Forget ordinary city life because Newcastle is transforming into a massive medieval kingdom this September

Few things command attention quite like a jousting tournament, and the Newcastle Medieval Festival knows it. Professional riders in full armour, equipped with lances, will enter prepared for the kind of dramatic contest that once entertained royal courts and rowdy crowds alike. That’s not all, the Buhurt tournament delivers combat in a rougher form. Competitors wearing chainmail step into battle equipped with blunted steel, where the mood is less about grace and more about surviving the glorious chaos. Just when you think the excitement ends there, midday brings one of the festival’s loudest rituals, a cannon firing that’s loud enough to break through the sounds of cheering crowds.

If you’re seeking calm from the battlefield antics, take a stroll through the Artisan Village and market, where stalls offer handcrafted goods, old-world accessories, leatherwork, forged weapons and curiosities that are perfectly suited to the medieval vibes. 

Then there’s the Maxwell Wines Tavern, because no gathering of this sort feels complete without something brewed, poured and enjoyed over hearty cheers. Socialise with fellow cosplayers as you show off your crafted outfits, while improvising titles and LARPing as though you’re in your own version of The Lord of The Rings.

For two days, Newcastle will feel less like a modern-day coastal city and more like entering another century. If your weekend could use more steel, cosplay, mead, and the occasional canon blast, then consider this your summons to purchase your tickets! Revelry and glory await at Newcastle Foreshore Park.