Festival countdown begins

Hear ye, hear ye! The countdown is on. The 2023 Abbey Medieval Festival is just around the corner. The grounds of Abbeystowe will become a hive of activity on July 8 and 9 with visitors able to experience life in the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East from 600 to 1600AD. The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, along with an amazing group of re-enactors, jousters, performers, entertainers and more will take you on a journey which showcases their passion for this period of history.

Whether you have been every year since the festival started or you’re a first timer, there is plenty to watch, take part in and all-in-all, be in awe of. From knights and ladies to displays of swordsmanship, acts of chivalry, along with a mixture of sights, sounds and yummy food from yesteryear, you’re sure in for a treat at Abbeystowe.

Just some of the many displays and activities you can expect to see at this year’s Abbey Medieval Festival:

• Birds of Prey

• Turkish Oil Wrestling

• Archery

• Sword fighting

• Weaving

• Pottery

• Medieval music

• Cannon fire

Who could forget the real crowd-pleaser, everyone’s favourite event – the jousting! Proudly supported by the Moreton Bay Regional Council, Australia’s top jousters face off in a round robin format each day of the festival, with three sessions on each day. Points are accumulated to the scoring criteria, with the three highest scoring jousters set for battle in the grand final on Sunday at 3pm to crown the 2023 Moreton Bay Medieval Joust Championship champion! In more exciting news for festival fans, tickets go on sale April 12. You can also enter the early access raffle with five prizes on offer including an overnight experience, meet the jousters and tickets to the festival. Visit abbeymedievalfestival.com for all the details.