LARP in the german speaking countries has come a long way. And they gather more than 8000 people in one location. That is amazing.
And all year long they prepare their equipment for those days. Costumes have to be sewn, weapons built from different materials... For most of them it's more than a hobby.
Good thing almost nobody believed the lies in movies like Mazes and Monsters. Or all the negative press about RPs in general. Weren't we all supposed to be satanists too?
Truman Capote, Breakfast At Tiffany's "... - it's better to look at the sky than live there. Such an empty place; so vague. Just a country where the thunder goes and things disappear."
Here is a link if you are interested. Actually I never have been there or played LARP. But my brother is part of the organization of one of the factions.