Winterfest 2018 medieval festival set to be huge at Hawkesbury Showgrounds

From jousting, archery and combat to crafts, cooking and games, Winterfest is chock-full of family entertainment based around a medieval theme.

North Richmond’s Dirk Schmitt (44) will be heading-up the Medieval Kitchen Rules showcase at 12pm on both days.

Mr Schmitt, who owns an accounting and IT business, is the president of a dark ages reenactment group called Huscarls, which along with two other groups will be providing medieval cooking demonstrations.

Huscarls will be focussing on dishes from tenth and eleventh centuries Europe, and Mr Schmitt will be cooking his speciality – stews. 

“We’re restricted in the food stuffs we can access. Things like tomatoes, potatoes and corn, while they existed [during those ages], they existed on another continent! So rather than potatoes we’ll use parsnips, turnips and swedes,” he said.

He can use most meats and still stay true to the period.

“In the historical period is was mutton rather than lamb - you wouldn’t slaughter your lambs.” 

The Huscarls will also be reenacting metal forging, a medieval scriptorium, and textile spinning and weaving.

Mr Schmitt will be portraying an Icelander: “I’ll be wearing standard Scandinavian viking garb - a combination of things I’ve made, and things I’ve had other people make for me or I’ve purchased.”

He makes his own tunics, and purchases his shoes and ‘bronze work’ including belt strappings and brooches.

Mr Schmitt got involved with the Huscarls through mutual contacts in the acting business.

The weekend will include jousting demonstrations and equestrian games, jester shows and battles. Punters will be able to try their hand at archery and wielding a sword and shield, and there will also be heaps for kids including face painting, unicorns and farm animals.

A highlight will be a recreated fifteenth century falconry camp hosted by Full Flight Birds of Prey Centre from Miners Rest, Victoria.

They focus on native raptor protection, conservation and education. 

Director Graeme Coles (52) will be leading a 40-minute flight show, and people will be able to get up close and personal with some of the birds.

“We’ll be showing people how they hunted with birds in the middle ages. We don’t hunt them on live prey now though - we use mock rabbits and ducks,” he said.

“It’s all based around conservation in the middle ages; raptor conservation actually began in the thirteenth century. If you took a falcon out of the wild then you would have you hand chopped off - if you take one out of the wild now you just have your hand slapped!”

They’ll be bringing up to eight species, including a wedge-tailed eagle, goshawk, kestrel, whistling kite, and various owls.

The eagle is the largest with a 2.5-metre wing span, and the smallest is the kestrel measuring 300mm.

“We’re also going to fly the fastest bird in the world, a peregrine falcon,” said Mr Coles.

Most of the birds at Winterfest will be species that are also found in the wild in the Hawkesbury. All are protected, and some are endangered.

The centre has one of the largest private collections of raptors in the country, all licensed and bred in captivity.

“We have a bit of fun [at Winterfest] and it’s great to strut our stuff and get dressed up in period costume, but ultimately our goal is to teach people to appreciate raptors,” said Mr Coles.

“Down here [in Victoria] there’s recently been a big cull of eagles - somebody poisoned them and the departments are onto it - but a lot of people still persecute them, including farmers.

“The majority of Australian raptors are classed as vulnerable and threatened. The masked owl is critically-endangered.”

Winterfest ticket holders are invited to dress in theme, and there will be prizes for the best costume at the cosplay competition on both days.

For full event information and to purchase tickets, head to winterfest.com.au.