The fourth annual Gumeracha Medieval Fair will be held on the 1st and 2nd of May in the centrally located Federation Park from 10am-5pm on Saturday & 10am-4pm Sunday. Again, there will be another two days of fun and excitement with a medieval theme. Last year over 7000 people had a wonderful time and this year will be even bigger!
All this historical fun and frivolity is being put together with the co-operation of local community and service groups of the Torrens Valley. From the last Fair net profits of nearly $30,000 were dispersed back into the local community by the Management Committee. This has become an exciting annual event which benefits the whole of the Gumeracha and Torrens Valley district.
This year will see another new exciting event at the Fair:
A real, medieval wedding will be held at the Fair on the Sunday afternoon of the event. The happy bride will parade with their friends to the newly constructed Medieval Pavilion to plight her troth with her handsome knight. The couple will then invite the public to witness the event before they retire to the Town Hall with their friends for the reception celebrations.
And….
The King’s Horses Medieval Equestrian Society from Ballarat will again bring their Jousting and Skill at Arms displays as well as a “living history” encampment.
Once again musicians and entertainers from across the state will provide sound and colour from many cultural backgrounds. Further enhancing the scene will be the “Merchants Lane” offering a wide range of medieval-style crafts and activities. The dedicated children’s area where Storytellers, Face painters, a children’s Costume-maker, as well as the Animal Nursery and the popular Punch and Judy show will again ensure there is a lot for the whole family to enjoy. The daily Costume Competition will cause a flurry of excitement for allcomers!
In the combat arena Knights and Vikings from local and interstate Medieval Re-enactment Groups will clash swords looking to impress the beautiful medieval maidens. Saracens and sensuous dancers will contrast the fast and furious Border Celts with their sturdy hawthorn sticks and the broadswords of the Ghille Mhor dancers. A village peasant, suspected of a misdemeanour, will be dragged off to the Stocks for punishment. The Viking encampment will be particularly interesting, showing the visitors their techniques of campfire cooking and the “Days of Knights” will give demonstrations of daily life in medieval times.
Across Kenton Creek in the Medieval Village visitors will find the village blacksmith hard at work in the “smithy”. The village will encapsulate what life was like in medieval times, as the spinners, calligraphers, costumiers, potters and woodworkers ply their trade. Past the village, patrons will find the Medieval Archery ground where they can experience demonstrations with the famous English longbow.
The Food purveyors will also be following the medieval theme with sumptuous tastes and aromas to tempt the passer-by including an area with a focus on the foods and beverages derived in the local Torrens Valley area with Wendy and David Cook of the Birdwood Wine & Cheese Centre. The famous “Mien Hosts” from the Lobethal Bierhaus will be on tap serving their award winning beers and mead and the Town Hall will be alive with medieval feasting and entertainment on the Saturday night.
Gumeracha Medieval Fair -
Federation Park, Main Rd Gumeracha South Australia. |
