Hear ye, hear ye, suits of armour and knights to return to Caboolture

The Caboolture region will once again travel back in time to the Middle Ages this July with the return of the Abbey Medieval Festival.

Tickets to the festival will go on sale on Wednesday, April 20, with the event to be held over two days during the July school holidays on July 9-10.

The two-day spectacular at ‘Abbeystowe’ village will feature live re-enactments including a castle siege, firing of the cannon and trebuchet (catapult), roving musicians and performers, animal demonstrations including Birds of Prey, and various market stalls.

This year, organisers are also excited to host the Moreton Bay Medieval Joust Championship, which is sponsored by the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

There will also be plenty of medieval food to try and a themed tavern where you can enjoy a cold beverage or two.

Following two years of cancellations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Festival and Abbey Museum Director Edith Cuffe said she was thrilled to have this much-loved event back on the calendar and to welcome people who are yet to experience the fun.

“We are so excited to welcome back our festival fans to ‘Abbeystowe’ and also to attract new residents from Queensland who have not had the opportunity to experience the colour and excitement of the Abbey Medieval Festival since moving to our sunshine state,” she said.

This festival is the largest of its kind in Australia and attracts 25,000 visitors to the Moreton Bay Region.

Support for the future

The event is returning this year with support from Tourism and Events Queensland, the Moreton Bay Regional Council, State Government, North Harbour and ERMS Group.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said Council was proud to help the festival return.

“Our two-year Community Operational Support Grant will contribute a total of $300,000 towards the Abbey’s operating costs and not only ensure the museum can deliver its marquee event in 2022 and 2023, but also help keep the organisation financially viable from 2024 onwards,” he said.

“The festival is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and a veritable feast of fun for lovers of medieval culture across our community and beyond.

“I’ve experienced the fun for myself, from jousters and performers, to re-enactments and fantastic food, it’s like going back in time to the Middle Ages.”

Member for Pumicestone Ali King said the State Government had also invested $105,000 to secure the Abbey Medieval Festival’s future.

“Events like the Abbey Medieval Festival are crucial to the Moreton Bay Region’s visitor economy,” she said.

“Across the nation, squires and maidens are marking their parchments and planning their pilgrimage to Caboolture’s ‘Abbeystowe’ for a feast of medieval food and culture.

“We know the pandemic has been as brutal to this event as a medieval joust, but I can hardly wait for festival’s return this July.”

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the return of the Abbey Medieval Festival is good news for the local economy.

“In 2019, more than 30,000 visited Caboolture in their favourite medieval outfit and in one weekend delivered $1 million for local businesses,” he said.

“When visitors arrive from out of town, they spend with accommodation and transport providers, restaurants and cafes, and other tourism experiences which benefits the entire destination.”

How to book

Early bird tickets will be available on the festival website on Wednesday, April 20 until Tuesday, May 31.

The Abbey Medieval Festival is also hosting a scavenger event on its museum and festival websites, social media pages and more, with family passes up for grabs.

Click on their Facebook page for more information.

The event will be held at 1-63 The Abbey Place, Caboolture.