Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is widely regarded as the biggest free Medieval gathering in Europe. Re-enactors live in full Medieval style for the weekend and welcome visitors to the living history camps around the battlefield, King Edward’s camp on Windmill Hill, and Queen Margaret’s camp in Bloody Meadow. We also have a large exhibition tent where you will find displays from historical societies, a tent with Medieval inspired crafts and shows for our younger visitors, while Medieval minstrels, jugglers, stilt walkers, friendly dragons, and bears wander around the festival site. There is a re-enactment of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury complete with commentary, followed by a skirmish, trial, and executions in the town. The Festival not only provides education and entertainment, it is an opportunity to bring together the people of Tewkesbury.
We have had to make the unfortunate decision to cancel the event this year given the current uncertainty surrounding Covid-19. The event is organised by a hardworking team of volunteers, with the majority of the cost to run the festival coming from our visitors via a small car parking fee, bucket donations, and fees received from traders. We are looking forward now to 2021, the year which marks both 550 years since the Battle of Tewkesbury and 900 years since the consecration of Tewkesbury Abbey. This is a significant year for the town, and we are planning to make next year's Festival reflect this. However, we cannot do it justice without the generosity of our supporters. We ask that those of you who were planning to visit us this year consider donating online instead. Any amount will be much appreciated.