Best start is to get a copy of Smoke & Fire (a classified newspaper) that lists many open to the public events (as opposed to member only events) & see what is close enough to you and in the era of interest to you. Smoke & Fire lists F&I thru CW and later for pretty much the whole country.
Based on your forum name, I am assuming that your interest is in the last quarter of the 18th c. If so, Martins Station is a great event (also juried) not too far from you with some very good vendors and a great Indian raid on the settlement (we actually burn a (little) cabin down). The 18th c. Market Fair at Fort Frederick (Big Pool, Maryland) is possibly the largest gathering of vendors anywhere & is a great place to see what is available in terms of both price and quality. It would be a drive for you but well worth it to see so many vendors in one place. You can camp and shoot there as well but must be juried in if camping or shooting. If you are in a military mode, the BAR has an annual event at Camden that should not be to far.
It is a good idea to visit many different events (fine to come as a day tripper or as a 'civilian' spectator) & see what folks are up to & what standards apply. Seeing different events will help you settle into an era & style that fits you well & help you decide how 'correct' is correct enough for you. Getting a feel for things first can save you a lot of time & $$ on gear by getting a feel for prices, availability and acceptability. You may even luck into some good used gear on trade blankets. Just be careful & do your own research as to what is ok for your period - don't just take a seller's word for things unless you are dealing with a vendor who is known for their historical knowledge - after all, they are trying to sell what they have; you must be the one who only buys what he needs for the type of events that he wants to attend.
Its a big tent - always room for another - just a matter of where in the tent you sit.
