It goes without saying that I am a huge history fanatic, especially when it comes to the Middle Ages of Europe. Anyone who knows me knows that I would die to travel back in time and live in 1348, during the time of the plague, and be a peasant. I know this sounds ridiculous and I obviously know the dangers of this time travel, but I still desire it. I gasp at 
anything hinting at the Middle Ages.
My parents, for New Year’s Day, took us on a surprise trip to Medieval Times, a dinner and tournament event. We entered the “castle” and received a crown. Ours was black and white, representing the black and white knight we were to cheer during the tournament. Inside the building, as we awaited the jousting tournament and dinner, we were able to get drinks and buy trinkets or souvenirs. I actually spent my own forty dollars and bought myself a “woodmen’s cape” and a black “wench dress.” I immediately put the cape on. There was a “museum” of torture instruments used throughout the medieval times, which was very interesting and informative – well worth 2 dollars per person!
Finally, the doors opened and we were allowed into the arena where we were seated at table 11 in the “black and white” area. There were other teams as well: the red, yellow, blue, green, and the red/yellow team. All of these teams were our allies except the green team – the Green Knight or the Knight of Leon was our enemy. We were served garlic bread, tomato bisque soup, half a roast chicken, spare ribs, a potato, and an apple turnover. We ate with our fingers while watching the horse show. We cheered for our knights as they completed training tasks before the big jousts. In the end, the black and white knight was the victor of all the other knight! There was an entire story to tie all of the activities together, the story of the battle between the King of Castile (I’m assuming) and the King of Leon.
Afterwards, the knights, king, princess, and prince, came out into the lobby area (where the shops were) for autographs and photo-ops. Not only did we chat with our knight, but we chatted up our ally the Red Knight as well!
The evening’s event was a great one! We easily got into it, cheering for our knight and booing the Green Knight. It was slightly helpful that the knights in shining armor were handsome as well! The food was delicious, though they gave us a huge amount! It was a very exciting time, and one I would easily experience again.
Medieval Times: Dinner and Tournament
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
January 1, 2012
Marina B. Nebro
