Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire

Robin Hood, a legendary heroic outlaw originating in the English folklore, is widely represented in literature, film, television, and popular culture in general. The city of Harwinton, Connecticut even hosts an annual festival dedicated to Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire, originally known as the Robin Hood Springtime Festival, is held in mid- to late May.

The Robin Hood Springtime Festival was founded in 2010. It was originally held in North Haven, Connecticut as a springtime counterpart to the Connecticut Renaissance Faire. In 2017, both festivals moved from the North Haven Fairgrounds because the grounds had become a bit too “modern day” for Renaissance-themed events. The Connecticut Renaissance Fair moved to Lebanon, Connecticut, while the Robin Hood Springtime Festival found a new home in Lancaster, Massachusetts and even got a new name. After a while, Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire moved back to Connecticut and is now held in Harwinton.

Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire is set in England circa 1150 (although the earliest ballads about Robin Hood date back to the 15th century, he is believed to have lived earlier, assuming that he was a real person at all). The festival runs over several weekends in May and June, attracting about 2,000 visitors a day.

Like most Renaissance festivals, Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire features a market where artisans sell handmade ware and delicious foods, singing and dancing performed live on stage and in the streets, magicians and psychics, jugglers and jesters, performances featuring Robin Hood and the Merry Men, brave knights and damsels in distress, spectacular joust, Knighting Ceremony, a costume contest, special events and activities for children, parades, and various games and competitions (archery, archery tag, darts, sword fighting, and more).

To make things even more exciting, Robin Hood’s Medieval Faire offers themed weekends. For example, at the 2018 fair visitors could attend Pet Weekend featuring a pet costume contest and a dog trick contest; Fantasy & Fairy Weekend with a fairy costume contest and Dragon Egg Hunt; and Bromance & Brew Weekend that included vow renewals with Friar Tuck, a beer chugging contest, and Nottingham After Dark (an 18+ special event).