2017 awaits!

Come and enjoy the 11th Gumeracha Medieval Fair!

The eleventh annual Gumeracha Medieval Fair will be held on the 6th & 7th May in the Federation Park from 10am-5pm on Saturday & 10am-4pm Sunday 2017.  Again, there will be another two days of medieval fun and excitement. This year our resident Oracle has forecast fair weather and the event promises to be even bigger than the 15,000-strong crowd that came last year!

The King’s Horses Equestrian Group showing off their “Jousting skill at arms” will be there to thrill the crowds again.  In the combat arena the Knights and Vikings from the Medieval Re-enactment Groups will again clash swords in Tournaments (together with all sorts of “daring do”) and defeat their opponents.

The Viking encampments will again be huge this year with Re-enactors coming from Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.  They are always particularly interesting, demonstrating their craftwork and techniques of campfire cooking for the patrons as well as their fighting skills in the arena.  The fast and furious Border Celts with their sturdy hawthorn sticks contrast with the graceful girls of the Scott’s Highland Dancers…. Phillipe the Juggler will be there, Wizzy Woo the Wonder Wombat and her friends from Wildwood Sanctuary and of course the tumblingNon-stop Tricks boys and the Lancashire Witches!

Once again musicians from across the state will provide medieval folk music from many cultural backgrounds.  We are also very excited that we will have two new stage areas for the entertainment – a “Medieval Solar” as well as a walledMedieval Garden.  The very popular “Merchants Lane” will also be offering a wide range of medieval-style crafts and activities.  We have so many now they are spread over all the fairgrounds.  The dedicated children’s area will again have Storytellers, Face painters, a children’s Costume-maker, Workshops, as well as the Native Animal Nursery and the popular Punch and Judy show to ensure there is a lot for the whole family to enjoy.  The daily Costume Competition on the banks of Kenton Creek will cause a flurry of excitement for everyone!

More Food purveyors will again be following the medieval theme with sumptuous tastes to tempt the passer-by. Foods and beverages derived in the local Torrens Valley area, Wendy and David Cook of the Birdwood Wine & Cheese Centre will be there in the Tavern together with the famous “Mien Hosts” from the Lobethal Bierhaus serving their award winning beers and the Thistle Meadery.

On Saturday night the Town Hall will be alive with medieval feasting and BYO drinks (perhaps from the selection found in the Tavern) and lots of entertainment as well.  Check out the tickets available now through Ticketebo to get in early!

Across Kenton Creek in the Medieval Village visitors will find village blacksmiths andchain maille makers hard at work in the “smithy”.  The village encapsulates what life was like in medieval times, as the Spinners, the Herbalist, Felt-makers, Calligraphers, theCooper and several woodworkers ply their trade.  Past the village, patrons will find theMedieval Archery ground where they can experience demonstrations with the famous English longbow.  We’ll also have a Medieval Market nearby too!

All this historical fun is being put together with the co-operation of local community and service groups of the Torrens Valley.  From the last Fair net profits of $26,000 were dispersed back into the various communities by the Management Committee.  This has become an exciting annual event which benefits the whole of the Gumeracha and Torrens Valley district.

Welcome to Country will be brought to us by Isabelle Campbell, Peramangk Custodian.