The Abbey Medieval Festival is held every year in July on the grounds of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology in Caboolture.

This is one of the most popular medieval festivals near Brisbane, attracting thousands of visitors and giving 21st century folk the chance to experience life in the middle ages.

The reenactments of medieval life consist of encampments with exhibits and interactive displays. You can learn about all aspects of medieval life – from traditional cooking, crafts, pageantry and animals, to entertainers and musicians. Try some medieval food, watch the jousting, shoot some archery, sit on a throne, go to Squire School – the list is endless.

The History of the Abbey Medieval Festival

Coming from the UK and being a history lover, I was skeptical at first about how authentic a Medieval Festival near Brisbane would be. So many “festivals” in Brisbane have the same food trucks and stalls, and not too much to differentiate them from one another.

But wow – the Medieval Festival really took me by surprise. This festival is something different entirely, on another level, and is a genuinely immersive experience.

It’s similar to an American-style Medieval Festival or Renaissance Fair. The theming, the reenactors, the food trucks, the costumes – everything is so well done and on-theme. The reeanactors and all the staff stay in character through the weekend – you really will feel like you have stepped into a medieval encampment.

The Abbey Medieval Festival has been running for 30 years. It took a hit during Covid, as many things did, and was cancelled for a few years. It came back with a bang in 2022, stronger and more popular than ever. 2022 was our first year going, and it was clear they had some teething issues. They obviously weren’t expecting such an overwhelming uptake of the event, and they oversold tickets. The entry lines were hours long, everything was overcrowded, the EFTPOS went down and no one had cash, the parking lots filled up early and the park and ride shuttles were badly managed, with huge wait times for people to get onboard. We left the festival that year tired, grumpy and frustrated – mostly because the event was excellent in many ways, but seemed so poorly organised.

They received a lot of negative feedback that year and, to their credit, they took it onboard and came back the next year determined to improve. Numbers were capped, parking instructions were clearer, the park and ride shuttles were more efficient and frequent.

Fast forward to this year, and the festival weekend is now being run superbly, like a well-oiled machine. They’re coping with the visitor numbers, getting people through the gates quickly, everyone is having a wonderful time, and they’ve added the Friday Family Fun Day to spread out the crowds and give families with younger children a chance to enjoy the festival with fewer people.

Friday Family Fun Day

We’ve been coming to the Abbey Medieval festival since 2022, but this was the first year we tried the Friday Family Fun Day.

And it was a game changer. I love the Medieval Festival – it’s my idea of a terrific day out – but the Family Fun Day took it to the next level. With no stress about parking (you get a free guaranteed onsite park) or long entry lines (the staff scan the tickets in the line and do quick bag checks and wristbands at the gates) and significantly fewer crowds, it’s a breeze.

Gates open at 9am. We were in the line at 8.45 and it was pretty long, but as soon as the gates opened, the line moved quickly and we were through by 9.15 – ready to enjoy a fun day at the festival.

The Medieval Festival runs all over the weekend, and Saturday and Sunday tickets sell out fast. The Friday Family Fun Day is a sensory-friendly day. It’s a little more low key, with lower visitor numbers, no cannon fire or trebuchet launch, and some exhibitors still setting up. But 90% of displays are up and running, and they still do the jousting.

It finishes earlier in the day, making it less overwhelming for little ones.

Navigating the Abbey Medieval Festival

The Medieval Festival is big and there’s a lot to see. It’s made up of a series of encampments, largely divided into different sections. It’s easy enough to navigate – but it’s worth purchasing a map so you don’t miss anything.

The reenactors are the heart and soul of the festival, and they camp onsite all weekend. They bring replicas of food, toys, games, thrones, armour, swords, shields and beds.

The best way to experience the festival is simply to wander. A lot of effort has gone into the displays, and the exhibitors are all passionate about their subject – so ask them questions, talk to them. If something catches your eye, stop and take a closer look. You might find yourself at Squire school, playing a 15th century game, making a doll, watching food being cooked over a fire, or hearing a 13th century story. You might even see that the bed they slept on last night is made of straw.

The reenactors deserve a huge amount of credit for how good the festival is.

My Favourite Things to Do at the Abbey Medieval Festival

The Vikings

The Viking encampment takes up a large portion of the festival. You’ll see stalls showing what the Vikings ate (hint: lots of fish) and how they lived. You can try on some chainmail and a helmet, and lift a sword and shield. It’s all very heavy and you’ll wonder how they managed to wear it at all, let alone fight in it.

Also in the Viking area is story time, a replica Viking house, and a spot to make a doll out of cloth and string – very popular with the kids!

If you’d like to see some real Viking history, you need to visit Jorvik in York – read more about that here.

The Turkish Camp

This is one of the most popular and colourful areas of the festival.

In the Turkish encampment you’ll see people dressed in bright Ottoman-style costumes, view Harem tents, watch Turkish folk dancing, try Turkish delight, see coffee being made using hot sand, and even watch Turkish oil wrestling.

Jousting

You can’t go to the Medieval Festival without seeing the jousting. Shows run a few times a day, including on Family Fun Day, and it’s a real competition, with a winner crowned at the end of the weekend. Tickets for the jousting cost extra – buy them when you buy your festival tickets as they do sell out.

The jousting is a spectacle, that’s for sure. Held in the arena, and with horses and knights decked out in full armour and pageantry, it’s truly something to behold. There’s a buzz of anticipation as the horses come up to their starting positions, then burst into a full gallop.

In actual Medieval times the aim was to knock your opponent off their horse, but obviously that’s no longer done. Nowadays, competitors score points by touching their opponent with the lance, based on where they landed the hit. To be honest, it’s a little hard to follow, and we had no idea who was winning – but it’s still exciting to watch. If you’ve never seen it before you should at least go once.

Good to know – the jousting arena is fully exposed with no shade, and the sun is strong. It might not match your medieval princess outfit, but I recommend a hat.

If you choose not to watch the jousting, it’s a great time to explore the festival with shorter lines at food stalls and exhibits.

If you like the jousting here, you’ll love it at Warwick Castle!

Archery

One of my favourite activities at the festival is the archery. For $5, you get six arrows, a quick tutorial from a friendly squire, and a chance to shoot your arrows at the target. The technique is trickier than it looks, but it’s heaps of fun – you’ll feel just like Robin Hood.

Animals

This will be one of the most popular parts of the festival for the kids. See birds of prey, hold a falcon, pat the giant Irish Wolfhounds and gentle Greyhounds, visit the donkeys and horses. Learn about the role of animals in medieval life. In this area you can also grind grain and churn butter.

Games

In the games section, near the Squire School, you can learn board games like Alquerque and Lucky house. The exhibitors will sit and teach you these games. You might also try Frog Toss, Chicken in a Basket or Kubb.

This area will also be really popular with the kids.

Shows

As well as the jousting, there are lots of events throughout the day – check the schedule posted around the festival. You might catch a falconry show, costume competition, Turkish oil wrestling, folk dancing, sword fight or Viking axe fight.

Treasure Hunt

On Friday Family Fun Day there’s a treasure hunt! Buy your map at the merchandise tent, collect 10 stamps from the reenactors, and at the end you’ll be awarded a medal.

Top tip – the line for the merchandise tent is very long when the festival opens. Go and enjoy the festival and come back after an hour or so – the line will be gone and you’ll still have plenty of time to complete the treasure hunt.

Food

The food trucks match the medieval theming well. There are a few food court areas dotted around the festival, with the main one near the entrance next to the Stag Inn.

At The Stag Inn you can sit and enjoy medieval music (featuring the wonderfully named hurdy gurdy!) while you eat your lunch. You’ll find standard fare like sausages, souvlaki, meat and burgers, but keep an eye out for the medieval treats on offer, such as toffee apples, mead, and carts selling tarts and pies – don’t miss the jam tarts.

Heorot Hall, near the Viking encampment, is a tavern-style tent serving alcohol – this is closed on Friday Family Fun Day.

Good to know: seating can be limited in the food areas at busy times.

Costumes

Do not come to the medieval festival without a costume – there, I said it. Dressing up as a jester, medieval princess, Viking or knight is all part of the fun and gets you into the spirit. There were so many people not dressed up on Family Fun Day, it was a little disappointing. On the Saturday and Sunday, most people do dress up.

So I encourage you – if you’re coming to the Medieval Festival, costumes are for everyone, not just the kids!

Tickets

The Medieval Festival sells out every year, including Family Fun Day. Follow Abbey Medieval Festival on social media and keep on top of ticket release dates – you’ll want to get in quick.

The Medieval Banquet

Held the weekend before the Medieval Festival, this is a medieval-style feast with entertainment, set inside the museum hall on long tables.

These tickets are almost impossible to get – we’ve tried every year! If you’ve been lucky enough to get tickets – let me know what you thought of the Medieval Banquet!

Abbey Medieval Festival – Final Thoughts

The Abbey Medieval Festival is a must for anyone in Southern Queensland with an interest in history. It truly brings the past to life. So much effort has gone into making it authentic – this is an unmissable annual event.

If you’re searching for a medieval festival in Brisbane that offers the real deal — jousting, archery, reenactors, storytelling and food — this is the one to visit.

Get in early for tickets, and if you manage to score some banquet tickets – can I come?

A replica medieval festival is the best we get in Australia. But visit the UK and you’ll see real medieval castles, churches and history. We recently did a month-long road trip through the UK and saw a LOT of medieval history. Read all about our UK trip here.

Getting to the Abbey Medieval Festival

On Friday Family Fun Day, onsite parking is included in your ticket.

New from 2025 – you’ll need a $10 parking pass to secure onsite parking for Saturday and Sunday – buy it with your ticket.

Alternatively, if you’re coming by train there’s a courtesy shuttle bus from the station.

What to bring to the Medieval Festival

This is an all-weather event. It can be muddy if it’s been raining, or scorching hot in the sun. Sunscreen, good boots and a hat are recommended.

Bring cash. The food trucks will take EFTPOS, but some other vendors will be cash only, and if the EFTPOS goes down (as it has some years) you’ll need cash.

Where to Stay

Weekend passes are available for the Abbey Medieval Festival, and even if you’re only going for the day – why not stay overnight and make a weekend of it?

Have a look here for nearby hotels.

Sandstone Point Hotel is a large, family-friendly resort complex only 20 minutes from the festival.

If you’re looking to stay in a genuine medieval setting, what about Langley Castle in Northumberland, where we recently stayed? Or for families, Warwick Castle Hotel makes for a fantastic weekend stay with heavy medieval theming.

What Else to Do Nearby

The Abbey Medieval Festival is very close to Caboolture Historical Village and White Ridge Farm – a great spot for family fun on the farm.

Or head up to the Sunshine Coast – visit Mooloolaba, Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, or Amaze World.

Watch my video of our day at the Medieval Festival, and make sure to follow @tearoomtravel on Instagram!

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