Tewkesbury’s annual Medieval Festival is the largest annual Medieval re-enactment which sees thousands of reenactors, entertainers and traders from all over Europe. It is a fantastic and unique day out for all the family – all with free admission.
The reason for Tewkesbury’s Medieval Festival is to remember the victims of the Battle of Tewkesbury. On Saturday 4th May 1471 the Yorkists finally and conclusively won the throne of England in battle on a field in Tewkesbury. The main attraction is the re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury on part of the original 1471 battlefield. There are authentic medieval encampments for the whole weekend for the participants (including wives and children) to live as a medieval army.
The Medieval festival features a huge variety of period entertainment – which includes music, dance and drama (with a variety of characters from the past including barbers, surgeons, preachers and dragon keepers!); a medieval market (which has everything from a suit of armour or fabulous gown – to a pot of herbs or bag of sweets); there is a children’s activity area (with themed arts and crafts sessions); an exhibition tent (with displays from organisations specialising in different aspects of history) and a wide range of caters who supply high quality food and drink (including ale specially brewed for the occasion).
The Grand Parade sees lots of community groups and schools from Tewkesbury and the surrounding villages taking part. It is actively encouraged that those using mobility scooters or wheelchairs take part – even offering to run workshops to help transform them to fit in with the parade.
Tewkesbury is such a small town and a close-knit community and so it is no surprise that so many people turn out to support the Medieval Parade. Due to the small nature, however, it is advised that if you wish to stay over then you book as early as you can because accommodation fills up very quickly in Tewkesbury at this time of year.
Tewkesbury is also well located just off the M5, and near the M50 – with links to the Cotswolds as well as the rest of Gloucestershire. It would make a great place to plan a holiday if you were coming to see the Medieval Festival.
For more photos see my Tewkesbury Medieval Parade Facebook Album
How much fun does this look! I love community events like this. We are in the middle of carnival season here in Cornwall, they are lots of fun with floats and activities and when the kids were younger we always entered the parade ourselves. Sadly now dressing up is just embarrassing to them but they still like to go and watch. This looks like it is on a much bigger scale with so much time and effort going into costumes for the parade. Looks like you were blessed with good weather too which always makes such a difference for events like this. Such wonderful colourful photos, I’m not surprised accommodation fills up locally for the event.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
Oh it looks like loads of fun that festival, brilliant masks! #familytraveltips
I love the look of this. I must sort out us going next year. Love all your photos!
I would love to go that. Maybe we can go next year if I get more organised. Looks fantastic! #CountryKids
Love a great festival. I was unaware of this one. #CountryKids
This looks great, I love processions which have giant paper mache puppets, amazing work by the participants! #familytraveltips
What a lot of fun to be had at the Medieval Parade! Those costumes are magnificent! Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips
Oh my goodness, this looks brilliant, my girls would love it – so would we! If you think about it next year would you remind me about this please? I’d love to take the family, just our sort of thing. Thanks for linking up to #familytraveltips
Nat.x