The Abbey Medieval Festival The Abbey Medieval Festival is back for its 29th year on July 14-15! Every year, when the planets align a certain way, a time portal opens in Caboolture allowing you to slip back hundreds of years to the Middle Ages. The air rings with clashing of swords, the ground shudders to the thundering of hooves, crowds cheer the clang of lance upon shield… and The Abbey Museum invites you to experience all the sounds, sights and smells of this magical medieval era for yourselves. The Abbey Medieval Festival is an annual Moreton Bay Region highlight, attracting over 30,000 national and international visitors keen for a taste of what life in the Middle Ages was like. Over 1000 enthusiastic re-enactors bring the Dark Ages, Middle Ages and early Renaissance Period to life in an action packed two-day program of family-friendly events. The medieval villages and encampments recreate the life of peasants, campaigning knights, and travellers as they gather around to talk, work, cook and socialise. Craftsmen and women demonstrate their skills using traditional tools, stallholders sell their wares at the medieval market, and there are many exciting displays of athletic skill, strength and endurance to keep every member of the family entertained. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the medieval atmosphere by dressing up, with prizes to be won for the best costume. Dressing up isn’t compulsory – and you’ll see plenty of visitors in their modern fashions –– but if you want to immerse yourself a little deeper into your medieval experience there’s no finer occasion to wear your best medieval outfit!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ABBEY MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL Jousting and Combat
Archery
tournaments
Battles and Wrestling
There will be five different medieval tournaments – The Joust, Archery, Strength and Skill, Turkish Oil Wrestling and new this year, the Viking Holmgang.
Animals
Horses, farm animals, hunting and herding dog displays, falconry, and even the humble bumblebee.
Re-enactments
Professional re-enactors demonstrate how to lay siege to a castle as well as what life was like in the different camps.
Food
Taste the Middle Ages with food stalls selling traditional medieval flavours including hog roast, banquets (bookings required), and other medieval delights.
Entertainers
Roving jugglers, jesters, puppeteers, storytellers, dancers, musicians and
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actors – there’ll be plenty of people willing to entertain your kids!
See brave knights battling their opponents on horseback and warriors demonstrate the skills required to go hand-to-hand and use weaponry in combat.
Your Local Families Magazine April / May 2018
Including highly skilled horseback archery. You can even have a go at firing an arrow yourself! There’ll be regular battles between knights and Vikings, and traditional Turkish oil wrestling competitions.
Markets
Around 60 authentic stalls to browse for souvenirs and reproduction medieval goods, including food, pottery, stained glass, woven goods, leatherwork, jewellery, imitation armoury and weapons, carvings, artwork and a whole lot more.
Costumes
Lots of them, and not just on the re-enactors! You’ll see beautifully crafted costumes from the medieval period with peasants in their rough garb, princesses in finely woven silks, knights in full armour, monks, nuns and Templars in religious habits, Vikings, Ottoman Turks, and characters from traditional medieval festivals relating to seasons and nature.