Here’s your chance to witness a medieval joust! Head over to Loxwood, a small village in West Sussex, England for the fourth edition of the Loxwood Joust on August 5 and 6 and then on August 12 and 13, 2017.  The Loxwood Joust is a two-day event in the heart of the West Sussex countryside. Experience the verve and vigour of a world where lives were harsh and hearts were passionate, say the organisers. The most eye-catching event is the full-contact jousting twice each day. See the daring displays of weaponry, archery and cannon fire as armoured knights prepare to meet in thunderous battle.

The organisers want this to be a learning experience too and encourage family visits. At the Living History Village, situated in the Mediaeval Meadow, inhabitants live and work exactly as they would have in the middle ages. You can browse through their traditional wares in the Mediaeval Marketplace, which harks back in time with traders’ calls, wandering minstrels, dance troupes, and a court jester entertaining the crowds throughout the day.

A poster for the Loxwood Joust
A poster for the Loxwood Joust

For the young visitors, there is a Children’s Kingdom – a festival within a festival. Here, the currency is the medieval groat, which kids can use to try Have-a-Go Archery, Face and Wound Painting, Pelt The Peasant, Sword school and The Bouncy Castle.

At the Medieval Learning Zone, there are chances that you may meet a medieval housewife who will be talking about cutting edge fashion, or an executioner who will be talking about medieval torture or get an opportunity to be at the Copper Pot where a  chef will guide you through the world of medieval cuisine. The will be blacksmith workshops and falconry displays too.

Other festival highlights include music from Mediaeval Baebes, belly-dancers The Sultan’s Sirens, female trio Avon Faire and minstrels Portcullis.

Tickets for this popular festival are available online at legendpresents.co.uk/loxwoodjoust/. Individual events may have separate tickets too.

The nearest rail station is Billingshurst from where a shuttle bus runs to Loxwood Meadow.