The all new show at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament is simply a family affair. It had been a few years since my husband and I had been to Medieval Times so we were all too excited at the opportunity to go again and take our daughter for the first time! The icing on the cake was that this was going to be a brand new live show!

From the moment we drove into the parking lot and saw the watchtowers atop of the sprawling castle and a horse being escorted by a knight outdoors for a little exercise, we knew our family was going to be transported back in time. And it was one trip we just couldn't wait to take.

The Castle
Once you enter, you'll immediately notice that this castle is designed like a Medieval museum. There's lots to see - including weapons, Medieval artifacts, and an area where they keep some of the birds like a owl that we stood and watched for quite a while.

And if it's in your budget, there are also lots of suits of armour in display which are available for purchase (or to just take photos of)! So bring your camera and get there early so you have time to explore before the show starts.

The Show
As I mentioned this is a brand new production that took close to two years to make and it's well worth it!

I definitely don't want to give too much of the plot away as I know many of you are going to want to be surprised when you go see the new show. But what you can expect is new music, costumes and lots and lots of weaponry, horses, fight scenes, a jousting tournament and a storyline all set in Medieval Spain!

While my husband couldn't wait for the "battling" to begin (and these are good!), one of my favorite parts came early on in the show.  

It's when the Falcon Lady brings out her bird who is released into the arena, soaring fast and high above your head. The big thrill came when the bird would sometimes fly a little too close to the top of your head and table. It was absolutely breathtaking to watch and definitely captured the crowd's attention as all of the jeering and cheering stopped during this part of the show and you could practically hear a pin drop.

There are knights, a fair maiden, a king with this royal court, and lots of spectacular horses trained to keep you in awe. Best of all kids will delight in all of the action, including the crowd pleasing events like jousting, sword fights and falconry.

You'll have a great time and there's something in this show to please every member of your family! Even though my three year old couldn't follow the storyline and asked a lot of questions about what was going on, she was engaged and had a great time. She personally enjoyed waving her yellow flag and light/glow stick while cheering along with the crowd.

Audience
Speaking of crowds, I'm not quite show how many people the arena holds, but it's got to be several hundred.

As I said before, you will want to arrive early so you can not only look around the castle museum, but also to make sure you get the seats that you want as it is first come, first served. But honestly it appears every seat is a good seat at this tournament, so not to worry.

If you've never been to Medieval Times before, one of most fun parts about the show is how interactive it is. You are just as much part of the entertainment as the performers. In fact, they really feed off of the energy of the crowd so don't be afraid to get into it and root for your knight!

The Food
Don't forget this is a restaurant as much as it is an entertaining live show, so you will be served a 4-course meal and that's included in the price of your ticket too. Believe me, the dining is a big part of your Medieval experience.

The servers are trained to be in character too so it's very amusing to be told "Yes, My Lady" or "Of Course, My Lord" after requesting something.

Plus, the kids will love dinner - no there are no chicken fingers or pizza here - but they get to do something they don't get to do at home: Eat with their fingers! No utensils are allowed as everyone enjoys a half roast chicken and roasted potatoes. You'll even need to drink your tomato soup right from the bowl. Slurping required!!

If you or someone in your family has special dietary needs, know that you can request other options. For example, we're not huge meat eaters in our family, so we opted for the vegetarian dinner. These did not disappoint either. We had a rice pilaf sort of dish in a roasted red pepper, hummus and chips and roasted vegetables. It was all delicious.

Best part? We never felt like we were waiting for anything. From our server to the bartender Medieval Times knows how to keep everything going, even in spite of the amount of people they have to cater to. It's one well-oiled machine. 

Visitor Tips

1. Come hungry and be prepared to literally feast like a king! The portions they give are HUGE. Plus you get soup, bread, a main course and dessert!

2. Children under 3 can get in free if they sit on your lap and eat from your plate.

3. Bring a little extra cash if you want to take home a souvenir. They have a complete gift shop that includes princess hats and gowns, swords, mugs, toys (lots of them - my daughter noticed!) and a lot more! Plus you have the opportunity to have your photo taken when you enter the castle (we had ours taken with the Falcon lady and her bird). These are nice quality photos that are framed in a beautiful little Medieval Times commemorative keepsake book.

4. Finally, make sure you bring lots of energy with you as you'll need it with all of the screaming and cheering you're going to do for your favorite knight and your king!

Hours
Showtimes vary so check the website before you go. There is a matinee show at 11 a.m.

Location
The castle is located at 5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy in Lawrenceville at Discover Mills Mall.

Ticket Information
Guests can purchase tickets online at www.medievaltimes.com or by calling 1-888-WE-JOUST.
For show times, visit www.medievaltimes.com. For more information on what's in store for Macaroni Kid Day (July 31 @ 2 p.m.) PLUS information on the ticket discount, CLICK HERE.

WIN TICKETS!

Macaroni Kid CEM Has FOUR tickets to see the ALL-NEW show at Medieval Times on Macaroni Kid Day July 31 at 2 PM!
Want to Win?

*** WINNER: Preta V. ***

Here's how:

MANDATORY: Email me at [email protected] with subject line "Medieval Times" by Fri., July 27 at noon.

• 1 BONUS ENTRY: "LIKE" and comment on this post on Facebook by letting us know what you are most looking forward to seeing at the new show. CLICK HERE.
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• 3 BONUS ENTRIES: Refer a new Macaroni Kid College Park subscriber (Please make sure they put YOUR NAME in the "How did you hear about us" section) or Refer a new Facebook Fan (Please make sure they put YOUR NAME in their Post on our Wall)

Rules: Must be a subscriber to Macaroni Kid College Park. Must be 18 years or older. Winner will be chosen at random by Sat., July 28, 2012. Once chosen the winner will have 24 hours to respond or Macaroni Kid College Park will chose another winner. By entering this contest, you are automatically agreeing to be subscribed to receive Macaroni Kid College Park via email each week (if you are not already a subscriber).