For two weekends each year, the Alachua County Fairgrounds comes to life as Gainesville celebrates the
23rd Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire excitement. The clear blasts of trumpets mingle with the laughter of children as the kingdom of Hoggetowne opens its gates. Dancers and singers in period garb perform to delighted crowds. Artisans sell their fine wares while of variety of merchants such as; blacksmiths demonstrate their skills. Magicians amaze crowds with their secret arts. Full-armored knights battle one another from horseback for the honor of the King and Queen. King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table battle the forces of evil as pieces on a living chessboard. This is the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, one of Gainesville’s most beloved traditions.
The theme of this year’s Faire, "The Adventures of King Arthur,” allows visitors to travel back to a period when damsels were distressed and knights rode to the rescue. Although the origins of this story are lost in the mists of time, it continues to enchant the young and old alike to this very day. Fairgoers are encouraged to arrive early because during the first 30 minutes each day visitors are welcomed at the entrance by a gathering of every performer, actor and character. Linda Piper, Festival Coordinator, echoes the sentiments of many when she asserts that this unique "meet and greet" time is her favorite part of the day.
Great Wares and Fine Food The Faire showcases more than 150 talented artisans and craftspeople from all over the countryside arrive at Hoggetowne to display and sell a variety of goods, trinkets and wares. Visitors to the Hoggetowne Marketplace will find one-of-a-kind pewter jewelry, stone carvings, wood-working, weaving, hand-blown glassware, leather crafts, blacksmithing and much more. A variety of new vendors will represent talents never seen before at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Prepare to feast on hearty food and drink fit for a king! Beyond the marketplace is the food court, where delicious aromas entice passersby. Tasty onion blossoms, soups, fresh-baked pastries, sweet potato fries and succulent ribs are the norm. It’s not uncommon to see a young lord of the court happily munching on a giant turkey leg.
Record Crowds Expected This year is going to be wonderful,” says Linda Piper, who is preparing for what she hopes will be a record number of visitors. “We’re expecting more than 50,000 guests this year. Some people wait all year to come to the Faire, and we’re thrilled to have them.”
Revelry and Recreation
Eight stages of continuous entertainment feature jugglers, jesters and magicians. Musicians play medieval melodies on period instruments and belly dancers perform in the street. Thrilling human-powered push rides attract lines of eager children and vendors call out to the crowds to try their hand at crossbow shooting and knife throwing. The astounding “Birds of Prey” show features trained hawks and falcons that perform for the pleasure of the crowds.
Entertainment and Education: Hand in Hand On School Day, Friday January 30, thousands of children will come to the Faire to take a field trip back in time and learn about the medieval era firsthand. Schools from all over Florida take this day as a chance to learn all about medieval times in an engaging, educational environment. As King William of Hoggetowne so often says, “In Hoggetowne, my good people, the pen is mightier than the sword!”
School Day This is a great opportunity for students studying the Middle Ages to experience what this time period was really like. Schools, home schools and groups with special needs can receive discounted entrance fees by pre-registering, as well as a free educational guide filled with activities for before and after the Faire. Also, on Friday all admission is half price and individuals with disabilities are admitted free.
The Royal Pavilion This brightly colored pavilion is located near the entrance of the Faire. A green canopy shades the royal throne, upon which sit the King and Queen of Hoggetowne, flanked by their guards and heralds. It’s here that, over the course of the Faire, more than a thousand children will become lords and ladies, dragon slayers and damsels of the royal court.
The Royal Procession King William and Queen Caroline will lead the Royal Procession through Hoggetowne’s crowded streets on Friday at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The King and Queen lead more than a hundred actors, musicians, and other performers through the streets of Hoggetowne to the jousting fields, where knights battle for the honor of the Queen. One of the Faire’s most notable attractions is the joust, where knights in full plate armor charge each other on horseback, clashing in the middle of the field and battling mightily. Be sure not to miss this exciting event. Jousting begins at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Children's Activities Families will enjoy the Children’s Pavilion with educational, hands-on, creative activities. An Art and Essay Contest in the Children’s Pavilion features the work of over 300 local school children. There will be 56 prizewinners in six age groups and three categories representing talent from every grade level. The three grand-prize winners will receive a $25 gift certificate (5 in $5 increments) to be spent at the Medieval Faire, and a total of 56 first, second, and third place prizes will be given two guest passes to the Faire, a Hoggetowne commemorative T-shirt and an award certificate. The King and Queen of Hoggetowne will recognize the winners at an award ceremony held on Saturday, January 24th at 2:30 p.m. in the Royal Pavilion.
A Noble Tradition
The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire is produced by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and is one of North Florida’s most beloved traditions. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity for entertainment, education, and a great time for the whole family. .
