WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Washington Heights, get ready to party like it’s 1399 at the Medieval Festival in Fort Tryon Park on Sunday.
The 24th annual free festival is expected to draw more than 60,000 participants this year for the authentic medieval music, dance, magic and minstrels performed by actors, musicians, magicians, dancers, jugglers and jesters.
The free event is held on the parkland surrounding the Cloisters, the museum of medieval art located in Fort Tryon Park. The park is transformed into a medieval market complete with bright banners, processional flags and festival attendees dressed in costume.
Local nonprofit Washington Heights and Inwood Development Corp. began the event in 1983 as a way to draw people to the park, which at that time was a haven for drugs and violence.
The festival is produced in conjunction with the city’s Parks department.
Performances by the Upper Manhattan-based UpTheater will perform sections of Geoffrey Chaucer’s medieval classic “The Canterbury Tales” will run throughout the day.
The highlight of the daylong event will be a joust between four knights on horseback.
Costumed vendors sell a wide variety of medieval crafts, food and drinks.
The 2011 Medieval Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2nd from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rain Date: Oct. 9th.
