Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament and sharing the experience with your readers

One evening my family and I left modern Toronto and traveled back in time, Medieval Times, to be more specific. We expected just dinner and a show, but it was so much more than that, it was an experience. When you first enter the grounds, you’re instantly greeted with crowns and assigned to a team (I suggest bringing a princess crown for your daughters). The sight of knights and nobility, wearing ornate costumes and speaking in olde English accents had us all excited, and we hadn’t even sit down yet. Instead we went straight to see the horses, which you can view before dinner. All the kids loved them and my daughter was especially thrilled!

The evening commenced when King came out before the crowd for a formal greeting.

He engaged the audience, which set the tone for the entire evening. At this time we enjoyed a very interactive “cocktail time.” He also introduced the knights, their horses, and the teams aforementioned, which corresponded with the knights who would be competing in a traditional jousting tournament during dinner. Our server, Shannon, made sure we were cheering as loud as we could for our knight. It was so much fun!

 Soon after the mighty falconer, Sir William, made an appearance and introduced the crowd to his falcon as it flew around the room. The feast was then served, and the food was simple and delicious. The meal started off with garlic bread and a tomato bisque, then followed with roasted chicken, herb-based potatoes and sweet buttered corn. Dessert featured a house (or more so castle) pastry. Now, that doesn’t exactly sound like a traditional Medieval feast, but the fact that it is served without silverware brings it back to pre-renaissance times. It was all part of the experience (which I neglected as I requested a fork and spoon!).

The whole experience keeps you at the edge of your seat and intrigued at all times.

The music, costumes, cheering, animals, performances, and even the little things like smoke and lighting, all contributed to an amazing time. Not to mention all the sword fighting and jousting simulations looked incredibly real, and had us all scared at times. However, the best aspect of the evening was how interactive it was. The announcers made consistent efforts to engage the crowd by asking questions, singling out those who had birthdays, and igniting competitiveness amongst the teams.  My daughter proved to be most excited as she waved her black and white flag with enthusiasm and pride. To end the night, a Queen is announced, and she is picked from the crowd. I guess all her cheering paid off, as my own daughter was named the Queen of the night!

I would highly recommend going to Medieval Times for a fun night out with the family. It’s different from your average “kid-friendly” restaurant and movie theatre. You get the chance to actively engage and interact with your family, whereas many other arenas do not offer that. When going to Medieval Times for an evening you are temporarily removed from the bustling city and transported back in time!