-players instead dawned sweatshirts and jeans, returning to the land of today and leaving the Highlands of yesteryear at bay until the following morning.