Skip the Roman Legion: Run an Ancestry Event Instead

Everyone assumes that a toga-clad Roman legion is the surest way to pull a crowd for an ancient civilizations event. That's wrong. The data says otherwise. In a study of 115 annual reenactment events in Catalonia, ancient Rome accounted for just 11% of the total, while medieval events dominated at 50% (EXARC / Catalonia reenactment study). But the real opportunity isn't in reenacting Rome at all—it's in helping modern people trace their roots back to it.

This is for event organizers, museum staff, and heritage professionals who want to trade a niche reenactment for a crowd-pulling, revenue-generating event. We're going to walk you through exactly how to do it, based on what's actually working in the field.

1. Ditch the Legions, Embrace the Family Tree

The numbers are stark. While ancient Rome events make up only 11% of reenactments in Catalonia, ancestry tourism is booming. Italy designated 2024 as the "Year of the Italian Roots in the World," aiming to attract an estimated 80 million people of Italian descent back to trace their roots (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Scotland sees 70% of long-haul visitors claiming Scottish ancestry, and 34% cite it as a motivation for their trip (VisitScotland). The global genetic genealogy market was valued at $1.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.7 billion by 2030 (ResearchAndMarkets). That's the crowd you're missing.

So step one: pivot your event concept. Instead of a Roman soldier encampment, host a genealogy workshop in a heritage setting. You're not dropping history; you're making it personal.

2. Build the Program: From Records to DNA

Now, design the actual sessions. You have a wealth of free or low-cost resources to build a compelling program around.

• Records: Introduce attendees to free online databases. The 1950 U.S. census is fully available online, and the 1940 census was the first released digitally, covering 132 million people (NARA; GPO). FamilySearch has digitized 2.4 million rolls of microfilm, with info on over 11.5 billion individuals (FamilySearch).
• Immigration: Show how to use USCIS genealogy records, including 5.5 million Alien Registration Forms from 1940-1944 (USCIS).
• DNA: Offer a beginner's session on autosomal DNA tests, noting that 23andMe has sold 12 million kits and analyzes ancestry across 4,500 locations (23andMe).
• Local angle: If you're in the U.S., connect to a specific historic event, like Gettysburg, where 165,000 soldiers fought (NPS). Help attendees find ancestors who fought there.

You don't need to be a professional genealogist—just know how to point people to the right resources.

3. Market to the Ancestry Crowd

Stop advertising as a historical reenactment. Start advertising as an "Ancestry Discovery Day" or "Roots Weekend." Here's the key: ancestral visitors tend to stay longer and visit outside peak season (VisitScotland). That means you can fill your event in shoulder months.

Compare the potential:

Your marketing should highlight the personal discovery angle: "Find your Roman soldier ancestor" beats "See a Roman soldier."

4. Execute and Partner

Partner with local genealogical societies, libraries, or even a museum. In Catalonia, 70% of reenactment events are instigated by town councils (EXARC). So, get your local government on board early. They'll fund it if you can show the economic impact.

Also, plan for beginners. Most people have never touched a census record. Offer one-on-one help.

Warning: Don't assume all attendees will have U.S. or U.K. roots. Be ready to handle international records, and have a plan for those with no paper trail—they may need DNA testing guidance.

Bottom line

Skip the Roman legion. Run an ancestry event that taps into the booming heritage tourism market. Your crowd will be bigger, richer, and more engaged.

Sources

• EXARC / Catalonia reenactment study - https://dev.exarc.net/issue-2019-1/int/current-trends-annual-historical-re-enactments-events-catalonia
• VisitScotland - https://www.visitscotland.org/
• Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - https://www.italianroots.info/
• FamilySearch - https://www.thechurchnews.com/2021/9/21/23216724/familysearch-microfilm-digitization-project-complete
• NARA 1950 Census - https://www.archives.gov/research/census/1950
• ResearchAndMarkets - https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/6094888/genetic-genealogy-market-global-strategic