Every July, the Abbey Museum in Caboolture, Queensland, hosts the Abbey Medieval Festival, an extremely popular event that attracts thousands of visitors.

As their website states, they aim for guests “to experience life in the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East, from AD 600 to 1600. The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, together with re-enactors, jousters, performers, food vendors and merchants, delivers one of Australia’s premier living history events.”

Some years ago, I had the opportunity to volunteer in the Gregorian chant choir at the festival. The fair was very impressive, sprawling in themed tents over the capacious grounds. From Polish Hussars to Romany gypsies, this festival has it all!

Family Fun Day

This year, I saw a Facebook ad for the Family Fun Day, held before the main festival. It costs $65 to enter the main event, but only $29 per adult ($25 concession), $19 per child aged 5-14, and free for under-5s at the Family Fun Day. We snapped up the good deal and brought our toddlers on the adventure.

We arrived after opening time, and the volunteer at the gate remarked that it was a good thing, as those who arrived early had to wait an hour in the massive queue to enter.

As we strolled around, we saw a competition for the best-dressed child (there were many small princesses and knights), blacksmiths forging weapons, leatherworkers with finely crafted bags, book covers and pouches… it was like a whole other world in there. There was even a tent for the Ottoman Turks, selling Turkish Delight.

(The rural firefighters were there as well, giving out stickers.)

Our son particularly loved the encounters with animals. There were birds of prey, and visitors could make a donation to the Abbey Museum to get a photo with the eagle. There were also curly-coated hounds that were popular in the Middle Ages, commonly depicted in tapestries.

Sweet Treats

As lunchtime and the 12.30 pm joust drew near, we located the extensive section full of scrumptious food, and purchased some edibles to enjoy while watching the jousters attempt to unseat each other from their horses with flimsy lances of balsa wood.

Alas, our son espied another child with a delectable bright red toffee apple and proceeded to insist upon acquiring one himself. I bought two for $10 (one goes for $6) and handed them to my toddlers.

Much mess ensued, and yet another child at the joust was inspired to obtain this terribly sticky treat. If we attend the fair again, I shall make sure to circumvent the toffee apple stall.

The Abbey Medieval Festival is a marvellous spectacle and an opportunity to immerse your children in the history of the Middle Ages. A homeschooling friend used it as a teaching opportunity for her children.

Are there any medieval or other historical fairs in your area? Here is a list of Australian medieval fairs. Step into the colourful past with your family and be transported to a wondrous place!

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Image courtesy of Adobe.