Glorious days and chivalrous knights

OVER 25,000 knights, ladies, Vikings and fairies flocked to Caboolture over the weekend of July 11-13, for the largest medieval festival in the southern hemisphere.

Jouster Cliff Marisma

The 34th annual Abbey Museum Medieval Festival attracted history lovers locally, nationally and internationally—transporting them back over 1,000 years, to a time of jousters, sword fighters, and archers.

The event was estimated to have attracted almost 17,000 additional visitors to the region while pumping nearly $4.4 million into local businesses.

Festival founder and Director at the Abbey Museum, Edith Cuffe, said the weekend was a way to engage young people in history.

“Programs and movies that are based in the Middle Ages or inspired by the Middle Ages, such as Games of Thrones or Lord of the Rings, continue to be created and support interest in this period,” she said.

“I think it’s a time of colour and vibrancy and pageantry that inspires people.

“And if you look at our medieval reenactment groups, we have so many members that start as little children and they grow up and they’re still reenacting. So it’s a hobby, it’s a passion that lives with them most of their lives.”

Ms Cuffe said the costumes and dressing up added to the immersive experience and involvement with people “stepping out of themselves for a little while”.

Member for Glass House and Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell, said the festival demonstrated the potential of the Queensland events ecosystem.

“These are the kind of regional festivals that we want to continue to back and continue to grow, not only because of what they put into local economy, but the community that they create,” he said.

“Not everyone’s into sport, not everyone’s into music, some love history, and some love recreating it, and we want to be a government that is inclusive of all of that—and this is a great opportunity.”

Member for Pumicestone, Ariana Doolan, said visitors were expected to pump $4.39 million into local businesses.

“Whether you’re a history buff or looking for something fun to do with the kids, the Abbey Medieval Festival is a fun example of our diverse events calendar which offers great experiences while also bolstering the economy,” she said.

Lord Herald of Abbeystowe, Sir Blair Martin, said it was important to celebrate the ancient history of the grounds on which the festival took place.

“Though our festival revels in the tales and traditions of far away times and lands, we find ourselves here in the present day, on a land with its own ancient narrative,” he said.

“As we immerse ourselves in the stories of medieval knights, kings and queens, let us also remember the ground beneath our feet holds an ancient narrative.”

The festival featured medieval camps from various countries, including Nordic (Vikings), Turkish, German, British and even Asian.

Amongst the many things to see were jousting tournaments, Turkish oil wrestling, Morris dance classes, archery and costume competitions, sword fighting performances, and endless stalls showcasing unique medieval inspired products.