Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is a great day out for locals and visitors alike.
The festival, now the biggest and best of its kind in Europe, takes place on part of the site of the original Battle of Tewkesbury of 1471, when the armies of the houses of York and Lancaster fought for the crown of England.
It includes a large scale re-enactment of the battle, with knights in full steel armour, archers with the traditional English Longbow and foot soldiers armed with an array of weapons of the period along with early cannons and guns.
The public is also invited to visit the soldiers and families on the living history camp
To crossing the specially installed bridge to the Bloody Meadow is to step back in time - there will be people living in canvas tents, all fully equipped in 15th century style. Everyone, including the children, will be dressed in full costume and they will all be carrying out the tasks needed for an army on the march - including cooking period food over open fires.
There is also a large market - with traders selling everything from armour to medieval pottery to sweets and vintage clothes.
Games, jugglers, stilt walkers and other entertainment should keep everyone happy, whilst a well stocked beer tent and range of caterers take care of the inner man.
Entrance to the fair is free - making it easy for people to come and go as they please, although there is a small charge for car parking.
The fair opens at 11am on both days, with the battle at 4pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. It closes at 6pm, when, on Saturday, the focus moves to the area around the Abbey, for a recreation of an incident in which defeated Lancastrians fled to the Abbey for sanctuary, only to be dragged out by the Yorkists.

What's Happening in the Town?
Tewkesbury's main streets will be decorated with banners displaying the arms of knights who fought on both sides in the battle of Tewkesbury. An informative sheet about them will be found in the window of the shop displaying the banner.

Many shops will also have themed window displays as part of a competition organised by the Chamber of Commerce, and several pubs and restaurants will be putting on special menus to suit the occasion.

On the Saturday of the festival the Lord of the Manor and his retinue will tour the town exhorting taxes and tithes from shop keepers - not all of whom pay up willingly. When the fair shuts at 6pm the action moves to the area around the Abbey, where a group of re-enactors re-create the incident in which fleeing Lancastrians sought sanctuary in the Abbey, only to be dragged out by the victorious Yorkists. This will be followed by their trial and the mock beheading of a number of captured knights. Look out for other incidents in and around the town throughout the weekend.

To find out more about the event itself go to our website at www.tewkesbury-medieval-fayre.org.uk

For further details of accommodation during the festival contact Tewkesbury Tourist Information Centre on 01684 295027.