2017 FACT SHEET. Produced by City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs

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2017 FACT SHEET WHO: WHAT: WHEN: Produced by City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 31 st Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Hearts 9 Stages with

1 2017 FACT SHEET WHO: WHAT: WHEN: Produced by City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs 31 st Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Hearts 9 Stages with continuous entertainment Educational demonstrations presented by period crafters and historical re-enactors Birds of Prey a full flight falconry show Jousting Knights, Sword Fighting, Gypsy Dancers, Jugglers, Fire-eaters Practice archery at live targets Children s activities Daily knighting by King William and Queen Caroline, Kids Kingdom activity area Living History Village Food for every palate! January 28 th -29 th & February 3 rd -5 th, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. February 5 th, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. is Discount Friday and reduced admission prices WHERE: Alachua County Fairgrounds, 3100 NE 39 th Ave, Gainesville, FL WHY: PRICES: For individuals and families alike to immerse themselves in a medieval adventure Saturdays & Sundays - $17 for adults, $7 for youth (5-17) and children under 5 are free Friday - $8 for adults, $3.50 for youth (5-17) and children under 5 are free For group ticket sales, please contact The City of Gainesville at piperlr@cityofgainesville.org MISC: Pets not permitted DEMOGRAPHICS VOLUNTEERS: 920 PATRONS: 50,645 (29,815 Adults; 16,875 Children 5-17; 3,955 Children under 5) GROUPS: 27 counties SPONSORS Subway, Gator Domino s, Pure Energy Solar, Visit Gainesville CONTACT INFORMATION Linda Piper, Faire Coordinator City of Gainesville Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs piperlr@cityofgainesville.org

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Festival Information Strap on your armor and prepare for a wild ride through the Middle Ages during the 31 st Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire.

As knights joust on horseback, the sound of their clashing swords mixes with a musical blend of harp strings, trumpet blasts and gypsy bells.

2 Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Festival Information Strap on your armor and prepare for a wild ride through the Middle Ages during the 31 st Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. For two weekends, the Alachua County Fairgrounds transforms into a Medieval Marketplace, where the King and Queen mingle with fire-breathers, musicians, dancers, magicians and shopkeepers. As knights joust on horseback, the sound of their clashing swords mixes with a musical blend of harp strings, trumpet blasts and gypsy bells. The laughter of children lingers near the human-powered push rides and the camel and pony rides. In conjunction with this year s theme of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Hearts, the Tournament Field will host a stunning show of combat entertainment during a living chess match. Join Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the greatest queens in history as she defies the social constraints of her time and forges her own legend! Young or old, every visitor can appreciate the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Fairgoers are encouraged to arrive early because every performer, actor and character greets guests during the first 30 minutes of each day. 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 160 talented artisans. Craftspeople from all over the country arrive at Hoggetowne to display and sell a variety of medieval ware, including pewter jewelry and stone carvings, woodwork, blacksmithing, weaving, hand-blown glass and leather. 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 enough to make anyone s mouth water. It s not uncommon to see a young lord of the court happily munching on a giant turkey leg. Record Crowds Expected The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire always draws a large crowd, and this year will be no exception, says Linda Piper, who is preparing for what she hopes will be a record number of visitors. We re expecting more than 53,000 guests. Fans of the faire wait all year for this medieval celebration, and we re thrilled to have them. Faire Hours: Saturday and Sunday, January & February 4-5 from 10-6 Friday, February 3, from 9:30-3 Admission: $17 for adults $7 for youth (ages 5-17) Discount Friday is reduced prices for general admission. School groups that pre-register receive further discounts. Advance ticket sales at local Gator Domino's locations and online at Purchase tickets at the gate or online. Location: Alachua County Fairgrounds 3100 NE 39 th Avenue, Next to the Gainesville Regional Airport on SR 222 Directions: From I-75 northern most Gainesville exit - Exit 390. Head East, follow signs to Gainesville Regional Airport. The fairgrounds are located on the left, right before the airport. Contact Information: City of Gainesville Hoggetowne Medieval Faire Sta. 30, PO Box 490 Gainesville, FL Phone: (352) Fax: (352) piperlr@cityofgainesville.org Produced By: The City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs Linda Piper, Events Coordinator Pets are not permitted

Revelry and Recreation Nine stages of continuous entertainment feature jugglers, jesters and magicians. Musicians play medieval melodies on period instruments, and belly dancers perform in the street.

The astounding Birds of Prey show features trained hawks and falcons that perform for the pleasure of the crowds.

In addition, school groups from all over Florida and parts of Georgia immerse themselves in our engaging and hands-on educational environment.

complete before and after the Faire. The Royal Pavilion This brightly colored pavilion is located near the entrance of the Faire.

3 Revelry and Recreation Nine 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 as vendors encourage guests 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 Friday, February 3 rd is Discount Friday and School Day at the Faire. All admission on Friday is reduced and individuals with disabilities are admitted free. In addition, school groups from all over Florida and parts of Georgia immerse themselves in our engaging and hands-on educational environment. 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 and lessons that children can complete before and after the Faire. 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 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The King and Queen lead more than a hundred actors, musicians, and other performers through the streets of Hoggetowne to the tournament field, where knights battle for the honor of the Queen. One of the Faire s most notable attractions is the jousting arena, 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 12:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. and 5 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 more than 250 local school children. Children can submit an essay, a 2-D work of art or a 3-D work of art. Judges will award prizes in each category and age group for a total of 56 winners. The three grand-prize winners will receive a $25 gift certificate (5 in $5 increments) to be spent at the Medieval Faire, while all 56 winners 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 28 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.

Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs PO Box 490, Station #30 Gainesville, FL 32627-0490 (352) 393-8536 (352) 334-2249 (fax) www.hoggetownefaire.

4 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs PO Box 490, Station #30 Gainesville, FL (352) (352) (fax) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Historic Days and Medieval Knights GAINESVILLE, Fla. Experience a world of medieval magic, where jousting knights, dancing gypsies and historic heroes mingle with visitors at the 31 st Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. For two consecutive weekends, on Saturday, Jan. 28 and Sunday, Jan. 29 and Friday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 5, the Alachua County Fairgrounds transforms into a medieval marketplace filled with hundreds of artisans and entertainers. A special Discount Friday celebration on Friday, Feb. 3 features reduced-price ticket sales for all guests. The Hoggetowne Medieval Faire is a place where people of all ages can appreciate the rich culture of the Middle Ages, said Faire coordinator Linda Piper. Coming to the Faire and enjoying its authentic atmosphere has become a tradition for families from across Florida. Fairgoers do not just visit to immerse themselves in the medieval atmosphere, they come to see more than 160 talented artisans, who travel from across the country to display and sell their traditional wares. Visitors can find one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, stone and wood carvings, blacksmithing, weaving, hand-blown glassware and leather goods. They can also shop for medieval clothing. After stopping by the artisans booths, fairgoers can get their hair braided or glimpse into the future at a fortune teller s booth. They can create wax hands or purchase colorful, one-of-a-kind wax roses. The winding pathways of Hoggetowne overflow with troupes of actors, musicians and street performers. Crowds cheer for armored knights as they joust on the Tournament Field, while nine stages of continuous entertainment feature majestic performances of full flight falconry, aerial acrobatics and unbelievable magic acts. In conjunction with this year s theme of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Hearts, the Tournament Field will host a stunning show of combat entertainment during a living chess match. Join Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the greatest queens in history as she defies the social constraints of her time and forges her own legend! Watching these battles is enough to make any guest hungry. At the food court, visitors will enjoy a feast fit for a king. Tasty blooming onions, fresh-baked pastries, sweet potato fries, giant turkey legs, homemade ice cream and succulent ribs are just some of the foods available for famished lords and ladies. The Faire also offers entertainment for children. They can embark on an adventure to the royal pavilion, where they will become lords and ladies of the court of Hoggetowne, or they can enjoy camel and pony rides. Thrilling, human-powered push rides will also draw crowds of eager children, who can rock back and forth on a sea dragon or spin around on the Barrel of Bedlam. Adults can join in the fun with more than a dozen old-world games like archery and knife throwing. Come early to enjoy a day packed with excitement and medieval merriment. Faire hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. Admission is $17 for adults, $7 for youth (ages 5 to 17) and free for children younger than 5. Tickets are reduced on Friday, February 3 rd and admission is $8 for adults and $3.50 for youth. Tickets may be purchased at the gate or avoid waiting in line and experience the convenience of purchasing tickets in advance online at at any Gator Domino s in Gainesville, or in person at the Thomas Center. For more information, call ARTS or visit

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