Dorset Medieval Festival 2010
Friday, July 2nd, 2010
This weekend sees the 2010 Dorset Medieval Festival take place at Winterborne Came. Saturday and Sunsay the 3rd & 4th July 2010 will see medieval battles, jousting and falconry to name but a few of the attractions.
Not far from Maiden Castle, the Came Park site is a wonderful historic setting for an exciting and colourful festival.
The emphasis for this year will once again be on living history, with re-enactors in several encampments showing off traditional craft skills such as cookery, rush-weaving, wool-carding and spinning, net-making and candle-dipping, recreating the sounds and sights of a genuine medieval tented village. The many strolling musicians will add greatly to the atmosphere.
Minstrels, jesters, storytellers and magicians will be entertaining the crowds around the park and also in the tavern, where authentic ales, wines and meads will be available, as will a traditional hog-roast and other culinary delights.
There will also be many traders who will recreate the colourful atmosphere of a noisy medieval market-place. Plus here’s your opportunity to purchase unique gifts of replica medieval jewellery, clothing, furniture, metal-work and many other unusual items.
The visit the historic 14th century church of St Peter’s, Winterborne Came (accessible by footpath only) will also be open and you can visit the place where the Dorset Poet William Barnes was Rector from 1862-1886.
If you fancy making a day of it bring along a picnic – there aren’t many venues better than Came Park to enjoy the sunshine.
Dorset Medieval Festival Opening Times
The Festival opens at 10am on both days and goes on until 6pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday.
Tickets
The advanced booking facility on this website has now closed, however you can still purchase tickets from the Dorchester Tourism Information Centre, and they will, of course be available on the entrance gate throughout the festival.
Prices
- Adults (over 15 and under 80 years of age) £10 each day
- Children (over 4 and under 16 years of age) £6 each day
- Families: 2 adults and up to 2 children (as defined above) £28.00 each day
- Under fives and over eighties FREE!
Dogs are welcome at the event – but things might get a bit noisy when the cannons go off!!!
Some of the Visitor Attractions taking place inlcude:-
Jousting
Destrier was formed in 1996 by a group of re-enactors, historical enthusiasts and horse riders.
Initially the team participated in battle displays to provide cavalry in these large-scale spectacles.
Since then the group has expanded it’s activities in numerous directions and has widened its remit considerably.
Destrier will be displaying their superb horsemanship on both days with spectacular jousting and skill-at-arms demonstrations.
Thisis one spectacle you won’t want to miss!
Skirmishing
Pelican-in-her-Piety will challenge other groups in the combat arena, honing their skills with swords, axes, pikes and other fearsome weaponry.
See how the medieveal soldiers took on each other.
Cannon Firing
The big guns will be out this weekend !
Rusty and his formidable band of gunners will be displaying and firing their amazing collection of medieval artillery.
There show represents the development of the cannon throughout the Middle Ages.
(warning – you may wish to cover your ears when the firing takes place!)
Minstrels
Strolling musicians, including Piper John, Gerald of Weston and many others will be recreating the sights and sounds of dancing and music from the middle-ages with authentic instruments and tunes.
In an exciting new development, singer James Findlay will be singing with Fingerz ‘n’ Fretz on the beer tent stage.
The early music duo A Merrie Noyse will perform strolling among the crowd and in the Pavilion tent throughout both days.
Storytelling
Dorset-born Derek Legg will regale audiences with his strange and amusing tales of knights and dragons, Lords and Ladies, and the magic of far-off times and far-away places.
Living History
The Medieval Free Company will have their encampment on site and will give archery and cookery displays, bringing a real flavour of the 15th Century to the Winterborne Valley for the first time in 500 years.
Many other groups will join them to form a magnificent and colourful tented village in Came Park full of the sights, sounds and smells of the Middle Ages.
There will also be displays of archery as the various companies and households challenge each other in the tournament.
Childrens Festival Entertainment
There will be a junior have-a-go archery, among many other delights for young lords and ladies.
Fiery Jack the Jester will entertain the crowds with his humour and juggling skills.
The Maestro Leonardo will regularly entertain crowds with his unique blend of medieval magic and slapstic routines.
Medieval Market
At the Medieval market you can buy authentic goods such as jewellery, pottery, clothing, basketware and many other exclusive items of the period.
The Drunken Monk Tavern
Licensed Bar, with traditional real ales, including some locally brewed specialities, country wines, cider and mead.
A hearty good time will be had by all!
Traditional Hog Roast
Spit-roasted pig, done to a turn with fresh bread and sauces. Yum, verily, yum!
More information on the Dorset Medieval Festival website.
