Countdown is on to medieval-themed St George’s Day fun this Saturday
Tamworth’s popular St George’s Day extravaganza is back for 2018 and will take over the Castle Grounds with medieval themed fun for the whole family, this Saturday, April 21 from 10am - 5pm.
Over recent years the event has become a growing success, attracting record-breaking crowds of more than 13,000 people. Another jam-packed, FREE line-up of entertainment has been put together in the hope of building on that success this year.
The St George’s Day extravaganza will include all the festival favourites that have led to the event becoming well-known up and down the country, such as jousting, archery, a living history camp, stalls, fairground rides and children’s activities.
This year Mercedes-Benz of Tamworth are sponsoring the event and to Celebrate St George’s Day at Tamworth Castle Grounds they are giving away 172 of their finest horsepower for a weekend!
‘Like’ the Mercedes-Benz of Tamworth Facebook page and share their post to enter the draw and WIN a beautiful C Class AMG Line Cabriolet to drive for one weekend.
Timetable of activities:
10am: Official Opening Times
10.30am – 11am: Mythbusters (Jousting Arena)
11am –11.30am: Arming the Knight (Jousting Arena)
11am – 11.30am: Dragon performance (Upper Lawn)
11.30am – 12pm: Medieval Skirmish (Jousting Arena)
12pm – 12.45pm: The Grand Medieval Joust (Jousting Arena)
12.45pm – 1.30pm: Beowulf Puppet Storytelling (Encampment)
1pm – 1.30pm: Dragon (Upper Lawn)
1.30pm – 2pm: Scouts ‘Promise’ Presentation (Jousting Arena)
2pm – 2.15pm: Tamworth Emerge Festival, Shakespeare Performance (Upper Lawn)
2.15pm – 2.45pm: Medieval Shire Court (Jousting Arena)
2.45pm – 3.15pm: Hurried History (Tales for Children) (Encampment)
2.45pm - 3.15pm: Dragon (Upper Lawn)
3.15pm – 4pm: The Grand Medieval Joust (Jousting Arena)
4pm - 4.30pm: Beowulf Puppet Storytelling (Encampment)
4.30pm – 5pm: Medieval Battle (Jousting Arena)
5pm: Official Finish
The return of Epico the last living dragon is guaranteed to be a favourite. Sir Aurelious Jones, assisted by his Goblin Butler, will bring Epico to enthral the crowds with comedic mayhem, audience participation, eccentric dance, physical comedy, buffoonery and the biggest, brightest and most beautiful dragon you have ever seen.
The Grand Medieval Joust is back by popular demand. Festival-goers will be able to watch the action unfold as competing knights on horseback take to the main arena to show off their jousting skills. Throughout the day knights will also demonstrate the variety of weapons and combat methods used during medieval skirmishes.
Other entertainment and activities for the whole family include The Tamworth Emerge Festival which is being added to the event this year. This is one of twelve youth-led arts festivals taking place across the Midlands on the same day. Funded by Spirit of 2012 and managed by The Mighty Creatives, in partnership with Arts Connect and UK Young Artists, the festival is inspired by Shakespeare and verbal arts and produced by local young people to showcase the variety of young creative talent across Tamworth.
The Tamworth Emerge Festival is directed by writer and musician Siobhan Donnelly, in partnership with Fired Up Theatre and Landau Forte Academy QEMS, with contributions from Phoenix Youth Theatre and Upbeat Dance Studio. There will be a mix of dance, drama and music performances all inspired by Shakespeare.
The dedicated Children’s Zone will feature face painting, medieval obstacle course, inflatable turret castle, stocks, medieval dress up, circus skills and a Robin Hood target challenge. Admission to the Children’s Zone is priced at £3 per child (adults get in free of charge) and youngsters can come and go as they please throughout the day.
Tamworth Scouts will again march through the town centre in a St George’s Day parade, before renewing their promise in the Castle Grounds.
This year’s event will also include the special launch of a brand new campaign to celebrate the life of Tamworth’s Anglo-Saxon warrior queen and Lady of the Mercians, Aethelflaed, who died in the town 1100 years ago this June.
A large statue of Aethelflaed will be erected near Tamworth Railway Station in the coming months and to celebrate, we’ll be asking people to replicate the statue’s pose and #DotheAethel. This will be kicked off with the Knights of Middle England leading a mass #DotheAethel just before the main joust at 12pm. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.aethelflaed.co.uk.
The free annual St George’s Day festival is one of the highlights of Tamworth’s impressive calendar of outdoor events organised by Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team in partnership with Ankerside Shopping Centre and draws thousands of visitors from across the country.
Jeff Wigley, Ankerside Shopping Centre manager, said: “I can’t wait to see the St George’s Day fun in the Castle Grounds. Tamworth Borough Council has planned a fantastic day of activities and we’re sure the town’s families are going to love it.
“We hope everyone has a brilliant time celebrating St George’s Day and we look forward to seeing festival-goers enjoy the huge host of activities.”
