Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 17 July 2023

KNIGHTS are set to battle it out in Hinckley’s award-winning Argents Mead park at a two-day-long free and fun medieval family event starting this Saturday (22 July).

The event has been organised by the Hinckley High Street Heritage Action Zone, and will see the knights joined by a fire-breathing jester and ‘gruesome’ barber surgeon.

Running from 10am to 5pm on both days, Saturday (22 July) and Sunday (23 July), it will provide a combined total of 17 hours worth of medieval fun for park-goers.

Guests will even be able to watch an original play titled “The Crown and The Quill”, performed by the Red River youth theatre company, which sees the great bard, Shakespeare, arrive at Heaven’s gates, and end up meeting the famous king.

Park-goers can also have a go at dancing, listen to archaeology talks, listen to music, and watch both an educational children’s re-enactment of the ‘Battle of Bosworth’, and a ‘gruesome’ barber surgeon display by local re-enactor Eddie Smallwood.

Refreshments will be sold, with caterers serving up crepes, hog roast, and more. Families are being invited to pack picnics, to in the park.

Coun. Mark Bools, the borough council’s Executive Member for Events, said: “It’s great to see the Hinckley High Street Heritage Action Zone fund another event that families and visitors can come along and enjoy for free.

“This promises to be a fun-filled family event, with something for everyone over the weekend.

“Come along and learn all about the Battle of Bosworth, watch our spectacular fire-breathing jester, enjoy an archaeology talk, or be entertained by the gruesome barber surgeon. We hope to see you there.”

Full schedule

According to borough council bosses, the full schedules for both days is as follows:

• 10am: Fair opens: music and have-a-go dancing
• 10.30am: Barber surgeon and children’s Battle of Bosworth
• 11am: The Crown and the Quill, Richard III play
• 11.30am: Jester and archaeology talk at Castle
• 12pm: Music and have-a-go dancing
• 12:30pm: Medieval knights in combat
• 1pm: The Crown and the Quill
• 1:30pm: Jester and archaeology talk at Castle
• 2pm: Music and have-a-go-dancing
• 2:30pm: Barber surgeon and children’s Battle of Bosworth
• 3pm: The Crown and the Quill
• 3.30pm: Jester and archaeology talk at castle
• 4pm: Medieval knights in combat
• 4.30pm: Music and have-a-go dancing