Last year D and I went to the inaugural St Ives Medieval Faire. We had a ball. There were knight's in armour, jousting, Viking combat, Dark Ages encampments and lots more. For anyone who loves a chance to dress up (or see others dress up) in Ye Olde finery, I drew up a list of medieval and renaissance fairs around Australia. With the fair season starting in earnest, I thought it might be useful to publish it again. My apologies to Rowany Festival and Geelong Highland Gathering goers, it's a bit late for them but there is always next year- oooppps!
New South Wales
Rowany Festival -
Where: - Camp Wombaroo, 162 Black Spring Rd, High Range, N.S.W.
When: - Easter each year - 2 April to 7 April 2015
Website: http://festival.lochac.sca.org/
IronFest -
Where: - Lithgow Showground, Lithgow, N.S.W.
When: - 18 & 19 April 2015
Website: http://www.ironfest.net/
Note: Ironfest doesn't stick to the medieval/renaissance theme. This year the focus is on the 20th Century and WW2 battle re-enactments, but there will still be medieval jousting and other displays.
Australian Celtic Festival
Where: - Glen Innes Showground, Glen Innes, New South Wales
When: - 30 April to 3 May 2015
Website: http://www.australiancelticfestival.com/
Note: This isn't strictly medieval or renaissance, but it's a lot of fun nevertheless.
Blacktown City Medieval Fayre
Where: - Nurragingy Reserve, Knox Rd, Doonside, NSW
When: - 23 & 24 May 2015
Website: - http://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/News_and_Events/News/2014/May/My_Lords_and_Ladies_Medieval_Fayre_2014
Winterfest
Where: - The Old King's School Parramatta, Sydney, N.SW.
When: - 27 & 28 June 2015
Website: - http://www.winterfest.com.au/
St Ives Medieval Faire
Where: - St Ives Showground, St Ives, Sydney, N.S.W
When: - 19 & 20 September 2015
Website: - http://www.stivesmedievalfaire.com.au/
Queensland
Gold Coast Renaissance Faire
Where: - Pratten Park, Broadbeach, Qld.
When: - 2 & 3 May 2015
Website: - http://www.goldcoastrenfaire.com/
History Alive
Where: - Fort Lytton National Park, Cnr Lytton Rd and South St, Lytton QLD
When: - 6 & 7 June 2015
Website: - http://www.historyalive.com.au/
Note: History Alive includes but does not confine itself to the medieval and renaissance periods.
Abbey Medieval Festival
Where: - Abbeystowe, Caboolture, Qld
When: - 11 & 12 July 2015
Website: - http://abbeymedievalfestival.com/about/
Note: Two Medieval Banquets will be held in the weeks before the festival on 27 June and 4 July. http://abbeymedievalfestival.com/events-and-tickets/medieval-banquet/
Abbey Medieval Jousting Spectacular
Where: - Caboolture, Qld
When: - 15 November 2015
Website: - http://abbeymedievalfestival.com/events-and-tickets/abbeymedievaljoustingspectacular/
Geelong Highland Gathering
Where: - Deakin University Waurn Ponds Campus.
When: - 1 March 2015
Website: - http://www.geelonghighlandgathering.org.au/
Note: Not medieval but still lots of fun.
National Celtic Festival
Where: - Port Arlington, Vic
When: - 5 to 8 June 2015
Website: - http://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/
Timeline Festival, Kryal Castle
Where: - Kryal Castle, Ballarat Vic
When: - 12 & 13 September, 2015
Website: -http://www.timeline.org.au/
Nordic Festival
Where: - Warburton, Vic
When: - 17 & 18 October 2015
Website: - http://www.nordicfestival.org/
Sth Australia
Gumeracha Medieval Fair
Where: - Gumeracha Sth Australia, about 50 minutes east of Adelaide, S.A
When: - 2 and 3 May 2015
Website: - http://medievalsa.org/
Western Australia
Where: - Supreme Court Gardens, Perth, W.A.
When: - 16 May 2015.
Website: - http://www.wama.asn.au/
Tasmania
Tasmania Medieval Festival
Where: - Lions Park, Reservoir Drive, Wynyard, Tas.
When: - 26 & 27 September 2015.
Website: - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tasmania-medieval-festival/931721103514067
When: - 16 May 2015.
Website: - http://www.wama.asn.au/
Where: - Balingup, W.A., about 250 km south of Perth.
When: - 22 & 23 August 2015.
Website: - http://www.balingupmedievalcarnivale.com.au/
When: - 22 & 23 August 2015.
Website: - http://www.balingupmedievalcarnivale.com.au/
Tasmania
Tasmania Medieval Festival
Where: - Lions Park, Reservoir Drive, Wynyard, Tas.
When: - 26 & 27 September 2015.
Website: - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tasmania-medieval-festival/931721103514067
Do you know of any festivals I have missed out? Tell me about them and I will add them to the list. Have you been to any old time fairs? D and I have been to a few around the world. Click here to read about them.
Ooh, good list! We drove past Kryal Castle on the weekend. It's on my 'to visit' list.
ReplyDeleteHi RJ. I haven't been there. My 'kids' are adults now but they used to just love that sortof thing.
DeleteI'll be taking my kids to the St Ives one in September .
ReplyDeleteI might see you there - lol. I would just love to own one of the beautiful gowns you see at these fairs so look for me in the 'period dresses' tent.
DeleteOh that would be awesome to go to! Too bad there's none near us :(
ReplyDeleteHi Jess, Petition your local council to organise one - they are great fun.
DeleteOMG! I have a friend who makes custom period clothing and sells her wares at a lot of Renaissance fairs! She'll love this post!
ReplyDeleteHi Jolanta, The dresses you see at these fairs are just beautiful. If you look at my post on the Cesky Krumlov, Colorado and St Ives fairs at this link - http://www.thetravellinglindfields.com/2014/09/stepping-back-in-time-three-great.html - you will see photos of some of the magnificent dresses I saw.
DeleteWow, did not know they had these in Oz - looks like great fun :)
ReplyDeleteHello from #teamIBOT
Hi RDCG, We have been to a few both here and overseas. They are always a lot of fun, especially the jousting.
DeleteWe are planning to attend a Renaissance Faire in a few weeks near Los Angeles. I hadn't realized they were popular in Australia too. They're so fun to attend.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, David and I went to one in Colorado a few years ago. It was a huge event and we loved it. By far the best we have ever been to though was the Five-Petalled Rose Festival at Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. See http://www.thetravellinglindfields.com/2014/09/stepping-back-in-time-three-great.html for pictures and commentary.
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