3rd Annual Medieval Festival Bigger And Better Than Ever!
Camel Rides, Horse Rides, Unicycle Jousting, Stilt Walkers and Puppets
Newest Additions to the Festival's Line-Up of Medieval Entertainment
MORRISBURG, ON, June 7 /CNW/ - For three days in June, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission will once again offer visitors a second gateway into the past, to a much earlier time and place when chivalry and revelry were at their best. From June 11 to 13, Eastern Ontario will play host to its third annual MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL, the largest event of its kind in Ontario, all set in a re-created encampment area behind Upper Canada Village.
This year's festival line-up of entertainment is promising to amaze and dazzle all ages, not only with its ever-popular shows of Jousting Knights on horseback, falconers, belly dancers, swordsmen, Vikings, comedy acts, artisans, vendors and more, but with a number of exciting new features that will make the journey back in time well worth the trip.
Plus, admission to the Medieval Festival is FREE with the purchase of a regularly priced admission ticket to Upper Canada Village. Upper Canada Village tickets are just $19.95 per adult, $18.95 per senior, $13.95 per youth (5 to 18 years of age) and children (2 to 4 years of age) are $3.95. Visitors can explore Upper Canada Village, a heritage attraction famed for its authentic recreation of Upper Canadian life in the 1860s, and then go further back in time through the Medieval Festival gate, located in an open field behind Loucks Farm. The separate entrance area to the Medieval Festival will keep the two experiences separate and distinct from each other, yet the visitor can enjoy both for the price of a regular Village visit.
With so much to see and do this year, visitors should plan to spend a full day and should consider attending the festival one day and the Village on another. The Passport to the Past Season Pass provides an economical way to do just that. At just $38.95 per adult/senior, $23.75 per youth (5 to 18) and $12.95 per child (2 to 4), the Season Pass offers great savings as it costs less than two visits, includes season-long parking and offers other discounts on food, retail and admissions … plus allows for unlimited visits all season long!
NEWEST HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE:
- Camel Rides - NEW this year, visitors can now get a taste of the Middle East in the Middle Ages. A couple of friendly camels from the Bowmanville Zoo and their trainers will be on site throughout the festival offering rides for up to two people at a time (extra fee applies).
- Dr. Kaboom's Mini Mobile Circus - Buskers, magicians and other forms of circus-style entertainment have always delighted visitors at the Medieval Festival. This year's line-up of entertainment will include ALL-NEW acts presented by "Dr. Kaboom's Mini Mobile Circus" including such tricks as juggling, unicycle jousting, Diabolo, rollo-bollo, fire eating, machete ladder and more.
- More Music and Merriment - NEW this year, the Maplewood Ceilidh Band will be on site Friday, inviting visitors to join in and learn to dance to the faithfully reproduced sounds of the period, including Burgundian music. This form of music, replicated from actual manuscripts discovered from the time, is popular at Renaissance Fairs. Drums and bagpipes, singing and a fire juggling show by Les Cornus performers will also add NEW rhythms and upbeat excitement throughout the weekend festival. Medieval belly dancing has been a popular hit and will continue to be offered at this year's festival.
- "Knightly" Rides on Horseback - The Knights of Valour will once again be offering dazzling shows of chivalry with scheduled performances throughout each day. NEW this year, the Knights will be offering "knightly rides" for children on their mighty steeds between shows (extra fee applies).
- Weapons of War - In addition to a Trebuchet Competition on Saturday afternoon and life-size trebuchet and ballista demonstrations, kids of all ages will now have the chance to try their hand at some "safe and user-friendly" versions of a ballista and battering ram.
- A Banquet Fit for a King - This year's King's Banquet will offer an all-NEW sumptuous feast of royal fare served up with heaping portions of hilarity and merriment, and will take place inside the spacious OPG Community Pavillion at Crysler Park Marina located a couple of minutes west of Upper Canada Village on County Road 2.
QUICK FACTS
- The Medieval Festival is included in visitor's regular admission price to Upper Canada Village, meaning visitors can experience two exciting historic attractions for the price of one. Tickets are available online at www.medievalfestival.ca or at the gate.
- New features of this year's Medieval Festival were made possible with $40,000 in funding through Celebrate Ontario.
- The St. Lawrence Parks Commission, an agency of the Government of Ontario, operates facilities in 16 municipalities stretching from Kingston to the Quebec border, including Upper Canada Village, Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Crysler Park Marina, Upper Canada Golf Course, Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary and 12 campgrounds and beach day-use picnic areas including the Long Sault and 1000 Islands Parkways.
- Upper Canada Village is located at 13740 County Road 2, Morrisburg, approximately 30 minutes west of Cornwall, 90 minutes west of Montreal and northwest of Watertown, New York and 75 minutes southeast of Ottawa and west of Kingston, Exit 758 off Highway 401.
LEARN MORE
- Call 1-800-437-2233 (613-543-4328 locally) or visit www.uppercanadavillage.com to obtain more information. To order a free Upper Canada Village Visitor Guide, call 1-800-437-2233 (613-543-4328 locally).
- Learn more about the banquet and festival at www.medievalfestival.ca.
- Learn more about Upper Canada Village at www.uppercanadavillage.com.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
For further information:
Jancis Sommerville
Special Events, Promotions and Sponsorship Officer
613-543-3704
[email protected]
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