Day Trip to Medieval Times

A day trip that brings you back in time to a world of knights in shining armor, kings and princesses,  stately stallions, and soaring falcons, all within the walls of a medieval castle located right here in the Garden State? Surely, you joust!

But all that and more really does await guests at Medieval Times, a unique and popular entertainment venue that has nine locations across the country, including the grand castle located in nearby Lyndhurst, NJ since 1990 and which continues to host sold-out audiences of all ages.

At each spectacular two-hour dinner tournament, held inside a spacious arena surrounded by hundreds of wide-eyed spectators, brave and nimble knights compete to earn the title of King’s Champion, showing off their athletic prowess, talented horsemanship, and skilled swordsmanship. Pageantry abounds as the event follows a storyline set in 11th-century Spain, and sections of audience members enthusiastically cheer for their respective knights.

Before the show, guests are led into the ornate outer chambers of the arena, where they can be photographed with members of the royal court, shop for medieval memorabilia and apparel, visit a display of ancient artifacts and torture devices, and have the chance to be knighted by the king in observance of a special occasion. On a recent visit, newly-minted knights were there to herald everything from sixth birthdays to engagements to wedding anniversaries; there was even one particularly jovial visitor who was rejoicing over quitting her job and another couple who were joyfully celebrating their 91^st and 93^rd birthdays together with their families! Under soaring ceilings, there are full bars offering everything from fruit slushees for the young crowd to bottles of mead, an ancient honey wine, for adults who want to toast the spirit of the day.

Inside the arena, guests are served a four-course dinner that is undeniably delicious – all eaten without the use of utensils, as befitting diners of the era. The feast includes a crock of tomato bisque soup, oven-roasted chicken with garlic bread, a juicy spare rib, an herb-basted potato, goblets of soda or water, and a warm apple pastry dessert. A tasty vegetarian meal is also offered upon request, with hummus, warm pita bread, carrot and celery sticks, three-bean stew with fire roasted tomato and brown rice, and fresh fruit or Italian ice.

Shows are held just about every day of the week, all year long, at various times of the morning, afternoon, and evening. Full-price tickets for 2015 are $62.95 for adults, $36.95 for children age 12 and under, and free for children under age three who are sitting on a lap. It’s worth noting that there are numerous very generous discount options available at any given time, both through the Medieval Times website and through many other sources such as Groupon, AAA, and others, that make admission even more affordable, so be sure to check them out – although the outing is worth every penny at any price. For an even more special experience, there are also several upgrade packages available that provide extras such as preferred seating, a framed photo, a knights’ cheering banner, slice of cake, “behind the scenes” DVD, commemorative program, and a personalized announcement during the performance.

Treat yourself like royalty sometime soon, and take a day – or “knight” – trip to Medieval Times! They’re located at 149 Polito Avenue, Lyndhurst, New Jersey 07071. Find out everything you need to know at www.medievaltimes.com.