Timetable revealed for this year’s medieval-themed St George’s Day fun
The countdown is on to Tamworth’s popular St George’s Day extravaganza 2019, with an exciting new line-up of entertainment for the whole family set to take over the Castle Grounds on Saturday, April 20, from 10am to 5pm.
Another jam-packed, FREE programme of entertainment has been put together in the hope of building on previous record-breaking crowds. The line-up 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 we welcome a new fire-breathing dragon to the festival. Knight of the Realm, Sir Fey, assisted by Bumfleas, will bring Smoked the Dragon to enthral the crowds with comedic mayhem, audience participation, magical mystery, physical comedy, breathing smoke and the biggest, brightest dragon you have ever seen.
The Grand Medieval Joust is back, presented to Tamworth for the first time by the Cavalry of Heroes. Join the crowds and show your support for the knights that are jousting for their lives against the infamous Dark Knight Lord Pendragon. Throughout the day knights will also demonstrate the variety of weapons and combat methods used during medieval skirmishes.
Entertainment will also be located under the Town Hall with a pop-up performance of St George and the Turkish Knight by community group Shoebox Theatre alongside lively upbeat songs by ‘Claret’ – an acoustic, electric, folk roots band.
Tamworth Scouts will again march through the town centre in a St George’s Day parade. The parade forms at 1pm at Ladybridge, starting the procession at 1.30pm and will move along Market Street into the Castle Grounds for the renewal of the promise on the lower lawn.
Additional for this year, we are holding a special Big Sow event in the grounds at 2pm, supported by free ‘blooming’ arts and crafts workshops in Ankerside Shopping Centre. The project will form part of this year’s Tamworth in Bloom and invites people of all ages to help sow seeds by the riverbank. People are invited to pick up their seeds from Ankerside throughout the morning and take them to a meeting point with Street Scene at the outdoor gym for 2pm.
Timetable of activities in the Castle Grounds:
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: Medieval Falconry (Arena)
1pm – 1.30pm: Dragon (Upper Lawn)
1.30pm – 2pm: Scouts ‘Promise’ Presentation (Jousting Arena)
2pm – 2.15pm: The Big Sow (Riverbank)
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: Medieval Falconry (Arena)
4.30pm – 5pm: Medieval Battle (Jousting Arena)
5pm: Official Finish
Other activities include the dedicated Children’s Zone which this year is being organised by the Big Bounce and will be full of inflatables for children of all ages. Admission to the Children’s Zone is £6 (adults get in free of charge) and youngsters can come and go as they please throughout the day.
Mark Burbridge, Centre Manager at Ankerside Shopping Centre, said: “This year’s St George’s Day spectacular is set to be the biggest and best yet. The Big Sow workshop at Ankerside offers a great opportunity for visitors to show off their creative skills and contribute towards wonderful, floral displays that will celebrate the many fantastic things about Tamworth.
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“There will be lots of fun and laughter to be had, so we are looking forward to welcoming many families and seeing everyone having a superb day out together.”
The free annual festival is one of the highlights of Tamworth’s impressive calendar of outdoor events organised by Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts & Events team and draws thousands of visitors from across the country.
Activities in the grounds will be supported by more medieval-themed fun inside Tamworth Castle which will be inviting visitors to play historic games with Lady Freville, help the laundress clean clothes using medieval techniques and learn about weapons and armour from the period. Please check the Tamworth Castle website for opening times and admission prices: www.TamworthCastle.co.uk.
