Tyler Redway
MOUNT Gambier will be sharpening swords and clashing tankards once again in preparation for the second ever Fantasy Medieval Fair and Feast.
According to Limestone Coast Festivals and Events Inc co-coordinator Talie Teakle, the feast had already sold three quarters of available tickets for this year, while reflecting on how last year’s program ran.
“Out of 170 people there (last year’s feast) I think only two people weren’t in costume so it was just so authentic looking,” Ms Teakle said.
“Last year we had one of our professional re-enactors dislocate a thumb during one of the fights but that was probably it.
“Considering how physical some of them were, it was really incident-free and it ran like clockwork on the day.”
Ms Teakle said the event organisers were very grateful when the fair was nominated as Community Event of the Year during the Australia Day Awards.
“It really inspires us to go out there and put on an even better event for the crowd,” she said.
“As far as events on the Mount Gambier calendar, it really stands out because it’s something which is completely different to everything else and it has such an immersive quality to it.”
She added last year’s horse jousting was among some of the most popular events of 2022, while adding the program for equestrian activities had “tripled”.
“There are more horses coming down, different jousting groups and horse displays so we know it’s going to be really popular,” she said.
“Some of the things like come-and-try longbow sessions and Dungeons and Dragons have increased as well.
“We’re also outside of the Covid restriction phase as well so from a planning point of view it makes it a bit easier.”
She mentioned there was already a massive medieval community in South Australia and Victoria, which had previously sparked multiple other themed events across the two states.
Ms Teakle also said the Fantasy Medieval Fair was a unique experience due to the fact the event needed its own weapon policy.
“We understand people with their costumes might want to have some weapons on display,” she said.
“Our policy means they have to be ‘piece bound’ so they have to be cable tied into their harness.
“Most people who go to that length with their costume, it isn’t their first time, they’ve been to medieval fairs before and all of them have a similar process.”
Ms Teakle commended her fellow volunteers through the process of organising the event and encouraged the community to get their tickets early.
“We noticed people were buying their tickets within the last 48 hours so we are encouraging people to get online and buy their tickets early,” she said.
“This is a brilliant team of about six to eight people depending on what we are doing and everyone is really dedicated.
“We have worked on a lot of other major festivals before and this is bigger but it’s actually a lot easier.”
Mount Gambier’s second Fantasy Medieval Fair will be kicking off at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds on April 15 and 16.
