The popular Medieval Fun Day, which attracted 3000 people when it was last held in 2023, will be hosted in the Tūhura Otago Museum galleries and at the Museum Reserve on Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.
Medieval Fun Day co-ordinator Jeremy Anderson said the event was a great way to bring local groups and experts with a special interest in the medieval world together with the community for a "journey through time".
"We will have exciting things happening inside the museum and out on the reserve, including sword fighting demonstrations and a jousting tournament for children, and a chance to learn some ancient skills," he said.
The event is being held in conjunction with the Dunedin Gasworks Museum and Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance music ensemble Rare Byrds, who will be playing an active role.
Dunedin Gasworks Museum Trust chairman and Rare Byrds musician Jonathan Cweorth said it was fantastic the Medieval Fun Day was returning, and he was looking forward to the many activities.
The gasworks museum had several experts in medieval skills, including smiths Kelly Bragg and Evelyn Guiget, who would be leading demonstrations of blacksmithing, making armour and chainmail using a forge outside on the Museum Reserve.
Mr Anderson said visitors to the Medieval Fun Day would be invited to take a deep dive into the past, with expert talks, gallery trails and hands-on workshops.
Those would include calligraphy and gold-leafing with University of Otago medieval expert Prof Simone Marshall.
"We are planning to broaden out our approach to the medieval period to look wider than just Europe — using the dragon as a motif," Mr Anderson said.
"It will be a chance to tell a broader story about what was going on in the world at that time."
And, for some extra fun, much-loved medieval-themed comedy film The Princess Bride will be screened in the museum’s Barclay Theatre at 2.30pm.
Mr Cweorth is also looking forward to performing medieval music, songs, dances and hymns with Rare Byrds members playing on recorders, nyckelharpa and a portative organ, hand-built by member Alan Edwards.
The group will perform in the museum atrium 2 at 11am, 12.15pm and 2pm.
"This will be the first outing for Rare Byrds for the year, so we are thrilled to be starting with a medieval-themed community event," he said.
